Toddler Talk

Did you know? Every child develops at their own unique pace! 🌟

I’m on a mission to dive deeper into toddler speech and language milestones, and needyour help! By participating in our research study, you'll provide valuable insights intoyour child’s communication journey. It takes about 15 minutes from start to finish tocomplete the online survey!

Ready to join us? Head to 👉 Toddlertalk.com/research 👈 to learn more andparticipate!

Plus, as a thank you, participants will have the chance to win a $100 Amazon gift cardafter completing the survey!

To participate, you must:
❁ Be 19 years or older
❁ Live in the US
❁ Have a child between the ages of 12-36 months
❁ Read and speak English fluently
❁ Have a child who is exposed to English more than any other

language

Hey there! I’m Stephanie Hatleli, a mom and pediatric speech therapist. I'm currently conducting a research project to explore toddler speech and language milestones from the perspective of parents like you.

I'm eager to learn firsthand from parents about how their toddlers communicate in real-time. Participating is simple – it’s a 15-minute online survey, and at the end, you'll have the chance to enter a raffle for a $100 Amazon gift card.

Ready to share your insights? Head over to toddlertalk.com/research to learn more and participate!

To participate, you must:

❁ Be 19 years or older
❁ Live in the US
❁ Have a child between the ages of 12-36 months
❁ Read and speak English fluently
❁ Have a child who is exposed to English more than any other language

Toddler Talk Research Project — Toddler Talk Investigating toddler speech and language milestones from the parent's point of you. Participate today by completing a quick online survey.

Choosing a handful of relevant words to teach your toddler each week or each month is a great strategy for vocabulary growth.

Focusing on a few words at a time helps us narrow our focus, which is helpful for toddler's learning and us! Plus, each time of year is associated with different holidays and weather, which means there will be new words you can teach your little one all year.

☑️To teach your child new words as kids start going back to school:

1. Pick a few words to focus on each week (1-5 words at a time is best)

2. Repeat the words you are focusing on many times, either in books, during play, or in your everyday activities

3. Repeat, repeat, repeat, and wait! Over time, listen for your child to begin to imitate the new words and maybe even say them on their own!

👉️ For more tips on how to encourage your little one to say new words, see my favorite speech therapy strategy! - the first LINK in my bio!

Did your toddler ever surprise you by repeating something unexpected? We've all been there!

One way toddlers learn language is by overhearing conversations between adults.

Toddlers also learn language through interactions with us; we can talk to them directly to help them learn. Arguably, this is the easiest way for them to learn language.

BUT, they also learn when they listen to what we’re saying when we’re talking to other people. They’ll learn different vocabulary and grammar this way because we talk to adults differently than we talk to children.

Isn’t it amazing how toddlers are like a little sponge!? They’re soaking information up from everything and everyone around them!

Hopefully, this takes some of the pressure off feeling like you always need to narrate or always need to practice with speech and language at home! Just being around your children is helping them learn, even if they’re just eavesdropping on you!

Did you know there are two important parts of language development?

You're using RECEPTIVE Language (input) when you listen and understand what others are saying. It's your brain's way of understanding when other people are communicating with you!

You're using EXPRESSIVE Language (output) when you use words to share your thoughts and feelings. You're also using expressive language when you point, use gestures, or change your body language when communicating with other!

👂 Receptive: Listening, understanding instructions, and answering questions.

🗣️ Expressive: Talking, sharing ideas, gestures, and telling stories.

Imagine this: When you're learning a new language, you might understand more words than you can say. It's the same for kids! In general, they'll understand what you're saying before they can say it themselves.

But if there's a big difference between understanding and talking, it could be helpful to talk to a speech therapist.

Remember, each talker is special and grows in their own way! Keep the conversations flowing! 💬

🗣️ Before those first words, there's babbling, clapping, waving, and pointing – These are all ways that babies build their speech and language skills as their gear up for talking.

And even earlier, around 6-8 weeks, you'll catch the sweet cooing sounds, those adorable first vowel-like sounds your baby makes.

All these steps are like building blocks, helping your little one create a strong communication foundation. 🧱💬

Learn more about how you can support your little one at home! - Copy and paste the URLs 👌

Babbling 👇
https://toddlertalk.com/blog/when-do-babies-start-babbling

Waving and clapping 👇
https://toddlertalk.com/blog/when-do-babies-clap

Pointing 👇
https://toddlertalk.com/blog/pointing

First words 👇
https://toddlertalk.com/blog/baby-first-words-list

Do boys really talk later than girls?! 💬

On average, yes. Research shows that boys and girls may have slight differences in language development timelines, but it's not a blanket rule.

Some boys might start producing words and sentences a bit later on average compared to girls. BUT, it's important to know that boys still develop their speech and language milestones within the expected ranges.

Researchers believe that nature and nurture may play a role in why boys generally talk a little later than girls.

To learn more about why boys might start talking later than girls - check out our blog post! I provide more detailed information and research!

https://toddlertalk.com/blog/do-boys-talk-later-than-girls

Tomorrow is the first day of August! And the perfect time to teach your toddler a few new summer vocabulary words! ☀️

Choosing a handful of relevant words to teach your toddler each week or each month is a great strategy for vocabulary growth.

