New to the 2 year old year

Hi everyone! My twins Emma and Bella turned 2 in April! Yay! They're getting so big! They're such sweet happy girls!
Now onto a couple questions...
I know it's common for twins to talk late, but when did yours start talking? Mine currently have no words and each see a speech therapist once a week. Bella is trying to say cookie and cracker, and they babble mamama, but not to me. I don't think they are autistic, but the speech therapist and EI lady said they've seen some things that concern then, they called them 'yellow flags'. My girls also don't interact with each other or other kids their age, but love playing with my husband and I, and our 7 year old daughter. Do your kids play together?would love to hear from parents in this situation or who have been here.
Thanks in advance!!

 

:bday: Emma and Bella!
My two's language really exploded after they turned 2. I would say as they got older, they started to interact more with each other and still need to warm up to other children. Just tonight, my son encountered our neighbor's 2 year old son and he ran and hid behind my back. I would say if their social and language skills are concerning you, I would bring it up with your pediatrician or EI professionals and see what they suggest.

 

Welcome to the 2-4!

My kids were early talkers - 3-5 word sentences by the time they were about two, and by two were playing together fairly frequently. Mostly it was playing side by side, but they liked to cook in their pretend kitchen together -- passing plastic food back and forth -- and did a lot of chasing each other around and giggling. They might have played together earlier than some because they could communicate more, I'm not sure, but I figured I'd respond just to give you a perspective on what other twins did at that age.

It's really good that your girls are getting speech therapy, and that at least one of them is working to say words. A lot of kids, twins or not, have language explosions right around 2, so it's possible that your girls will to. Do they understand when they're spoken to? Like, if you say "Emma, go get the doll", will she? You mention yellow flags from the speech therapist and EI... I'm sure that's stressful. Can you ask for a deeper evaluation so you know if there's anything you need to be working on with your girls?

 

I just read a news article this week or last week about a new autism checklist that pediatricians are supposed to use at the 2-year well-child visit. If you haven't had yours yet, I would ask about it.

Unfortunately, I think it is fairly unusual for kids not to be speaking by age 2. Twins are often late talkers, of course, but if their receptive speech (i.e., their ability to understand what you are telling them and to follow directions) is also poor, there may be cause for further evaluation.

 

Welcome!!!

My ds was in speech therapy until he turned 3 and it helped immensly! I think if you're seeing progress from the speech therapy then things will only get better.
As for playing together mine just started really doing that in the last 6 months or so. I remember at that age wondering the same thing!
If they are being seen once a week then just make sure that you continue to see things get better, if not talk to the director and find out what else they recommend. Are they doing any group speech sessions? These were great for my ds as well.

 

I can't help much either... like the pp mine were also very early talkers. DD actually spoke her first word at around 9-10mths (she said tickle lol!!). By around 16mths she was already speaking 2-3word sentences and by 21mths she could sing all of twinkle twinkle little star and since turning 2 she has been speaking nearly full on conversations with us (i.e 7-8 words at a time). DS took a little longer but was definitely saying words by 12mths and by 18mths he had a huge speech explosion putting together 3-4 word sentences etc... And since age 2 he also has been carrying out nearly full on conversations with us. They both started playing together somewhat or I should say fighting together since they were about 18mths but really only started playing more so together since turning 2. I'm not sure how normal it is not to speak until 2 but I pray everything works out okay for you. My 1st cousin is autistic and it's been a very difficult road for my aunt. I'm sure it's probably just a twin thing. Gl

 

:welcome: to the 2-4!

Mine were saying some two word sentences at age 2. BUT...by 2.5 it really exploded with 3-5 word sentences. I noticed a huge difference in that six month period. As far as playing together, they pretty much still did side by side play at age 2. I remember worrying about that a bit...I thought it was strange that at 2 they still weren't really playing together. However, they eventually did. I think it was around the 2.5-3 yr mark. I think this year you will likely notice some big changes in these departments. However, if it were me, I would check to see if they could go ahead and do further testing on those 'yellow' flags.

 

I appreciate everybody's input and advice. I've been really busy these last few days and haven't had a chance to sit down and respond. I have family coming for the weekend, but after they leave I will post replys! Thanks everyone!!

