Grammy's Words of Wisdom
(Ages 18 to 36 months)

 

Dear Parents, 

          As your child begins to use oral language, everyone in the family gets excited.  No one more than your own child!  He or she can now begin to communicate his or her own needs.  They aren't as frustrated and neither are you.  Their vocabulary begins to grow by leaps and bounds.  They try new words daily.

     You as parents need to continue to read to them on a daily basis.  You will also need to provide them with rhymes, songs and finger plays that will build their vocabulary and give them practice in using oral language.  You can do this anywhere and everywhere they are allowed to talk.  I have provided you with some of these rhymes and finger plays on the "Fun with Grammy" audio CD.

     This is a busy time of life for you and your child.  Make the most out of your time together.  Sing the songs and say the poems as you drive in the car, wait for appointments, shop at the store, even sit on the "potty".

     Stimulating their oral language is very important.  Remember that they are mimicking your language, so use good vocabulary and articulation yourself.  If they use baby talk or some funky articulation, it may sound cute now, but won't be in a couple of years.  Try to model proper words so they can hear language as they they need to say it.

     Reading is extremely important now.  Make sure you have a consistent time together.  Let your time be in a quiet uninterrupted spot.  Your child is easily distracted at this age.  Outside distractions such as the phone, TV, other siblings or people interrupting, aren't good for listening and focusing on a story.

     Use the same books you have been using over the past 2 or 3 years.  When they were babies you "read" the pictures, now that they have oral language, you can actually read the words in the story as they are written.  Your child may still want to go back through the book after you have read the story and "read" the pictures to you.  That is great fun for both of you.

     When you read a familiar story to your child now, hesitate just a little in your reading to see if your little one will supply the word for you.  Make sure you do this on words that you know your child will be able to say.  It will give them practice in oral language.  It will also help to keep them focused on the story.  They will be listening for you to hesitate.  They will look forward to supplying the missing word.