Increasing Your Child's Vocabulary

Other Words your Toddler Needs To know…

 

By Karina Gonzalez, MS CCC-SLP

 

Do you know what words your child needs to have in his/her vocabulary? What I have discovered throughout the years as a speech-language pathologist is that parents are great at teaching children the names of objects. I see many toddlers that know the names of many animals, toys, body parts and even modes of transportation. This is great! However, these kids have a difficult time speaking in phrases. I find that they generally use 1 word to communicate and seem to resort towards gestures for everything else they need to say. In order for your child to combine words into phrases he needs to know many other words, not just nouns. So if you are currently working on increasing your child’s vocabulary be sure to include the following words in his/her repertoire.  

 

Spatial Terms:

• Up/down
• In/on
• Over/under
• Next to or beside
• On/off
• Between

Pacifier Use and Speech Development

What you may not know about a pacifier

by Karina Gonzalez, MS CCC-SLP

What is my biggest pet peeve? Seeing a toddler with a pacifier! There have even been times that I have seen 4 year olds with a paci in their mouths. Parents if this is your child, please don’t be offended, instead keep reading, I’m here to help. I’m sure every speech-language pathologist feels the same about the dreaded binky, tete, boopy, chupi, mimi, paci, sucky, etc. This innocent looking device is a speech development’s worst nightmare. Well I might be exaggerating a little, but I’m trying to prove a point. Don’t get me wrong, a pacifier serves a purpose in an infant’s life. It helps with soothing, calming and comforting babies, as well as quenching the instinctive desire to suck. This is a behavior that develops in utero, prenatal imaging has shown babies sucking their thumb or fingers before birth, so it’s only natural for your baby to want to suck. Another advantage of a pacifier is that it helps promote the sucking reflex in premature infants. Pacifiers have also been linked reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

However, these benefits apply only to early infancy, as your baby grows the benefits decrease and they begin to wreak havoc in your baby’s mouth including…

Developmental Milestones

Is your child meeting all milestones on time?

by Jackie Gurdian, MS, OTR/L

You and your pediatrician should be checking thesemilestones regularly to assure that your child is meeting their milestones ontime. Early intervention is key to success for your child’s life.   

Here are some basic milestones from birth to three years ofage that the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests to look out for. Don’tforget to consult with your doctor.

Birth-3 months

·        Able to track toys

·        Reacts to sounds

·        Smiling 

·        Raises head and chest when lying on stomach

·        When placed on firm surface push down on legs

·        Grasps and shakes toy

·        Swipes at toys

·        Brings hands to mouth

      ·        Recognizes familiar people and objects

·        Able to track moving objects

4-7 months

·        Rolls both directions

·        Raking grasp

·        Transfer objects from one hand to the other

·        Sit independently

·        Enjoys social play and play with mirror images

·        Able to find partially hidden images

·        Attempts to get objects that are out of reach

8-12 months

·        Sits independently and get in positionindependently

·        Crawls

·        Pulls up to stand

·        Cruises furniture

·        Separation anxiety begins

·        Finger feeds independently

·        Imitates people and toys

12-36 months

·        Walks independently

·        Run

·        Kick a ball

·        Stand on tiptoe

·        Pulls toys when walking

·        Imitates behaviors

·        Enjoys playing with children

·        Sorts by shape and color

·        Enjoys playing imaginary play

Thanks for reading, and be sure to read my other posts for more information. Feel free to contact me with anyquestions! speakeatplay@gmail.com

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, www.HealthyChildren.org