mysticamethyst Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I have recently started babysitting a 15 month old little boy. He really is a cutie, but he doesn't talk at all; only screams. Yes, he can hear, but his mother thought baby signs would be more effective that teaching him sounds and how to speak. I do not know baby signs, and quite frankly I don't like them, I get it for kids that have to use thembut this I do not understand. I cannot communicate with this wee one at all, and the screaming is well, getting on my last nerve. He will not make sounds with me, I have tried he just looks at me then screams to get down or he walks away from me. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to help him learn to talk. Thanks for any help and guidence you can offer. Tammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I would think at this age that songs might help. Could you get a tape that plays over and over again? Sing along with it sometimes, dance with him to the music while you sing, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandamom Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I would agree with mom in this case. Reducing his frustration level by giving him tools to communicate with should help immensely. Can you get mom to show you a few important signs? My 23 month old currently isn't talking yet but signs have helped tremendously. He uses about 5 regularly and it helps us get through the day. He has been in speech therapy for 3 months and he still isn't talking yet (BTW, I'm still not worried yet because I know he'll talk eventually). http://asluniversity.com/asl101/pages-layout/concepts.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysticamethyst Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 I am working on learning some signs, but I am really frustrated and so is wee one. I just don't remember my kids going through all this, wow, it has been a long time since there has been a baby in the house. I will try songs to encourage him. Thanks again Ladies. Tammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysticamethyst Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 e really only screams for the most part and the signs he uses are a combo of ASL and whatever she wants to use. I am trying to learn some signs he uses but there aren't very many. He can sign; more, please, daddy, mommy; and I am working on bite and cup with him. His mother has made up signs for shoes and coat, and I can never remember these; this is the extent of his knowlege of any words. How many should he know? I know he can hear because I will ask him to get his cup and he will, or I will ask him to get his binki and he will but he will not make a sound or doesn't like to sign cup for me but will do more and more as the days have gone on. I do find this whole thing very frustrating so I can only imagine what weeone is going thru. Are there any books or websites you can suggest that will help us both? I am not sure how much talking his mom does with him or not, I know she thinks it foolish to read to him at this age, but we have started that and my oldest loves to read stories to him. I am ready to print out pictures but don't want to go further into nonverbal skills when I know he can do this. Thank you agian for all your help, I feel truly stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I know she thinks it foolish to read to him at this age, but we have started that and my oldest loves to read stories to him. Ack! I'm so glad that you read to him! I started to read to my from birth. I do not think it is foolish at all. I would talk to him all the time. I would have a running monologue. "See the car? Vrrrrrm." Make it silly. Use a lot of noises. I would pick up my baby and say "ba, ba, ba" letting the little one put his hands over my mouth while I did it - he though it was funny. I would point to the pig in the storybook and make piggy grunts or cow moos. Maybe he will start to make some of these noises himself. Maybe not. If he makes a noise, other than a scream, I would praise him over the top. And make a game so that he learns to consciously make those sounds. Yes, I agree, he sounds like he definitely needs speech help. But whether it helps in a "therapeutic" way or not I think playing with sounds won't hurt and if you make it a game, and don't force him to go along, it might even help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenn in Mo Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I thought signing was silly...right up until my 4th child. She is a great talker and I think the signing actually helped increase her verbal skills. We were watching Signing Time videos for my 3rd child. They are just fun videos and I thought signing would be a cool skill to learn. She had seen someone signing and was interested. My toddler watched along and picked up a lot of sign language. She signed as she learned to talk. If your library has any Signing Time videos, I HIGHLY recommend them. They have catchy songs that are very engaging and help you quickly learn new, practical signs. You'll be amazed how quickly you learn (and the child, too.) And saying the words out loud as you sign them will only reinforce those verbal skills. If you google Signing Time, you can find their website. It has lots of great info as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandamom Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 >>> How many should he know>>> I have no idea. My ds1 knows cup, eat, more, where (he made this up), I want (he made it up) and that's about it. My ds's comprehension is really good and he knows his body parts, beginning to grasp color and can put together things (one of his strengths). He likes to look at books and can hum in such a way that you can tell he likes music. Teach to him like he is a verbal child and when he's ready to talk he'll have the knowledge in his head already. That's what I'm doing. My dd5 was also nonverbal at a young age and it worked for her. Encourage the use of sounds -- cars, airplanes, animals, etc. Practice using the letter B sounds and M sounds as they are early sounds. Have him try and blow bubbles and using a straw are two skills to strengthen the mouth area. In my earlier post I linked an online sign language dictionary that I'm using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I agree with the idea of teaching him some more signs. My kids all talked early but I think it's partly because I talk *so* much, myself and I kept a sort of running dialogue with the babies about whatever we were doing. At 15 months it isn't at all unusual for kids not to be talking. If you want to help him in the language department, I wouldn't try and force him to make sounds, I would just do a lot of talking to him and encouraging him to communicate whether through gestures or sounds. Example: Let's get you a drink would you like water or juice? *point to the water when you say water, point to the juice when you say juice, hold baby so he can point to one or the other* Read books with farm animals or use other opportunities to make sounds with him. Those sounds help them connect the idea of making a sound to stand for an object. Just a couple of ideas...I can definitely hear your frustration, I hope you find something that works for the two of you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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