Helping Son to Learn Words

The thing you have to keep in mind with all aspects of your child's development is that all children develop at different paces. Just because your friend's child says more words right now doesn't mean that yours won't be speaking volumes way ahead of hers. I would suggest doing what you're doing - read every day to your child. Read slowly and clearly so he can really distinguish the different sounds. Don't worry about the number of words right now - just enjoy the experience of reading and sharing books with your son.

R.
mother of 4 & 8 year olds

Have you tried sign language? There's a book called "Baby Signs." You can start teaching them signs from I think 6 mo old. Humans develop the connection between gestures and communication before speech and communication. It might actually help him learn to talk more.

S.

Just keep talking to him. He may know them, but just not use them. My son didn't talk much at 18 months (only said mama and dada) but I knew he understood me because he could follow simple commands. He didn't really start talking much until he was 2 and started his Mother's Morning Out program. Now at 2 yr 4 mo he talks alot, but I can't understand everything. If your pediatrician doesn't think you should be concerned, then just encourage him, but don't push him. I tried to push Ryan to talk and all he would do is get frustrated and upset. You may be able to teach him things like animals, etc by using books and pointing to them instead of making him say them. Or using photos of your family members, etc. That way you at least know he is understanding you. He is still VERY young to be talking. I have a friend that had a chatterbox son, too, and my hubby aways compared them. I know how you feel, but relax, you have lots of time!

I have a daughter who is 19 months old. I haven't had this problem with her because she has been talking and repeating words for sometime now. But i have heard that boys mature later sometimes in this area. I have a friend whose little boy is the same age as my daughter and he was behind her where his vocabulary was concearned also. I don't think that there is anything wrong with this, just to ease your worries. Just keep doing what you are doing. Read to him, explain what everything is. Maybe sing songs, make it fun for him. As with everything concearning kids...BE CONSISTANT! Before you know it he will catch on and he will start to remember the words and he'll start talking more and more. He's listening even though it might not seem he is.

If there is one thing I can say it is DON'T FREAK OUT! My son wouldn't say anything, but Mama and Dada until he was almost 2, but now he can say longer sentences, knows more colors, can count to 10 on his own (they only ask him to be able to count to 5) and knows more words than his classmates! He was merely listening and learning when he wasn't talking. Trust me, he will start talking when he's ready.

Kids are all different. I think all you can do it keep reading to him, talking to him, pointing out what things are called. Try to get him to ask for things i.e. milk, etc... by using the word for it. He's too young to get worried about it, I think... especially if he is using a few words.

Hi S.,

I just want to tell you my son didn't start really talking until after he was two. So be patient with him it will come. Good Luck! A.

We have four kiddos- and one due in march! OUr first child could carry on a full conversation with you by the time she was 23 months old- both verbally and in sign language!
My second one hated to sign and only said a few words until she was about 15 months old.
our third had her own language and didn't speak english until she was abit 17 months old.
now with the fourth- our first boy- he is almost 18 months, and he doesn;t say much of anything- although he has a few words he can say- he rarely uses those either.
He does use a few signs but mostly he is just a really easy going kid and communicates through other ways.

My advice to you is not to worry about it and don't get caught up in to much comparison between your child and other kids- every child reaches their milestones a bit differently. The best thing you can do is immerse himin language- which will also make for a good reader!
I am sure you have heard about it before but talk about everything- not baby talk but real talking. "I am carrying you to the table now and will sit you in your seat. You like to sit and the table and eat don't you? Now sit down and first I will put on your bib, second I will get your cup..." so on and so forth. Another thing is when your dc is trying to vommunicate like brings you a book and grunts say "b-b-b-book. Mama can you read me a book? Yes I will read you a book!"
We are also big on signing- if you don't say it with your voice say it with your hands. Basic communication like eat,Thirsty ,more, book, all done, thank you and please are easy to learn and don't recquire a sign book- if you wanted to make up your own or google it- you could also take a trip to the book store and just look up a few like the ones mentioned above.
Some kids are just late talkers- this doesn't mean there is something wrong or that they are not as smart as other kids- it just means they are working on other things right now and words are not one of them.

You are a good mama to be concerned about your child development- sit back and relax you are doing great!! Keep doing what you are doing and encourage speach but don't stress out over it- it will come!

