Did you know that there is such a thing as a toddler speech therapy? Yes, it’s true. After all, toddlers make up about 25% of the population, so why not take advantage of the fact that they are old enough to be able to learn new things. It’s really quite simple. This article will explain toddler language development, give you an idea of what to expect from your toddler’s speech therapy sessions and tell you about a couple of great toddler speech therapy tips that I have personally used to help my two boys.
So, here’s the bottom line on toddler speech therapy and how it can benefit your toddler. Toddlers need loving, compassionate attention to really help them open up and develop their speech and communication skills. And, you must be patient. Your toddler’s speech and language disorder may be difficult for you to recognize at first, but patience and caring will pay off in the long run.
When my two boys were babies, they were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is basically a social networking and communication disorder. Our pediatrician told us that we would probably need an MRI to look at their brain to see where all the problems were, but that didn’t even come close to the whole picture. My husband and I put a lot of effort into getting the whole family involved in toddler speech therapy so that Sam could learn more speech and language skills. And we’ve been having great success. Our boys now are between the ages of four and seven, and they are showing real progress, and even have some of the typical symptoms of being autistic.
At this point we know that toddlers have speech-communication developmental issues because we can hear them making sounds, using words that don’t make sense, and using poor pointing at objects. Our goal is to get them to the point where they are using point to communicate and understand words. By helping our toddler with speech-linguistic development, we will be able to strengthen his ability to relate to others, to communicate effectively, and to use the many tools of language and communication that he encounters in his daily life.
The problem of a toddler who isn’t speaking well or using good language skills is compounded by the parents’ frustration. They can’t understand why their toddler doesn’t seem to speak clearly or properly. Often times they will get frustrated at their toddler for not picking up on the conversations that they are having. Often times they will get upset at their toddler for not responding to their requests for information. Parents who are frustrated at their toddlers often unintentionally push their kids harder with demands for more information. This makes the late talking toddler even more challenging to deal with.
That’s why it’s important to get your kids to understand how to communicate and take part in language activities. If your toddler is struggling with something, like a new toy, a new game, or a new social situation, then you need to get him or her to understand that the problem is not the toy or game or social situation, but with themselves. The best toddler speech therapy exercises are similar to activities you might do with yourself, like going back to the grocery store or filling out your car’s gas tank. Here are some toddler speech therapy exercises you can do with your toddler.
One of the best toddler speech therapy exercises is engaging in seasonal activities, like going out hiking or camping or playing some organized sport. This will help your child connect with the outdoors and with the sounds of nature. By engaging in these kinds of activities on a regular basis, your toddler will be better able to work through their frustrations. Seasonal activities can also help toddlers develop a sense of belonging and an appreciation for things that they have come to enjoy.
The final exercise you can do with your toddler is engaging in an expressive language (like point, phrase, or story). Most toddlers have trouble expressing themselves in speech. By engaging in an expressive language, your toddler can learn how to say “I love you” to his or her own mom, dad, or sibling, and to whom, as well. In addition, by engaging in this toddler activity, your toddler will be honing his or her receptive language skills. This is a great exercise for toddlers that need to learn how to spontaneously express their needs and wants.