My toddler has three words: Mommy, Daddy and “this”. How can I help her be more verbal?
Parents often report to me that their child uses the word “this” in their limited vocabulary. These children may walk around their apartment consistently saying “this, this, this” or an approximation of the word: “dis, dis dis”.
When a toddler wants something and she gestures or points towards the item (and maybe grunts too), parents often respond, “Which do you want – this or this?” or “Oh, you want this – Here you go!”
There is a better way to communicate with your child. Provide more effective models!
You already have your child’s attention, so take the opportunity to provide her with the actual word of the item she wants (e.g., “cookie”) instead of “this”.
If you’re not sure which item she was pointing to, offer her a choice: “Do you want a cookie or a cracker?”
Hold the object up toward your mouth, but not in front of your face so she can observe the movements of your mouth while you say the word.
Maybe not the next time, but soon after, you may find your child asks for “cookie!”
When she says “cookie,” expand her thought: “Yummy Cookie! MMMMM!”
Don’t feel obligated to keep rewarding your child with cookies every time she says the word.
I provide private pediatric speech therapy in Manhattan on the Upper East Side in children’s homes. You can contact me, Stephanie Sigal, M.A. CCC-SLP, at sayandplay@yahoo.com / 646-295-4473.