Nursery have suggested my toddler is delayed in his speech and understanding. He is my first so I have nothing to compare him to. He will be 3 in June.
He can:
- speak in 2-5 word sentences. I'd say mostly 2-3 word sentences but he can and does reguarly do more.
-reply to questions like 'what happened?' 'What do you want for lunch?'
- play imaginatively where his toys "talk" and have little conversations e.g. "help! I'm stuck!", "I'll save you!" (Long elaborate rescue mission) "thanks!" "You're welcome!"
- babble, which he does constantly when he is playing, but not always understandably; do sound effects when playing e.g. sirens, explosions, roaring
- ask questions "mummy where are you?", "what happened?" "What's wrong?"
- understands most of what DH and I say.
- identify some emotions/needs - happy/sad/scared/hungry/sleepy
- follow simple instructions e.g. fetch me a _, put this in the bin, wash your hands, brush your teeth (as long as he can see whatever it is he needs to fetch and knows where the sink/bin is. Also may ignore if he doesn't want to do it!).
-count to 10 and recognise numbers 1-10 written down. Counts to 20 with help.
-identify most colours (red, blue, green, white, black, orange, yellow, pink)
- know and uses his name. Also knows the names of people he sees regularly.
-join in with songs he knows and actions if there are any.
- copy new words and often remembers them to use again independently.
- say when he needs a wee or poo but usually does not.
- respond to others appropriately e.g. when his baby brother cries he strokes his head gently and says "it's ok", if the cat is scratching the sofa he says "kitty is naughty!"
-identify and say most main body parts
- when reading him a story he can point to the pictures and say what's happening. He knows books tell stories and will sometimes "read" to us (make up a story based on pictures, flicks through each page and then finish with saying "the end").
Based on what similarly aged toddlers we know can do, he cannot:
- say if he is a boy or a girl (tbh he has no concept of boys and girls)
- say when his birthday is
- answer questions like "what do you want to do when you grow up?"
He is not potty trained. We have tried but he hates sitting on the potty and screams until he is allowed off. He is also quite uncooperative (I know all toddlers are but he is a lot more stubborn than other toddlers we know!) and will refuse to do things just because. He tantrums.
Main areas of concern for nursery seem to be potty training and following instructions (they seem to think this is a comprehension issue but I'm not sure if it's behavioral as in he just doesn't want to follow their instructions!). I definitely know much more articulate 2 year olds and am worried I've not noticed that he is behind. I have contacted my health visitor and have left a message but just wondering what others have experienced with toddlers at this age and what the next steps were.