Speech of a two year old

[bettybets]

My DD has just turned 2, and her speech is not great compaired to other children her age. She says lots of single words, fish, cat, dog, ma ma, da da, bike, drink, nose, eyes, ears. But very rarely puts two words, she may say bye bye, and all gone, but apart from that she really doesnt say anything else. My friends son (who is the same age) was counting up to 10 today.

I feel as if its my fault somehow, i work full time to try to save to buy our first house.

Does this mean she may be slower than other children?

[Tgger]

No, she sounds normal. Chill out. There's no competition.

[Dorje]

Make sure your childminder is talking with her all day. Pointing out things and asking her 'can you say tree', the tree is in the park, the tree has leaves etc etc...

And tiring as it is, talk with her and show her things, all day long you are with her. Give her seven seconds to reply - don't rush her.

it's exhausting but you should see an improvement quickly.

[Tee2072]

Relax. My son was just like that at 2. Now, just two months later, he's starting to speak in full sentences.

She'll get there.

[BikeRunSki]

Don't panic! My DS was exactly the same, WIthin a few weeks of his second birthday he started joining up words, then making simple sentences. He is 3 in 2 weeks time and now chatters on and on all day and has a large vocab compared to his peers. I have always talked to him all the time "What is that?", "Look at that red car", "Isn't that a big dog"? And I read him stories every night at bed time.

[kendalmintcake]

I just wanted to add that I am a SAHM for my 2.3 yr old and he only has 10 words, doesn't join any up into sentences.

So DON'T beat yourself up about working full time and thinking it is in anyway your fault!

[girlywhirly]

I think that often DC who don't say much beforen 2yo are listening and getting their heads around the language before they start making sentences.

My DS only said single words before 2, and then suddenly he was saying completely unprompted sentences like 'moon up in sky' and 'mouse on a bike' (illustrations in one of his books.) His speech was also very clear and understandable by everyone, lots of comments from nursery staff.

So I wouldn't be at all worried, but do keep talking, as that is how your DD will learn how words are said. I also worked full time, but with a good nursery and me burbling on the rest of the time what appeared to be a speech delay wasn't at all. Do you read stories? Choose ones with lines that she can join in with and you say them together. Say nursery rhymes and action rhymes together, and let her say the words she can manage.

[Dulra]

She sounds exactly like my dd1 was at 2. Don't forget kids develop at different stages but they all catch up. My dd's speech developed most between 2.5 and 3.5 and now 4 she has completely caught up with the kids that were miles ahead of her at 2 years.
You can always encourage though by reading to her, speaking to her and singing also can help bring them on. I am sure though you will find her speech development is within the normal range

[JosieRosie]

'I think that often DC who don't say much beforen 2yo are listening and getting their heads around the language before they start making sentences'

Very true girlywhirly! Children have to learn to understand a word before they can use it, which is why asking them to repeat words after you is not very useful. It sounds cute but it actually puts pressure on them to 'talk' without allowing them to develop understanding first.

OP, if you haven't already, go along to your local Children's Centre. You will get loads of advice and support around what to do at home with her to make sure she keeps on developing at a good pace. Agree with other posters about looking at books together (name the pictures for her), singing nursery rhymes and chatting during the day without any pressure on her to copy or repeat.