 

At 2 I had one boy with a few 2-3 word sentences and one with just words. We were put on a speech therapy waiting list. We got an evaluation at 2 years 4 months where we were told they were delayed, but there was nothing really serious that was wrong. We were given basic strategies to help them out, reassured they would likely have a sharp increase in skills in the next few months and were told that we would be on a very long waiting list for services. I never saw a language explosion like the therapist predicted, but we did progress slowly.
We are now 3 years 7 months and still haven't gotten a call to say we are at the top of the waiting list (Canadian waiting lists can be ridiculous). Without any intervention we have developed sentences. They do okay with a lot of 4-7 word sentences. Things break down when they try anything more complicated.
I do need to say though that we pulled them out of child care at 2 years 6 months. I think their language would be more developed if they had stayed in care interacting with other children. They are home with each other and they always seem to understand each other.

 

I had one early BIG talker and one is delayed in speech and is seeing a Speech Pathologist once a week. After 2 .5 is when something seemed to click and her speech has improved from 1-2 word phrases to 3-4 word sentences now. It’s also about the time when they started playing together more (chasing, holding hands, ring around the rosey):catfight: I actually think at 2.5 lots of things came into play; dressing themselves, buckling themselves into the car seat, physically reached milestones.

 

Their receptive language is getting much better now that they're 2. It's like they woke up one day and just understood. LoL.... They're starting to pay attention better and are getting better at following directions, like when I tell them "Ok, girls lets go brush our teeth" they run to the bathroom climb on their stools and get ready to brush their teeth. When I say "its time for bed" they grab their blankies and binkies and run down the hall to their room and get into their bed. Or when I say "Emma, Bella do you want a Popsicle?" they drop everything and run to the kitchen and wait for their Popsicle. They've just started pointing these last couple months, but can now point out almost anything I ask in books or pictures. Like "where's the flower?" they will point to the flower, or in a picture "where's Daddy?" they point to Daddy. They're really picking up a lot of stuff fast now that they're two, they just don't talk yet. Bella says 'Cracker, cookie, carrot, up, and mamama (when she's sad or mad) If you heard her say them you probably wouldn't know what she was saying, but I can tell the difference between the first 3 words I mentioned that start with a c. Sometimes when Emma gets excited like when I blow bubbles at her she 'Flaps' her arms, but I don't think because she is autistic, I think because she is excited and thats what kids too. Bella loves to dance and if I say "Bella, shake your booty" she will. (super cute by the way) When I first had them evaluated they were 17 months old and back then, I was worried it was more then just a delay, but now as they get older, and start catching up, I'm not worried in the same ways. I think they are just behind, and that's all it is. They have always played side by side. They're just starting to kinda interact with each other. Bella likes to watch Emma eat, and Emma likes to watch Bella do puzzles, etc. Sometimes one will walk up to the other and try to brush their hair or teeth. I think as they get older they will start playing together more. We finally got Bella to high five! (its not something we do nor thought about teaching, thats why they don't know how) but the Speech therapist suggested we teach her so a few months ago I tried, not interested, tried later, no go. Then the other day, tried it and she did it, now she will high five almost anyone who asks. We figure by way of development that our little Emma is about a month behind Bella, so I'm sure she'll be ready to high five in no time. Bella found my nieces doll yesterday and was clapping her hands and high fiveing her. Emma will give a baby doll a binkie and rock her in her arms. All these new things are happening daily and it is just amazing. They're very happy, very bright little girls and I really think they are just delayed in their speech and a few other things. Maybe its because I'm with them more that I see all these things they do that the therapist don't.
I appreciate everyones advice, and thank you for sharing with me. I think we're going to be seeing a lot of dramatic changes this year and I hope talking is one of them! I just wanted some reassurance I guess that its common for twins to talk late, and not interact with each other for a while. I've heard from alot of people that their twins didn't start playing 'together' until they were around 2.5, 3 years old. But the EI and speech lady see that as a problem, or 'yellow flag' and I'm sorry, I just don't. Thanks again everyone!