Question About Receptive Language in Toddler - Callao,VA

I worked with toddlers for a long time and I'm not sure that you have much to worry about at this point.

From what you describe, your son seems right on target. He can locate/do things which involve 'concrete' (real, tangible) items-- shoes, dog, objects he can see and touch.

Love and stomachs, on the other hand-- he cannot 'see' or understand these things in the same way. "Love" is a nice thing for us to say to each other, but it is also an abstract concept. Your son cannot play with love, love cannot be worn or picked up, so it's something he'll learn when he's in his threes, likely. (At least, very common from my experience.)

Pain, too, is also abstract. He may not understand that the inside of his body can also be an extension of 'tummy/belly' when you are pointing to his bellybutton, etc. There's a sweet book I read a while ago about a turtle who tells his mom he has a 'toothache'-- when he really had a stomach ache. Kids often cannot receive or express language about their bodies as well at this age. When kids complained about a stomachache or a headache, I always asked them 'show me where it is on you' and had them touch where it hurt. I found quite a few 'headaches' were located in other areas of their body. Just so you know...

Keep it simple, mom. He sounds fine!

Did you see the responses on your earlier post about this?

Your child sounds pretty normal to me. I don't think you have anything to be worried about.

His development sounds pretty much on track... he can hear you (when he chooses to!), and follows simple commands.

All of those commands and requests are on "concrete" things... things he can see, touch, feel.....

Pain, and love, are abstract ideas... that takes a long time to understand....

If you are asking them something about pain, he probably would understand "hurt" or "owie" better... I used the expression "show me where it hurts" frequently when my kids were little!

I sounds like he is pretty much on track... have fun! The BIG language development is coming soon!

Here is the thing about toddlers and preschoolers, and a lot of adults, if the are preoccupied with something, they will ignore you. I has nothing to do with understanding. Getting down to a toddler's level, touching him, and getting eye contact will be your best friend.

Your child sounds normal to me. There will be a giant language explosion n the next few months.

He's a normal 23 month old....if they are 3, 3.5 and not articulating, then u worry. Stop listening to the "braggart" mothers going on about how genius their kid is, how many languages they speak at 2, etc etc.....it's all baloney. He's a toddler, doing what odd lens do.let him be and stop worrying so much or unwilling end up a helicopter parent filling out his college application,lol.

Sounds like my son He'll be 3 in September, and there are so many times that I feel like he's behind in communication. And I feel like he doesn't understand enough.....
But then we discovered he learned to identify the entire alphabet on his own! (playing w/ a computer toy that is his older brothers) So I think sometimes they "get" more then they let on. Could be stubbornness, could be they don't realize or understand the result or action we want from them.
My son can be very perplexing...he will get hurt and come to us crying and when we ask "Are you okay?" and reach for him, he'll jerk away and yell "No!"......But then come right back to be comforted again....
My personal opinion is that some kids, well most, are the absolute most confusing little creatures in the world from 1.5 to 3. They keep you guessing, the know way more then we think, and always have us worrying that they aren't developing the way should be. They always turn out fine :)

Kids are at least three or four before they can locate pain. Before you can finally ask, does your ear/throat/stomach hurt? And get a real answer.
He sounds on track. Concrete ideas are good.