Simple Tips

April 16, 2007 | Print

Toddler Talk

Despite their lack of verbs, toddlers are excellent communicators.

They repeat exclamatory statements until we acknowledge them with our own observation of their observation. Gets everyone on the same page, pronto.

For example:

“Mama, cat. Mama, cat! Mama, cat!!”

A simple “yes” from us is insufficient. Who knows what we’re talking about, really. By 18 months they’re too familiar with our habit of muttering to ourselves.

They continue, “Mama, cat. Mama, cat! Mama, cat!!”

“You see the cat. I see the white cat too.”

Ahh, we get it. They can move on.

And we’ve used the moment to demonstrate language, using a regular tone as in conversation with an adult and adding a verb and adjective.

•