Speech and Language of the Eighteen Month Old!

At age eighteen months, your child:

•  uses 10 to 20 words, including names hears well and discriminates among many sounds recognizes pictures of familiar persons and objects combines two words such as "all gone," "Daddy bye-bye". 

• Uses words to make wants known such as "more," "up". Imitates words and sounds more precisely. 

• Points and gestures to call attention to an event or to show wants. 

• Points to his or her toes, eyes, and nose. 

• Brings familiar object from another room when asked

• Turns pages of a book a few at a time

• follows simple commands

• waves "bye-bye"

• imitates housework: wiping up spills, setting table

• makes a tower of 3 to 4 cubes

• knows and says the names of 5 things

• hums and may sing simple tunes 

You can stimulate you 18 month old child's speech by:

• reading books to your child frequently

• talking simply, clearly, and slowly to your child

• providing experiences to stimulate speech and language development in your child: take walks, go shopping, plant a garden, have a picnic, clean the house or yard together

• talking about new situations before you go, while you're there, and again when you are home

• looking at your child when he or she talks to you 

• imitating and identifying sounds with your child, such as dogs barking, birds singing, fire sirens, squeaky doors, running water

• describing what your child is doing, feeling, hearing 

• making speaking and listening experiences pleasant, worthwhile, and fun for your child

• letting the child listen to children's records or tapes

• praising the child's efforts to communicate

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