Talking to others- do you interpret for your LOs?

I haven't paid enough attention to other Mommies, so I'm not quite sure how to handle this stage. My DS speaks pretty well, and we can understand most of what he says. When we are in a group (usually with friends, sometimes acquaintances, like church), adults will ask him questions and he will answer. Or sometimes, he'll even go up to them to ask to pet their dog or have a piece of cake at a birthday party or something. Very often, it doesn't seem as though they understand him because of his mispronunciation. Not bad, but I think he just has the normal toddler-lisp and some other troubled consonants. But sometimes, I realize as I'm interpreting that they did understand him; it just took them a minute to process what he said, and I interfered with the conversation unnecessarily.

I often repeat what he said, or interpret for him, but am I overstepping? I think I'm trying to avoid us getting to the awkward silence where he's waiting for the adult's response, but they have no idea what to say because they have no idea what he said. How do you handle it? Do you wait for the adult to look at you for help (which then means that you might be waiting for the awkward silence)? Do you proactively speak for your LOs so that the adult doesn't have to feel bad?

Just wondering... I want my DS to get comfortable with communicating and for him to feel confident in his abilities and I'm not quite sure how to get there from here.

 

I totally interpret. Even my best friend who spends at least 5 hours every Sunday with the boys needs help if they are using a new word. They wanted a new video called "spot's first walk" (never buy it, the most boring thing ever!) but Ezra kept asking for Pot Pot and it took me forever to figure it out. When he asked my friend for Pot, of course I told her what he wanted. Why should I make them both go through that frustration or even game.

 

Yes, I will usually restate what they said, if I think there's any chance of the listener not understanding. I generally phrase it as if I am agreeing with them or reinforcing it (i.e., "That's right, we did go to the zoo yesterday!") rather than simply repeating it, but the intent is the same.

I no longer have to do this with Amy (usually), but Sarah is still pretty hard to understand, even for people who know her fairly well. Also, the older they get, the more complicated their conversation gets -- so even if their articulation is improving, it's not necessarily any easier for an adult to know what they're talking about. :laughing:

 

I would speak for them if the person could not understand, but I would give it that little bit of time (wait for the silence) so the other adult has a bit of time to process. I think probably your son would not be bothered by the gap in the conversation.

 

I do what Alden does. I re-affirm what they said, to them.

"You're absolutely right, muffins do come from a box."

 

I never have to interpret for Aiden since he's so advanced in speech, but I constantly have to interpret for Conner. Even WE have a hard time understanding him sometimes . Our family lives far away, so we do a lot of 'phone' conversations & I will sit by Conner while he's on the phone & talk loudly enough for the other person to hear me when I interpret for him. I do as other said, like, "Yes, we DID go swimming in the big pool today". I hope I won't always have to interpret for him & he'll catch up with Aiden!!

I've also noticed, at times, that Aiden interprets for Conner! Sometimes he'll do it if Conner is talking to someone else & Aiden overhears (or if he's involved in the conversation) & notices the other person not understanding. It's cute..."Conner said he wants a cookie, too." And, at home, I have had to ask Aiden what Conner is saying...about 99% of the time, HE can tell me !!!!

 

I do this too. I think it's good for them to hear it correctly besides the fact that it helps others know what was said.

 

I also re-affirm what they say EXCEPT for the increasingly more common times they use a bad word :blush:
then I think fast and fib a little! ardon:

 

ooohhhhh bad word alert!!

 

I will often repeat what they say so the listener can understand, especially on phone calls with my parents. I understand what they are saying most of the time but I know they don't always speak clearly enough for others to understand.

 

I think I do a little of both...re-affirm and interpret what they say. If I interpret what they say, I usually wait for the adult to ask or wait for the silence. If I am not sure if they understood or not (the other adult), I usually re-affirm.

 

Thanks for all the replies!! It's good to hear what others do!

This is pretty much what I do now, if I'm thinking. Sometimes I'll mindlessly just repeat, but I try to phrase it better if I can.

Do this alot, although it is getting better and I don't have to do it as much.