Before the age of one, babies would be happily talking to you in their most expressive language such as 'boo-boo', 'baa-baa', 'daa-daa', that we adults, may not be able to fully comprehend. As they reach 12 months of age, babies would have learned to say 'Pa-pa' or 'ma-ma'. Further at 18 months, they should be well able to quite understand parents' or their care givers' instructions in simple words and sentences. They may also be able to communicate to you in simple words as well, depending on how exposed they are to the daily used expressions.
Teaching toddlers to speak is not an easy feat, but can be made easy with love, patience and of course, the appropriate methods. I would not use the word 'right' in the adoption of teaching methods, as every child deserves to learn at their own pace, given their ability. My daughter is an example - she is taken care by my parents 70 to 80 percent of the time due to the working schedules of both my husband and myself. Since we are unable to often coach her to speak words, we have to rely on my parents to teach her simple daily used words, and this can be easily done by daily conversation and activities such as bath time, nap time, meal times and play time.
You would be amazed at how fast toddlers learn. My daughter at 26 months now, though not able to articulate in full sentences, have learned a pretty good range of vocabulary.
I am expecting more words to be learned, but would allow her to do so at her own pace. As we know learning a language takes more than just exposing children to reading, they need to practice too.
How then do my husband and myself coach our little one despite our busy work?
Simple.
1. Whenever we take the lift, we would get her to repeat after us, the numbers displayed on the digital display.
2. As we walk along the car park, we read out the brand names of the cars.
3. when we access to the mail-box, we would let her have those keys and open it for us, at the same time getting her to recognise that keys are required to gain access to the mail box.
These are some examples of what can be done daily. When we have more time, we would also sit down with her to read some flash cards, identify numbers and letters. Of course, bed time stories are equally important and is encouraged that parents read to them every night. You would be amazed at how much they would have absorbed. This activity also fosters parent-child bonding.
Advice to all parents - do not feel guilty that you have little time to spend with your little one. More time does not mean quality time. It is how well you have spend that little time squeezed out from your tight schedule that matters.
I know you can do it, and would eventually get better!
Signing off,
Fairy Angel Shop
www.fairyangelshop.com
How then do my husband and myself coach our little one despite our busy work?
Simple.
1. Whenever we take the lift, we would get her to repeat after us, the numbers displayed on the digital display.
2. As we walk along the car park, we read out the brand names of the cars.
3. when we access to the mail-box, we would let her have those keys and open it for us, at the same time getting her to recognise that keys are required to gain access to the mail box.
These are some examples of what can be done daily. When we have more time, we would also sit down with her to read some flash cards, identify numbers and letters. Of course, bed time stories are equally important and is encouraged that parents read to them every night. You would be amazed at how much they would have absorbed. This activity also fosters parent-child bonding.
Advice to all parents - do not feel guilty that you have little time to spend with your little one. More time does not mean quality time. It is how well you have spend that little time squeezed out from your tight schedule that matters.
I know you can do it, and would eventually get better!
Signing off,
Fairy Angel Shop
www.fairyangelshop.com
