Sydney & Denny

Sydney & Denny
September at the Park

Friday, September 17, 2010

My 2 year old doesn't talk!

Hello again, what a beautiful day it has turned into. I'm glad it has too, as I am going to a high school football game to be a stat keeper for the team a friend of mine coaches. I'd hate to sit outside in crappy weather. I love football and all, but I just don't have it in me to sit through rain or cold(and especially both.)
So, as the title to this entry says my two year old son doesn't really talk. He can say a few words clearly and some that are mostly sounds that kind of sound like a word. His thank you is more like "naah naaah." The thing that bothers me, is that by now his sister(now 4 years old) was talking fully. I know each kid is different and all, but when the kid is mine, I tend to over think and kind of freak out more than I would if it were any one's else. Also, I know it's not really fair to compare him to his sister because he's the baby and the biggest problem is that we probably talk for him. My mom says she sees us do that all the time, and I guess if that's the case he must think "why do I need to talk it they will for me?"  His doctor said there is nothing to worry about, and that we would keep an eye on it, but again, he's my kid and I think it's my job to worry about everything to do with him. I just don't want him to feel pressured as well, but I don't want him to be the only full grown 6th grader who can't form his words properly.
Although, it could just be that he doesn't speak English. I think he understands everything I say, but he doesn't listen to it, so maybe he really doesn't speak the same language as me. Maybe I'm the problem. Maybe I speak Mandarin Chinese or something.
So something really neat has happened. I actually have a couple of people following my blog! Yeah, two of them are my wife and mom, but there are actual people that I don't know following this blog!!! I feel so important, and that's not sarcasm. 
I am really looking forward to the football weekend. Tomorrow Michigan takes on UMass and should win. Emphasis on should. I really like the way they look so far this year, but I question weather Robinson can keep up the amazing play he has shown so far. I mean the guy is putting up video game type numbers!  Then on Sunday my Lions take on the Eagles, and I think they have a shot. I REALLY like the direction this team is headed in. I don't think they are ready for contention this year, but they are not far off. I just don't think they can overcome the loss of their quarterback long term, so they better hope Stafford gets back quick.
My predictions: UM 38 UMass 16. And Lions 23 Eagles 20.
One last thought: My daughter does something that I find to be one of the most amazing things in the world. Out of nowhere sometimes she will just say "Daddy, I love you." Now if that's not a reason to appreciate being a parent I don't know what is.
Until next time always remember: It's not how you start that matters, it's how you finish.
I hope all is well for you.

3 comments:

  1. Don't worry too much. I believe there is a difference between boys and girls. I have a girl and boy 13 months apart. They are now 6 and 5 (girl being the oldest). My daughter was talking pretty good shortly after she turned 2. My son was well into his threes by the time he started really gaining a vocabulary.

    Looking back at it I realized that when my daughter was born she got a lot of attention, everyone was talking to her and trying to make her talk. There was no competition. My son received some of the same treatment but just not as heavy because the older sibling was now actually speaking which still held the attention.

    Not to mention by that time my daughter had paved the way for her brother. Everyone had gotten used to understanding what all the grunts and mummers meant, which meant my boy didn't have to try as hard to get what he wanted.

    Now, their littlest brother (now 2) is also going through the same verbal curve. He has been slow to pick up words that make any sense; however, he understands everything and follows directions just fine. I have seen many little girls his age with more vocabulary than him, but I also understand every child develops a little differently with different circumstances.

    I would have thought with two older siblings the youngest would have picked up talking quicker to keep up with the pack, but what I noticed was he just has more help getting what he wants without using any words.

    Here's somethings that have worked for me. I'm already noticing a difference. When my youngest wants something I make him try to say the item he is asking for like "Mil" (for milk) or "Popicle" (for popsicle) as long as it's sounds close enough, I get him what he wants.

    Sometimes it's a battle of wills. I know he can say it but he just won't. Even though it's tough and he throws a fit, I'll leave it on the counter and won't give in for a good 3 to 5 minutes giving him a chance use his words. Of course I repeat over and over the word of the item he wants and definitely praise the effort if he says it or not. Sometimes it works sometimes he scolds me with his baby talk, which is very not to bust out laughing.

    I also use books with lots of pictures to point at simple objects and get him to point and even say the object he is pointing at. Normally, we don't event read the story just practice naming the pictures.

    If you are truly concerned and if you haven't done so already. Have his hearing checked. My now 5 year old did have hearing problems, which causes him to still have trouble with his speech. Although his speech class has helped him a lot.

    My 2 year old also won't pronounce certain letters like "S" but I'll keep any eye one it for another year or so before I get his hearing checked.

    Whatever the case is/was I made sure they new I loved them and gave hugs with high-fives for the effort.

    I hope this helps a little,
    Kevin Chertkow
    Dad To The Bone
    www.dadtothebone.com

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  2. Kevin, thanks so much for the comment. I actually used your suggestion about the pictures in books. What's really amazing is without doing that, it's like he had a revelation today and said, or tried to anyway, like 10 new words. Thanks again for the comment, and talk to you soon.

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  3. Hey Denny going through the same thing with my boy 26 months old, very limited vocabulary. The key is if your son understands simple directions, like Kevin said, "go to sleep, lets eat, lets go out, get your shoes" etc, he will eventually pick up the rest. But I know how it feels and how worrisome it can be for a dad. Hang in and engage him as much as possible.

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