By the time your child is 20 months old, he or she is probably chattering away all the time. In fact, while you will still be noticing many new words being added to your child’s vocabulary, one of the most important developments around this age is the formation of sentences.
Instead of simply saying ‘jacket’ your child might now say ‘Mummy jacket.’ This is an important milestone, as it indicates that your child is learning to label objects, and about ownership.
Your child’s vocabulary is also growing rapidly though – and not just in terms of the words you hear him or her say. To prove this, ask your child to bring you something you’ve never heard him or her name. Chances are, he or she will toddle off, and return with the correct item.
If your child is fascinated by talking on the phone, ask a friend, or a grandparent, or even your partner, to phone your child at a predetermined time. It’s thrilling for toddlers, and is a good way to encourage talking. You can also start labelling sounds, such as pointing out a dog, and saying ‘Dogs bark – woof woof.’ Chances are your child will take great delight in mimicking the new sounds.
Instead of simply saying ‘jacket’ your child might now say ‘Mummy jacket.’ This is an important milestone, as it indicates that your child is learning to label objects, and about ownership.
Your child’s vocabulary is also growing rapidly though – and not just in terms of the words you hear him or her say. To prove this, ask your child to bring you something you’ve never heard him or her name. Chances are, he or she will toddle off, and return with the correct item.
If your child is fascinated by talking on the phone, ask a friend, or a grandparent, or even your partner, to phone your child at a predetermined time. It’s thrilling for toddlers, and is a good way to encourage talking. You can also start labelling sounds, such as pointing out a dog, and saying ‘Dogs bark – woof woof.’ Chances are your child will take great delight in mimicking the new sounds.
