language and the toddler

[gosling]

Suddenly Benjamin seems to have had a cognitive growth spurt. Some days it seems like he understands *everything* I say. (I need to start being careful what I say around him; I really do.)

At this point I can say, "bring me x" or "let's go do y" with an increasing number of things, and he will immediately trot off to do it. He notices what Chip or I are doing, and wants to help too. Today I was putting laundry in, and he immediately ran off to get a piece of clothing from the chair. I said, "Bring me the shirt too", and he ran off into the bedroom and came tearing back with it, so proud of participating in something.

He can produce very few spoken words, but he is picking up what little sign vocabulary I have been using with him almost immediately. I clearly need to learn and start using more. He just doesn't have the fine motor co-ordination in his mouth to pronounce much of anything, but he is *so* frustrated because he wants to speak more urgently with every passing day.

Comments

[marmota.livejournal.com]

Have you considered ASL? I've heard of it used to help cognitive development go faster than motor development allows?

[ceo]

The sign vocabulary is simplified ASL.

[persis.livejournal.com]

Talis was very good at learning what we were saying, but didn't start naming people until she was 23 months, and didn't actually put wordsintio sentances until she turned two, but then they came fast and furious! She went from two word sentances to six-seven word sentances within a week, and hasn''t stopped talking since. :-)

Spencer, on the other hand, didn't say a word until he was at least 3, but then spoke in very complex sentances... and he hasn't stopped since either. *G*

Sign language may well help with Benjamin's frustrations, and gives you something you can continue to use after he starts talking... especially in noisy situations..

[marmota.livejournal.com]

Oh, ok. Neat! I misunderstood, figuring gosling was referring to making up signs.

[kimberlogic.livejournal.com]

wow! how neat (and slightly frustrating for him) ... just wow!

[gingicat]

It really amused me the other night when you guys were taking me home from dinner, and Joshua was babbling, and I said, "Benjamin, Joshua wants you to talk to him" and he started babbling. :)

[remcat.livejournal.com]

Oh how well I remember Seth's communication frustration! Signing helped TONS -- thank goodness for Early Intervention. :) (Seth had essentially no words at 18 months and spent a good portion of the day shrieking at me for not being able to understand him.

[gosling.livejournal.com]

Poor kid. I am glad signing helped!