Focusing on a few words at a time helps us narrow our focus, which is helpful for toddlers' learning and us! Plus, each time of year is associated with different holidays and weather, which means there will be new words you can teach your little one all year.

☑️To teach your child new words this Summer:

1. Pick a few summer words to focus on each week (1-5 words at a time is best)

2. Repeat the words you are focusing on many times, either when you get out of the house, in books, or during play activities associated with the words

3. Repeat, repeat, repeat, and wait! Over time, listen for your child to begin to imitate the new words and maybe even say them on their own!

What words are you going to practice with? Leave a comment to let me know!! ☀️😎

*toutoflife

Remember the milestone: 2 words, 2 years!

But before toddlers reach the exciting milestone of combining 2 words, it's crucial to listen as they independently say around 50-100ish words. 🗣️ Providing them with a diverse range of words that encompass verbs, nouns, and descriptive words is key for successful combinations! Let's ensure they have a solid foundation of words to work with before working on combinations 😊

Ready for the next step? Here are a few tips to help toddlers put words together: 🌱

1️⃣ Add to what they've already said, giving examples of word combinations. "Daddy!" becomes "Daddy, look!" or "Daddy, stop!" based on their intention. 🗣️ Adding to what your child has already said gives them lots of combination examples to learn from!

2️⃣ Model phrases instead of questions. Use your tone to emphasize phrases like "More water!" rather than falling into the habit of asking questions like "More water?" Toddlers learn best by copying phrases! 🌟 (This may seem like a simple tip, but it can be so effective!)

3️⃣ Show them different combinations! Let's explore the countless ways words can be combined. Try pairing two words they already say on their own. It can be helpful to keep a list of words your child knows and plan ahead a few phrases you'll use repeatedly during an activity. The possibilities are endless! 🚀

For more tips and tricks on teaching word combinations - copy and paste this URL in your browser for a comprehensive guide with free activities and downloads!!

https://toddlertalk.com/blog/putting-2-words-together

Have you ever wondered if it's normal to have a hard time understanding your child?

That's where speech intelligibility milestones come into play - it's a measurement used by speech therapists to assess how easy or hard it is to understand someone's speech. And here's the exciting part: speech intelligibility increases as children grow older, allowing you to gradually understand more and more of what your child is saying. It's a journey of communication and progress!

🔸 At 18 months, it's typical for a child's speech to be around 25% intelligible. That means you might catch only a quarter of what they say.

🔸 By the time they reach 24 months, that percentage jumps to around 50%. Their speech becomes more understandable, but still leaves room for interpretation.

🔸 As they hit the three-year mark, you can expect their speech intelligibility to reach approximately 75%. They're getting clearer and more confident in expressing themselves.

🔸 Finally, by the age of four, children's speech should be 100% intelligible. Their words flow effortlessly, and you'll understand them with ease.

✨ Keep in mind that tiredness, excitement, or feeling under the weather might temporarily impact their clarity. It's normal for children to be harder to understand during those moments.

🔹 If you ever have concerns about your child's speech development, don't hesitate to consult a pediatric speech therapist. They can provide expert guidance and support. 🙌

Ever wondered what sets speech and language apart? Let's break it down in a simple way. 🧠 Language happens in the brain, while speech happens in the mouth. Language involves choosing words and arranging them correctly, while speech is the actual act of speaking those words aloud.

When Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) talk about speech, they're referring to the sounds produced by the mouth. This includes the way sounds are made and the sounds someone can or cannot produce. Speech issues can range from lisps or difficulty with certain sounds like "R." Stuttering, voice problems, cleft lip and palate, and apraxia of speech are other examples of speech production issues SLPs can address.

It's important to note that not all speech concerns are problems, especially for young children. Toddlers may naturally omit sounds from words, and preschoolers may lisp—both within the typical range. However, these patterns in adults may be atypical and affect communication. If you have concerns about your child's speech, an SLP can provide a thorough evaluation and guide you on what's typical for their age.

Language, on the other hand, encompasses understanding and expression. When your child follows directions, answers questions, or requests a snack, they are using language skills. Difficulties in language development can manifest as late talking, limited comprehension, grammar challenges, or struggles with organizing thoughts. SLPs are skilled in identifying language issues, distinguishing age-appropriate milestones, and helping children improve their language abilities.

If you have questions about your child's speech or language development, a speech-language pathologist can lend a listening ear, provide guidance, and determine if any intervention is needed. Let's empower our little ones to communicate effectively! 💬💕

Is your little one a late talker? Late talking is pretty common among toddlers, in fact about 13% of toddlers will fall into this category.

If your child is a late talker, 🗣️ you may notice some signs that indicate your little one could benefit from extra support in developing their language skills. If your child is not using words or only using a few words by the age of two, has difficulty following simple instructions, struggles to imitate sounds or words, or shows limited social interactions through language, it might be time to consider an evaluation.

Did you know that more than half of late talkers will catch up on their own? 🗣️ However, some children may require the support of speech therapy to help them along their language journey. It's difficult to predict which category your child falls into, which is why I recommend a proactive speech and language evaluation for late talkers.

📅 Schedule an evaluation to gain insights into your child's strengths and areas that need nurturing. Discover specific techniques to support their language development and boost their confidence. Whether or not speech therapy is recommended, you'll have peace of mind knowing you're taking proactive steps to help your child communicate effectively. 💬💕