Agony Aunt: Toddler talk
Dear Wendyl,
I have the most adorable little two-year-old girl who is the light of my life. So far she has hit all the targets for her age, except for talking. She just grunts or mumbles and can only really say “yes” or “no”. Other two-year-olds in our playgroup talk a lot more and everyone says my daughter’s just shy, but I’m beginning to wonder if she has something wrong with her. Should I get her looked at by a doctor or just give her more time?
Worried, by email
Dear Worried,
One of the things that annoys me most is when children are expected to develop at the same rate. My son was a very shy boy and didn’t talk much, but the important thing was that I knew he could understand a wide range of words. By all means get her hearing checked out next time you are at the GP or Plunket nurse but, in the meantime, really ramp up how much you talk to her.
Constantly ask questions like, “What colour is your banana? Is it sweet? Do you like it?” to encourage her to respond. Read to her, at least five books a day, and carry on a constant conversation as you go about daily activities. Many babies don’t talk because they’re not talked to and that is how they learn, by imitation. I think you’ll see an improvement soon. Meanwhile, please don’t compare her to others – she is her own, very unique, little person.
Wendyl
- Wendyl Nissen
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