| Some children are really funny about | | | | name, it isn't until early in the second year of life |
| experimenting with speech. Nonetheless, the first | | | | that a toddler will seem to understand what's |
| intelligible words bring such a feeling of elation to a | | | | being said to her, because this is the age at which |
| parent. Come on, Sweetie. Show Mumma the | | | | kids develop language and comprehension skills. |
| bunny. Without saying a word, my little girl points | | | | It's a huge leap in a child's development, and will |
| to a plush rabbit. | | | | probably alter existing parent-child communication. |
| Ever since I read in a parents' newsletter that | | | | Now would be a good time to discontinue the kind |
| kids my younger daughter's age should have a | | | | of language I've grown accustomed to conducting |
| vocabulary, I've been trying to persuade her to | | | | conversations in ("piggies" instead of "toes," |
| speak words instead of relying on gesturing, | | | | "yummies" instead of each meal's correct name). |
| pointing, and high-pitched squealing to make her | | | | By the end of her second year, a toddler should |
| needs and wants known. While a mild speech | | | | have about fifty spoken words, and should begin |
| delay might be understandable for bilingual babies | | | | using two-word sentences. To my dismay, mine |
| who are trying to sort out the mechanics of two | | | | only ventures to pronounce a word's second |
| languages, mine has only one language to learn. | | | | syllable when it sounds exactly like the first; |
| Apart from her experiencing frequent ear | | | | transposes some sounds (cup becomes "pa;" rip |
| infections at an early age, I have to wonder, | | | | becomes "pi"), and approximates others (hello is |
| what's up? | | | | "ha WOW"). Far from being on her way to |
| Bear. Ball. Blocks. I repeat words to her over and | | | | constructing two-word sentences, she doesn't try |
| over, thinking that somehow, this might pass on | | | | saying her name. Duck. Ga-a. I place her hand on |
| whatever information she needs to be able to | | | | my cheek and try again. Duck. She shortens her |
| form the words herself. Bee. Ba-by. Ga-a-a? She | | | | ga-a to match the abbreviated sound I'm making. |
| asks, using the same intonation with which I recite | | | | Ga. I'll bet she's a little perfectionist, refusing to |
| the alphabet to her. She spends the rest of the | | | | say much until she can speak correctly. |
| afternoon touching my mouth while I'm talking to | | | | I'm afraid if she catches on to my disappointment |
| her. | | | | with her progress, she'll stop trying altogether. So |
| According to the American Academy of | | | | I'm quietly making an appointment for her to see |
| Pediatrics, while eighteen months is the age at | | | | an audiologist. As I wait on hold, I tell myself that |
| which a toddler should be able to say her own | | | | this is probably nothing.copyright 2003-2005. |