6 Comments so far

1. c'estmoi on February 16, 2010 10:25 am

   I so agree…. reading to a child, routinely-not just every now and then, is the best way to get a child to speak more. I know your not his mom and probably aren’t with him enough to do that.
   My son was a late talker too (or so I thought), he only had like 10 words at 18/19 months. Once they get going though…they talk non-stop! He’s 2 1/2 now, forming sentences, little phrases, asking questions…it’s amazing how much his vocabulary grows. We read to him all the time. We also sing a lot of songs. For example, he loves the movie “cars” and has been obsessed by it for almost a year now. This movie has a GREAT soundtrack and we sing it all the time. Singing together is also a good way to build his speaking abilities.
   I wouldn’t worry too much yet…. I know lots of kids (mine included) who did talked much until after 23/24 months.

2. Jessica P on February 16, 2010 10:57 am

   Don’t use toys and videos as a replacement for good old human interaction. Speak with him frequently and meaningfully, using the same tone and pitch as you would with anyone else. Don’t use babytalk because they will turn into 4 year olds who say crap like “Me miss me dada”. Use real sentences with him. When we do this with children they realise the importance and joy of real conversation. A video will teach him words but not how to interact with his peers.

3. Face T on February 16, 2010 11:21 am

   The best way to learn talking is by listening to another human being interact and engage with him. Talking isn’t just about the words, but also about non-verbal expressions / cues, which the baby learns quickly from watching other people around him. Toys/videos won’t do that. If you want to help, maybe buy a book for the parent on how to help children learn at this age (we can certainly use that for our 15 month old).

4. birdie on February 16, 2010 11:26 am

   Read to him. Get down on his level & talk & play without all the baby talk crap. Make him say something before he gets what he wants. Don’t give in to grunts & cries. Make him say please. Thank you. Teach manners first. I taught my nephew to say please & thank you when he was just over a year old. He talks well, now, at 2. My children all learned manners first. They love the praise from doing it correctly & you’re encouraging polite behaviors, which are lacking today.

5. MomOf2Ba on February 16, 2010 11:48 am

   Talk to him and read to him! Avoid “baby talk”. Talk to him like to talk to an adult!

6. shandie on February 16, 2010 11:54 am

   forget toys, the more you speak and interact with your child the more they pick up and repettion is very important.