Reddit reviews It Takes Two To Talk: A Practical Guide For Parents of Children With Language Delays

I'm putting it off as well. I read about half of Expecting Better back when I first started TTC. I had a friend that really liked "Happiest Baby on the Block."

If anyone is interested in communication for birth to 4 years (let me get on my soapbox), I highly suggest It Takes Two to Talk by the Hanen Centre. It's marketed toward parents of children with language delays, but it's helpful for everyone wanting to promote their child's language development. I teach the class to parents, and one of the things I consistently hear is "Why isn't this for everyone?," "I wish I knew this for my other kids," and my favorite: "I want to have another kid again and try this from the beginning!"

Argh! Bilingual children can have language delays too, and they deserve treatment just as much as monolingual children. Experts disagreecon whether bilingual children might show some delay 'on average', but are pretty much unanimous that the minimum norms (intervention norms) should be the same (but assessed appropriately, so for word count, add up both languages, for sentence length, take the strongest language).

That said, with your son understanding eveything, there is not much cause for concern yet. Generally children under two don't get therapy for lack of speech unless there are comprehension problems as well (after checking for hearing problems first). I'd say wait until your child is two and if your child is not making two word sentences by then, ask the doctor or a referral for a full speech and autism evaluation.

One book that I've seen highly recommended (but haven't read) is http://www.amazon.com/It-Takes-Two-Talk-Practical/dp/0921145195

Being understood is so important to toddlers! I don't think your child's behaviour is abnormal. But I don't think you will know for certain until your child is in (pre)school. Parents often 'miss' an autism or ADHD diagnoses because they themselves are slightly on the same spectrum as their child and their idea of normal is shifted.

These things I did at home for free, minus the cost of the books and toys. Less than a therapist if you can't afford one. Feel free to message me if I can help. To clarify, I am selling NOTHING and have no hidden agenda. I just want to help where i can bc it was a struggle for me at first. Hope it helps.

This is an email I sent to my coworker over a year ago when my son was 18 months old. He is now almost 3.

Hi,

Here is my list.  I hope the links work or I wasted a lot of time.  LOL

Parent Books:

My Toddler Talks: Strategies and Activities to Promote Your Child's Language Development

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1477693548/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the book I liked the best.  To the point, and gave me things I could actually do.  And oh my God, it helped so much!!! He learned and grew SO much after I implemented what I read in this book. 

It Takes Two To Talk: A Practical Guide For Parents of Children With Language Delays Third Edition

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0921145195/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

kind of long, a lot of detail, but explains types of speech delays and how children learn to speak

The Cow Says Moo: Ten Tips to Teach Toddlers to Talk: An Early Intervention Guide

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1482794403/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This book is alright.  There were some ideas in it that I'll use.  I'd recommend it if you want more ideas/books after the Teach my Toddler to Talk book

Children Books and Flash Cards:

Little Blue Truck Lap Board Book

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/054405685X/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is a great book.  There is a lot of action in this book and has a lot of association between animals and sounds.  Very engaging and rhyming.

Bright Baby Animals

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312492480/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

simple words, simple REAL pictures and one picture per page so as to not overwhelm.  Great book to teach first words.

Elmo Says... (Sesame Street) (Big Bird's Favorites Board Books)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375845402/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is an action book, so your child would touch their nose, touch their toes, etc.  relating actions to  words is engaging and also the association helps foster language attrition.

From Head to Toe

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0064435962/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

same as the above book. 

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0859537285/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Teaches body parts, has hand movements, rhyming/song  My son loves this book

My First Touch & Feel Picture Cards: Animals (My 1st T&F Picture Cards)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756615151/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Real pictures and has different materials to touch like rough, sticky, etc.  Works well, my son likes this too

My First Touch & Feel Picture Cards: First Words (My 1st T&F Picture Cards)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756615186/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

same as the above, just other words

DVD’s:

Baby Babble Beginning Words

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015NERXBQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So, some speech therapists say to have NO screen time.  Well, I put this on when we’re on long trips or if my kids just wants to chill.  There are several different dvd’s in this series.  I have 3.  He said some words he’s never said before after watching these.  I would recommend engaging WITH your child while watching these if you can.  If you can’t and you’re driving somewhere, then so be it.  It still helps in my opinion.