Hello,
One thing to remember is that all children do things at their own rate. For example, my neighbors daughter who was 6 months younger then my son Caden was speaking full sentences while my son was barely speaking one word. Then when he was around 2 his vocabulary blossomed. He started peaking full coherent sentences. His language skills keep getting stronger everyday (now almost 4). Some things I do with him is read at least 2 books everyday. Talk normal (not baby talk) to him as much as possible. Street signs, posters, just keep talking. Also, flash cars, you can make your own with large letters on things your child likes. Good luck, D.

well all i can say is just talk to him more and repeat words........they all learn at different paces and most kids know more words then they say and say them at the weirdest times to get a reaction from you......i wouldnt worry about it........its not like he is 3 and only knows 3 words......

Dont stess, he will learn in time. But if he is grunting for things he wants I would encourage you to make his "attempt" to say the word...definately tell him what you are giving him whenyou give it to him, like juice, milk, banana, etc...But he is still young. If by 2 he still isnt talking much then you might consider taking him to the doc about it. My daughter just turned 2 and has started saying everything!

My son is 22 months. Until my son was about 16-17 months old all my he said was Mama,Dada,cup, & ball. I found that it helped to say what something was anytime I gave it to him or when he pointed at it. I also found the more he was around other children he seemed to pick up more words or little phrases and everyday it seems like his vocabulary gets better. You will be suprised how much your son will learn to say over the next few months!

Every child is different.....he may be advanced in other stages, so I would not worry too much. I have a two year old that is very verbal, but many of her playmates are still learning how to speak .

Sign Language really helped my daughter. I enrolled her in a Kindermusik "Sign and Sing" class around 11 months old. At first she didn't really get it. Over time of repeating the signs she caught on. She is now 16 months old and knows over 15 different signs. Also as a result her vocabulary has picked up. The class is amazing and she loves it. Just keep practicing at home. Also the "Priddy Books" have helped her with recognizing different things. Hope this helps. Remember all kids develop differently and yours will come around.

Every child is different and you will go crazy if you try to make comparisons. Your son will learn at his own pace when he's ready. My first son was counting to 20 at 14 months and my second is now 22 months and we've barely leaned to 11. Each is different. But one thing is for sure, they learn by repetition. So, reading various stories is wonderful (we still do it everyday and 5 or 6 times on weekends) and helps with overall comprehension, but learning everyday words is much easier for children. Like cup, because he drinks from one every day (or bottle - whatever the case may be). Say the word, spell it slowly, and say it again. After about a week, don't give it to him until he (at least) attempts to say the word. It won't be perfect, but effort is what you are looking for. I am definitely no teacher, but I consider both of my sons to be successes. My oldest just started kindergarten and we just learned that the school system considers him to be on a 3rd grade level academically (however, socially he started school at about a 3 year old level and has since advanced to 5 - he had to adjust to being around other kids because he didn't go to daycare and wasn't exposed to children much). My youngest isn't catching on quite as quickly; however, I plan to have him reading before he starts school also. Whatever you do and however you achieve it, have patience and good luck.

P.S.

Flash cards are WONDERFUL!!!!!!

My son was 2 before he said a lot so he is probably right on track. you can go to babycenter.com and track development for a child that is 14 months. I'll bet your son is very normal - one day his vocabulary will explode. Has he by any chance had ear infections? If so, you may get his hearing checked. Soon he'll be talking your head off and you'll be wishing for a moment of silence. L.:-)

WHEN MY SON TURNED 1 I PURCHASED THE LEAP FROG FRIDGE PHONICS.
HE LOVED IT. IT TEACHES THE LETTERS AS WELL AS THE SOUNDS. THEY THINK THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL WHEN THEY MAKE THE SOUNDS
COME OUT. A BONUS FOR THE MOMS IS TO SEE THEM START TO DANCE AND TRY TO SING TO THE MUSIC. VERY CUTE. HOPE THIS HELPS.
L. g.

Hi S.,

At this point, I wouldn't stress about it too much. Each child learns at his own pace. My husband didn't really start talking until he was over three years old, and he is now studying Math Education at UGA. I know several two-year-old's who are "babbling" but only saying 2-3 recognizable words. As long as your son is responding in some way - even if not with understandable words - I wouldn't try to push him too much now.

Hope this helps!

My son at 14 months old was NOT worried about talking at all, he was climbing and running around way too busy for words. He is now 19 months old now and just recently started talking!! They all start at different times. I just constantly repeated the words I would say to him and reading/singing. Find something he LOVES and enjoys, and say it often. I wouldnt worry about what books or others say, every child has their own personality. If he responds to you when you ask him a question or tell him to do something, then theres nothing wrong, he will start when hes ready... believe me it will happen!!

