Hi, my name is Kelly and I write about being a dad. Let me tell you 
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How did you teach your toddler new words? Any advice for us as we teach Alleke her first words?
Watch a video of Alleke saying her first word.
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7 COMMENTS
Did you teach Ethan specific signs, or did he make them up on his own?
November 19, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Hi Kelly! I just love these questions! ; )
We just talked, talked, talked and read, read, read. Amira talked a lot sooner than Nico but he is suddently exploding! It’s all in their own time. We also entertained their “conversations” before they were far from understandable…nodding our heads, asking questions, looking them in the eye, etc. We would encourage attempts at words by saying things like “Yes, that is a truck Nico” when he tried.
Can’t wait to hear when Alleke starts talking! Have fun!
megan
We taught Ethan the signs for thank-you, eat, and more (he does the “more” sign for please as well, basically anytime he wants something:)) He has made up signs for hat, phone, and bib. Ethan also loves to read. And, like Megan said I carry on conversations w/ Ethan even though I understand only a few of his words. A lot of his “words” are only first sounds of words, like “sh” for shoe, so whenever he says that I say something like, “there are your shoes”. Such an interesting time when they are absorbing everything and trying to figure out even more!
November 20, 2007 at 5:24 am
It’s funny to realize now that I’m that parent who has elaborate, involved conversations with his one-year-old daughter who can’t even say five words.
I think as parents of young children, we also have active imaginations!
November 20, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Just talking to her and repeating words for the daily things in life seem to me to be the best way. She will talk in her own time. There does not seem to be a reason to rush it, she has her own developmental timetable that will sometimes spurt ahead when you least expect it.
November 21, 2007 at 3:31 am
I talk to Alex about everything. It seemed like once he started talking he was speaking in sentences. So I believe that when they are ready to talk they will, just be prepared for long conversations!! But I think that being repetitive will help speed things along.
November 25, 2007 at 6:33 pmLEAVE YOUR COMMENT
Lyndsay said...
We just talk to Ethan a lot. We label everything he points and everything we see and give him. We say, “can you say_____” and then we he makes an attempt we encourage him and praise his efforts. It is so fun to see him exploring the world of language. He uses a combination of signs and words to get most of his needs met.
November 19, 2007 at 5:59 pm