You asked

When should I get help if I find that my toddler has a language delay?

As with everything else, children learn language at different rates, although there is an average timeline. Premature babies might be off course by a few weeks or months, and if your child seems to be delayed within several weeks of the average child, then speak to your doctor. It may be nothing to worry about, but if there is a problem, diagnosing and treating the problem as soon as possible is vital for developing learning and language skills.

Although all children develop at different rates, trust your instincts – you know your child best, and if you think there is a problem, see a paediatrician or therapist as soon as possible.

The following are warning signs to look out for:

If by 19 to 20 months she isn’t pointing out things of interest such as birds, or flowers
Isn’t making at least six consonant sounds by the age of 20 months
Doesn’t respond to simple directions at 21 months, and doesn’t pretend with her dolls or herself, like brushing her hair or feeding her doll
If she doesn’t imitate actions or words of other by age 24 months, and can’t join two words together
If she doesn’t know the function of everyday household objects such as the phone, a toothbrush, fork, and so forth
She doesn’t use any two-word simple sentences
She can’t name at least three of her body parts
If she can’t be understood by anyone in the family by the age of 30 months
If she has difficulty singing parts of nursery rhymes at the age of 32 months
She doesn’t ask any questions by the age of 36 months, and cannot be understood by strangers at least half of the time
She cannot manage initial consonants and will for instance say “all” instead of “ball,” and is also unable to name most common household items
Age three to four years look out for the following signs:
At three years old she can’t speak in short phrases, she cannot understand short instructions, is not interested in interacting with other children, and also has real difficulty when separated from one of her parents. By 3 and a half, she constantly fails to add the final consonant to words, saying “ca” instead of “cat” At four years old she still stutters, and often finds it really difficult to produce a sound or word, which is sometimes accompanied by facial grimacing. At four years old, you still cannot fully understand what she is saying.

More questions

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As long as your toddler has plenty of space and time to play, and practice all their new physical skills, they’re probably doing just fine with her development!
Toddlers are naturally curious about everything. Instead of stifling that curiosity, you should be making every effort to promote it!
Your child’s imagination is not only a source of fun – it’s one of his or her most important early learning tools.
Young children are emotional beings. The worst thing you can do is make them stifle those emotions. Teach them how to cope with them instead, and you’ll raise a well-adjusted child.
If you want your child to grow up with a strong spiritual foundation, it’s never too young to start teaching, but remember to teach by example.
For toddlers, as with older children and adults, happiness comes from inside, not from outside.

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