I wouldn't worry about it. My son would only say dada till he was about 13 months then he finally said mama. He was just so interested in learning everything else like walking he didn't care to talk. Everybody kept telling me to go to babies can't wait but his doctor was not worried about it. He started saying more words at about 17 months like eat and bye bye. He is know 21 months and is tring to say everything. He will point at everything and say huh then when you tell him what it is he repeats it. He will even tell you things that he wants. i would wait a couple months. He will start talking when he is ready

Dont worry my daughter is 14 months old and all she says is "momma" and "Dadda" and other words she has made up for things. And she goes to Day Care, so they encourage them to talk all day long. I had a friend whos son is three and I am yet to hear him use a real word. I see alot of good ideas people have posted on here, so I think I might go out and buy a leap frog learning program thing to help push her.
-N.

Relax, keep reading to him every day and talking to him like a grownup.....no baby talk. Boys are often slower to speak and before you know it he will be chatting up a storm.
Good luck!

Please do not worry!!!!!!!!!!!!!My son was the same way , to make it worse he had about 10 ear infections by the time he was 3. As first time parents we took him to all of the doctors , ear tests ,speach evaluation etc. They all said he was behind in speach but everything was working fine and not to worry. Now my son is 5yrs old. He is the youngest in his kindergarden class and he is also the most advanced. He is in the accelerated reading program and can do more math than most 1st graders :o). His speach was behind until he was 3-4 years old and then on his own he just caught up. Now we also have a wonderful little girl who is 18 months and just like her brother she is behind in speach but she hears everything and will complete three part tasks when asked.You might want to have another hearing test done just to put your mind at ease but I would bet everything he is just fine. Oh yah...try and enjoy this as much as you can , once they are 5 they wont stop talking!

Hi S.,
DOn't try to compare your child to anyone else's, it will only make you crazy. Just keep reading to him and telling him what things are called. If he looks like he wants something, say juice or milk, just encourage him to ask for it. My son turned 2 in November and by his birthday he had said maybe 5 words. His doctor was worried cause I guess that he should have been putting words together by then. Since then he has exploded with new words but, he is by no means, the great communicator. He will learn at this own pace and so long as you are encouraging him and explaining things to him then I don't think that you have anything to worry about. Good luck!

the only way to really get him to learn words is to talk to him. some kids learn to talk later than others, just like walking they learn on their own pace. my daughter didnt talk much at least that anyone could understand till she was 2yrs old then her vocabulary exploded. The same may happen to your son. My son learned a little faster than her but still the big explosion happed at 2 now hes learing prob a new word everyday.

I know its hard not to compare your child to another especially to a friends child but the will learn it on his own time, his is prob going to get it perfected before he comes out and wows you with a full sentance.

All kids learn to do things at different rates. My son will be 2 next month and is just now really starting to say a lot of words. I told my ped at his 18 month check-up that I didn't start talking until after I turned 2. My ped said that speech development is heredity. Whatever you do, do not compare your son to girls his age because girls are said to develop language faster and boys are said to develop physically faster. All and all they will catch up to each other in the end.

Hey S.

Just keep reading as much as you can and also if you dont already let him watch the Baby Einstien videos.. They really help with language development. Something about the music??
Hang in there!
Kim

One of the easy ways to teach words is to makk flash cards and put them on the item..Example with my son I did all words in both english and spanish.I would spend 10-20 minutes every few days or any time you pass by like door, lamp, bathroom,play toys,open,put on the inside of doors and close on the out side of doors, this worked well with my little one..Hope that this helps you out .. E. M Rios

Don't stress about it. My son was way behind his peers with speaking. When he turned 2 his vocabulary exploded. Now he is three and speaks in complete sentences well paragraphs. He speaks much more clearly than a lot of his peers. I really wouldn't worry about it. My other son is 16 months old and only knows a few words. I am not at all worried about him after seeing how his older brother did. And remember boys usually talk later than girls.

My son just turned thirteen months, and according to all I've read, he should be talking in big words. So far, we've got "Hi" "Hi, Dad" and "Good." No "Mama," no "no," no nothing. I read to him constantly, talk to him till I'm blue in the face, and still, this is all we've got. According to my pediatrician, if he's on target with all other developmental milestones and is interacting with you, then there's nothing to worry about until closer to his second birthday. At that point, then a doctor might look closer at the situation. One thing that does seem to stimulate my son, though, is the Leapfrog Little Leaps games, which have some designed specifically to encourage babies to talk.