Does the neighbor’s son already form sentences and yours says almost nothing, just repeats “mom” and “dad”? Yes, we know it is distressing to see other children talking and yours not yet. But the first rule of motherhood says: never compare your child to other children. Each child has their own pace of development. It could be that he is shy, afraid of making mistakes or is simply focusing his energy on gaining other skills. Isn’t that the case with us too?
That said, let’s come to the question: yes, you can have a yardstick whether your child’s speech is normal or not. And 2 years is usually a milestone for the leap in language development. But the last word is always the doctor’s, right?
Milestones of language development
The medical literature says that the baby starts pronouncing the first words around age 1, and the first syllable junctions – mom and dad – can happen between 6 and 9 months, depending on the baby. At 2 he is already able to pronounce the first simple sentences, putting together at least two words, such as “I want this” or “Not this”. And he will also start accompanying some songs.
Some speech therapists say that by the age of 2 a child should have a vocabulary of around 200 words. Don’t get attached! The common is to master an average of 50 words.
More important than speaking is to communicate. Does your child make himself understood? Do you look the speaker in the face? Do you alone understand what he wants or do other people do too? Does it respond to commands like “Grab your shoe and bring it here”? If so, give him time and encourage him in the best way: he talks, sings, reads.
When to worry about being late?
You can, at any time, clarify your doubts with the pediatrician and take your child to a speech therapist, of course. But you shouldn’t worry about this before he turns 3. If he reaches that age and still doesn’t articulate words and form simple sentences, then you should investigate – and it may not be a problem. Scientist Albert Einstein, for example, told biographer Carl Seelig that his parents were concerned about his delay in speaking when he was about 3 years old.
Know that there are cases of children who one day barely spoke and, as if by magic, woke up talking a lot and more and more the next. It can also happen for up to 2 years that you speak only the first syllable of words and immediately “melt” the language.
What to do to stimulate speech
- Interacting with other children is a real stimulus. It is not uncommon for parents to complain that their child doesn’t say anything and, as soon as they start attending daycare, the tongue breaks!
- Read, read a lot. Reading to your child increases vocabulary and stimulates speech.
- Don’t try to complete his sentences. Let him go to her rhythm and finish what he started.
- Many children are really lazy. She starts asking her what she wants when she points her finger: “Do you want some water?”. Better yet, ask questions and encourage a different yes or no answer: “I don’t understand. Do you want water or bread?”
- Try to name everything when you talk to your child: “Shall we put on the green shirt?” instead of “Shall we wear this shirt?”. This helps to increase the vocabulary.
- Don’t infantilize your voice or repeat the baby’s wrong word, no matter how cute it is. When you can, correct it, but without pressure, without judgment, without turning it into your child’s mistake. He is just learning and will learn faster the lighter the “method” will be.
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Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
