How can I help them to talk?

My boys understand me when I talk to them but they don't really talk. Connor says maybe 15-20 words and Caleb less than 10 (that I can understand). Neither of them even say Mommy!

My Dr isn't concerned at all but I really want to help them along. They whining they use to communuicate is drivin me crazy!

 

I think repeating simple words might help, or just being vocal yourself! I don't know that there is any magic formula!

 

Some things that the lady from EI told me to help Katrina speak a little more (when she was 18mths old) was to have them repeat things back to you. Like when giving them a sippy cup give them a choice of milk or juice and have them repeat it back to you which one they want. When giving them things always say what they are. Try to give them two choices (like the sippies) and try to have them pick one by saying what they want not just pointing to it.

 

If they are whining to get what they want...that is a real opportunity I think. Mine are 18months at the end of Dec., and I have started...when they are pointing at something and fussing/whining whatever...I will say..."Do you want the cup?" All you have to do is say "Cup Please, and Momma will give it to you" Now I will just repeat..."Say Cup PLease," but I go ahead and give it to them if they are getting really frustrated. But I am very consistent, everytime they whine for somehting I do this, and I have been SO shocked to see that they are both responding now, and I am even getting please some of the time. The only other thing I do is tons of books, asking in the pictures...where is the cat?where is the cow? where is whatever. I have found out this way, they know a lot more words than I realized. They will point at the picture when I ask, and usually parrot the word back to me. A lot of the pronunciations are bizarre, so unless we were looking at the pic together, I really wouldn't recognize they knew that word. You might try some of that, it may be that they know more than you realize. We do flashcards too, which they think is really fun.

 

some ideas:

1) you could start signing and that is a mode of communication
2) you need to make sure you're giving them enough time to respond to your request -- I find that my kids talk as long as I am silent long enough. I find that grandparents etc. don't shut up enough to get a response/

Teri

 

I just had Cole evaluated as he isn't talking too much either. The developmental pediatritian said to continue to 'sports cast' all you do, just tell him everything you are doing ("mommy is making breakfast now, how about some eggs, eggs are yummy..") as I'm sure you are already doing. He also advised not to make him say the word before I give him something, if your sons are stuborn, that could just make it worse. He also suggested playing rhyming games, that can be silly and like a game and encourage them to try to say silly things too.

In a few weeks, I hope to get some more suggestions. And as it usually goes with me, as soon as we had Cole evaluated, he has just exploded with words. Hang in there...

 

I agree with the PP- starting some simple signing can get them to communicate more, and the whining isn't as constant. For some reason, the words my kids say the most are the ones they know signs to...I am guessing it has something to do with being more comfortable with the concept and knowing that I understand and vice versa, I don't know.
Also, you could get their hearing checked. I am planning on doing this after the holidays, I've just noticed recently that Nolan has strange pronunciations for a lot of the words he says... I know of a lot of small kids, my DH was apparently one, whose speech exploded after getting ear tubes. Something to think about, anyway.
Good luck!

 

You've already got great suggestions! I was going to suggest constantly narrating your day. This is something that doesn't come naturally to adults, but just talking to your kids about what you are doing can help a ton! Try to encourage them to tell you what they are doing during the day, as well.

Secondly, I was going to suggest lots and lots of choices, as well. If you ask, "do you want the red cup or the blue cup", that requires a verbal response. If you just ask, "do you want the red cup" that could be answered with a nod. Make sure you are giving lots of choices that require more than a yes or no answer.

Lastly, books help a ton - picture books are a great way to get kids to speak. "What animal is this" etc... is a great, fun way to do 'speech therapy'.