Dear Dr. Debbie,
My little one is twenty months old and only has about two dozen words or phrases that my husband and I can understand. Needless to say, this is frustrating for all of us. I’m a SAHM so I’m wondering if we need to do more socializing than we are doing. Would that help him with talking?
Trying To Listen
Dear TTL,
Social environments definitely provide opportunities to communicate. Just overhearing conversations helps. But even at home, there are things you can be doing to improve your little guy’s communication skills.
Typical Timeline
The most important time for gaining communication skills is the first three years of life. Early language development follows a typical timeline so checking a child’s progress against it can help parents recognize a delay and take action. For example, there may be a hearing problem, language disorder/learning disability, or muscle coordination issue that makes speaking difficult.
The following timetable for language milestones is from the Mayo Clinic:
By the end of three months:
- Smiles when parent’s face comes into view.
- Makes cooing sounds.
- Smiles when spoken to.
- Appears to recognize a parent’s voice.
- Varies her cries depending on her need.
By the end of 6 months:
- Makes gurgling sounds when playing.
- Babbles and makes a range of sounds.
- Uses her voice to show likes and dislikes.
- Moves her eyes toward sounds.
- Responds to changes in the tone of a parent’s voice.
- Notices that some toys make sounds.
- Notices music.
By the end of 12 months:
- Tries to copy speech sounds.
- Says a few words, such as “dada,” “mama” and “uh-oh”.
- Knows simple commands, such as “Come here”.
- Understands words for common items, such as “shoe”.
- Turns and looks toward sounds.
By the end of 18 months:
- Knows names of familiar people, objects and body parts.
- Follows simple commands that are given with hand motions.
- Says as many as 10 to 15 words.
By the end of 24 months:
- Uses two-word phrases, such as “more milk.”
- Asks one- to two-word questions, such as “Go bye-bye?”
- Follows simple commands and know simple questions.
- Speaks about 50 or more words.
- Speaks well enough that you or another caregiver can understand at least half the time.
Building Language Skills
You can see that your little one is on track with his two dozen words at 20 months. Even so, it can be frustrating when he knows what he’s saying and his parents don’t understand him. Have you introduced American Sign Language? It’s been known for quite some time that using one’s hands to communicate is much easier for babies to do than to coordinate muscles involved in speech. There are many books that can teach sign language to babies and their parents that you can borrow from Anne Arundel County Public Libraries.
While you’re at the library, get other books to read together. The invention of board books – durable enough to give to babies – opens up a world of images, vocabulary, situations, and humor for little ones and their caregivers to enjoy together. The act of reading a book is building a lifelong habit of going to books for information, adventure, relaxation, and amusement. This is not to say that you should be teaching your baby to read, just talk together about the pictures as you read (or summarize) the text.
Libraries also have programs for little ones and their caregivers: Babies in Bloom and Toddler Time can fulfill your quest for direct social stimulation for both of you plus give you more to talk about at home. Use the featured books as suggestions for books to check out and re-read together over and over.
Back and forth conversation – with your best attempts to decode what he’s saying – will go far to build his language skills. Use open-ended questions rather than leading him to give a simple one-word answer that you might’ve predicted. For example, “Tell me what you see outside” encourages a response that could lead to further conversation. “I see the squirrel, too! I wonder where his nest is. Do you think it’s the same squirrel we saw the other day?”
Nursery rhymes have been around for centuries for good reason. Rhythm, rhyme, and hand motions are excellent for building language skills. Their repetition literally strengthens the connections among neurons responsible for language in your child’s brain. “The Wheel’s on the Bus”, “Eensy Weensy Spider”, and “Five Little Monkeys” are enough to get you started. Find more on the internet.
Have fun just making noises together. You can imitate the sounds of machines around the house or try to sound like the animals in the books you are reading together. When you play with toy cars and trucks give sound effects for engines, brakes, and sirens.
Professional Assessment
If you have concerns about any aspect of your child’s development that might impact his ability to be successful in school, you should use the free resource of Child Find from Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Not only will they assess your child for lags in development, they can provide free services if warranted. Perhaps a few sessions with a friendly speech therapist will bring more clarity to your son’s articulation. Or he may qualify for a spot in a class with other little ones through the Division of Specialized Instruction and Early Intervention Services (DSIEIS). There he’d have activities and interactions designed to enhance his communication skills.
It’s best to address concerns with language development early. As with a good story book, we want this to end with everyone living happily ever after.
Dr. Debbie
Write your question to Dr. Debbie! Please include age(s) of your child(ren) and other details about the situation or concern.
Deborah Wood, Ph.D. is a child development specialist and founding director of Chesapeake Children’s Museum, located at 25 Silopanna Road in Annapolis. Online reservations are available or call: 410-990-1993. Walk-ins are welcome. There is a Nature Walk on Thursdays at 10:30 am. Art and Story Time with Mrs. Spears and Puppy the Puppet is on Mondays at 10:30 am.
Chesapeake Children’s Museum is offering $1 admission on Saturday and Sunday, March 21-22 as part of Maryland Day celebrations across the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area. The weekend will also have a special presentation at CCM about Maryland Foodways to explore Native American and African American cooking. On Saturday enjoy Dovie Thomason, Storyteller at 1:30 pm.
Dr. Wood is presenting a Zoom workshop for parents and professional childcare providers: Stress with Children on Wednesday, March 25, from 7-9 pm.
