2.5 year old pronunciation

[Whathefisgoingon]

Just collected my 2.5 year old from nursery where I was advised they’d been working on some pronunciations as he struggles with some things, and they are going to “keep an eye on it.”

Absolutely news to me, because I thought his speech was good.

I’ve just had a quick read online and apparently it is totally normal and almost expected that a 2 year old would mispronounce certain things!?

He talks in sentences, so he will say “I feeling a little bit tired, I go sleep now” or “I want to go shop, get ice cream” but he won’t say “ice cream” he’ll say “ice keem” - is this really abnormal at his age then!? As I’d assumed it was totally normal and now I’m a bit concerned!

Can’t really help but my DD is a bit younger at 2 years 4 months and she mispronounces a lot of words especially beginning with C, she’ll say pean for clean, pold for cold etc but I also thought it was normal?

It doesn't sound like they meant it was unusual, just that they're going to help with pronunciation, eg. modelling, repeating words back etc. Speech issues are better picked up earlier, so I think it's good they're going to keep an eye on case a SLT referral is needed.

@Vicky1989x so did I, but they looked concerned when they told me! I’m baffled!

At 2.5, what you describe is really nothing to worry about. The nursery are probably just being supportive. It may be that he is just a tiny bit behind his peers but I honestly wouldn't worry too much.

Nursery will tell you if they feel he actually needs an SLT referral but it doesn't sound like they are saying that.

Sounds weird to me too.

Mine is a little bit younger and mispronounces loads of stuff, but I've always thought the fact that she speaks in sentences and has a good vocabulary was more important 🤷‍♀️

Tell them in no uncertain terms to lay off.

I would be very concerned that the nursery staff know nothing about normal speech development or the harmful effect of what they intend to do.

Be extremely firm with them.

They must not do this to your child.

@mathanxiety must not do what, exactly? 😯

They must not make an issue in any way of the way your child pronounces words.

What he's doing (as described by you) is 100% normal and needs no intervention apart from adults speaking clearly to him, which every child needs.

The fact that they think his absolutely normal speech is some kind of a problem is very concerning.

If they didn't tell you what sounds they were working on, this 'information' is rather unhelpful tbh. Ask them what sounds they meant and whether they think this is unusual.

At 2.5, with a child whose speech development was otherwise unremarkable (as his sounds), I wouldn't be thinking intensive intervention on pronunciations was warranted. Just modelling during normal talk.

(Make sure you're modelling the use of prepositions, btw - 'go to the shop', 'go to sleep' etc. There's nothing wrong with him not using them at his age, but I've recently noticed people (on here, for example) dropping 'to' and if others around him do that, it might be worth consciously providing a counter-example)

My little boy who is nearly 3 is aiming for what your 2.5yo can do so don't worry. He's under the SLT team and it's only a positive thing in my eyes. IF a referral was made there's lots of steps, an initial assessment to begin with where they will probably just dismiss it and say no intervention needed. There's such a long waiting list, don't worry 😊

How are they working on it?

Generally all it should be (in a non speech therapy session way) is repeating why the child said. Such as he says “I feeling a little bit tired, I go sleep now" you say "“you want to go sleep now? OK"

Or in the case of ice cream repeat it (using a sentence).

Thanks everyone. I’m going to speak to them and find out exactly what they mean and plan to do, then make my feelings clear on it.

I'm a SALT. This is totally normal at 2.5. The best advice is just to repeat back clearly e.g. if he says 'I dove my dar' they say 'yes you drove your car'.

If they are doing general sound games e.g. Lotto games with k pictures, it is fine as long as he is happy, as it is basically just opportunities for him to hear sounds and language. If they are asking him to repeat sounds (say k) it's not developmentally appropriate at this age. It wouldn't do him any harm but it could be a bit frustrating.

@BendingSpoons thank you! That is what we do at home, so I’ll make sure that is all that happens at nursery.

You've quoted 4 things they say incorrectly so if you want that to get better then perhaps be grateful that the nursery want to help.

I agree, I told ds's school to lay off when they diagnosed him as 'possibly autistic' over something equally as daft when he was 3.5. they did and he's not.

@hotdiggetydog That’s not the point.

It’s my understanding that it is normal for a 2.5 year old to “say things incorrectly.” If it’s normal, why mention it to me as though it’s something of concern? Why suggest measures are being taken to “correct it” when there is no need?

You've quoted 4 things they say incorrectly so if you want that to get better then perhaps be grateful that the nursery want to help.

They say things incorrectly because they’re 2.5!! It will ‘get better’ as they get older. It’s a natural process. It would be disastrous if the child is made to feel self-conscious about the way they’re pronouncing words. With the best will in the world nursery staff (I work in a nursery) are not usually Speech and Language experts.

I spoke to the nursery for further clarification on what they intend to do. They basically said they’d noticed he was struggling to get some words out and getting frustrated, so they’re going to do some blowing bubbles games etc to strengthen his muscles!?

I have not experienced him struggling to get words out at all, and I’m more inclined to think that he was overstimulated or excited as it was his first day back at nursery after being off for two weeks.

Nice to know they’re looking out for him but obviously does make me worry a bit for him!

My 2.5 says exactly the same as yours.

Says things like 'pease' instead of 'please' and 'cock' (snigger snigger) rather than 'clock'. His sentence structure is also exactly the same as yours 'I go shops now' 'I want tea pease'

I've also noticed in the last few weeks that he 'thinks' more before he speaks so he'll start a sentence and then struggle to start speaking but I've noticed he's actually thinking about which words to use

Nursery say he is exactly where he should be for his age.

@BradPittsLeftTit 😂 good name

Defo reassuring. Mine is the same with the thinking, but more so in the last couple of weeks he will sometimes say “ummmm” when I ask him something, then answer once he’s thought about it.

They seem like pretty normal speech errors! This Instagram is excellent.

Blowing exercises will NOT help at all! Other than to get better at blowing! He might enjoy it, but it will be utterly pointless. It is mainly about the development of language parts of their brain. Very, very few children have 'weak muscles'. (And even those that do, blowing games won't be the way to strengthen for speech).

If he is struggling to get the words out and saying 'umm' a lot, then he needs time to plan his language and know the adult is listening. These hesitations are normal as children are learning language (my son does it lots at the moment). In a small number of children it can develop into a stammer. Whilst this is probably not the case here, I'd be making sure there is no pressure being put on regarding talking.

It's great they are keen, but they are basically wasting their time, and there are much better things they could be doing e.g. generally playing and interacting.

@BendingSpoons Thanks.

I don’t really know what to think about it all, but I am now finding myself analysing him then worrying (probably needlessly!)

Before they voiced their concerns I’d have said his speech was excellent, especially compared to other children his age that we meet out and about!

The “ummm” only happens if I ask a question. What would you like for dinner, which park shall we go to etc - but not always.

I have still not witnessed him struggling to get words out with me like they say they noticed at nursery. I read that at his age, adults should be able to understand 50% of their speech, and it is definitely higher than that with him.