Baby Signing Time

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DHMCVKK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this.  I used this w/my daughter too.  Taught them both a lot of super helpful signs and words.  The video is super cute and the songs are great too.  My kids both love this DVD.  I would definitely get it.  In fact, I bought it twice bc the first dvd got scratched up due to use. 

Toys to encourage speech and language development:

4.5" Set of 6 Wolf, Lion, Owl, Penguin Wild Animals Plastic Nesting Dolls

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L2UAVA0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is great.  My kids love this.  It teaches the animals, sizes, opening, closing.  in and out.  super cute.

Tot Tube Playset - Toy Car and Ball Tunnel Ramp Race Track by Inspiration Play

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PFB0JTQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My kids LOVE this.  super simple but fun.  Teaches taking turns, action words like "go" and "fast", use words like "ball" and "car" and "bounce"

Melissa & Doug Zoo Animals Sound Puzzle

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029N2NLU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 In general, speech therapists don’t like toys that make sounds, but this puzzle my son loves and I make the sounds with him, he mimics me, so it works.  Also, there is a high association with puzzle making and language development.  So we work on puzzles a lot and he’s gotten a lot better at them.  It helps also to say “tuuuurn” to turn the puzzle piece and that kind of thing.

Melissa and Doug Jumbo Paint Brushes

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000M5J7W0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We bought water paint and have a big big roll of paper that we cut big pieces off and lay on the floor.  We paint and he uses these easy to handle brushes.  I’ll say words like “let’s paint” and “gentle” and I’ll name colors (but do not expect him to learn them).  I’ll make a face or something and tell him what I am drawing.  Called “self talk” or I’ll do “parallel talk” doing this too.

Melissa and Doug Latches Barn Toy

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B1V12KS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I HIGHLY recommend this toy.  Probably my favorite.  There are activities in the Teach your Toddler to Talk book that I used with this toy.  You say things like “Pig in” or “open door” “pig says oink oink” so it teaches actions, animals, sounds, and the latches are entertaining for opening and closing.  It’s engaging.  Super cute.

Melissa & Doug Hide and Seek Wooden Activity Board With Wooden Magnets

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014E7DIS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I’d recommend this toy too.  You can say things like “what’s behind the barn door?” or “where is the dog?” or “cookie!” and pretend to eat the cookies.  Super super cute.  Has helped him with several words.

Wonderworld Rainbow Sound Blocks - Stackable Hollow Shape Block Toys - 7 Piece Set https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005BHUU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

we love these too.  They make sounds and are different shapes and colors.  We use these alone and with other blocks.  We say things like “up” and “put on” and “uh-oh” “fall down” “pick up” “shake shake shake”  He likes these, so does my daughter

kilofly Kids Mini Band Musical Instruments Rhythm Toys Value Pack [Set of 12]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C84SUUM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is just fun.  The kids like to make music.  The whistle helps with oral muscles.  The music helps and you can sing songs with it. You can say sounds like “boom boom boom” and “cling cling” and then use songs that help with rhyming and such that I have in that list for you.

And then just bubbles.  Buy bubbles.  Teaches breathing control and the words “bubble” and “pop” then you can teach the sign for “more” when your child wants to blow more bubbles.  Because you’re supposed to close the bottle each time and then they will want more and you say “More?” and then you sign it at the same time and then you say “Oh, more, okay!” and open it up and blow more bubbles and repeat until they start signing or asking for “more” or “more bubbles” or “bubbles” or “open”, etc.  So buy bubbles.  Lol.

My son loves basketball so we teach him “bounce bounce bounce” and “shoot the ball” and “make a basket” although he only says “ball” so far.  But its something he really really loves.  

We go on walks and point things out.  Or if we are at a fountain or something we sign and say “water, water” and just keep repeating it.  Every once in a while he will say “wah wah” so that’s something.  More than we had.

He can say “juice” and he would say that for every liquid he wanted.  So in the book, it said to give choices.  So I make a cup of milk and a cup of water.  And I say “do you want milk or water? “ or I say “milk or water” and I sign milk and water when I ask.  Then he will say and sign “Milk” which he NEVER did before.  But that was bc I gave him 2 choices and neither was juice so it forced him to tell me what he wanted.

Anyways, I hope this helps.  I did a LOT of research and reading on the types of toys to get and HOW to encourage talking.  So hopefully I have saved you some time.  I can tell you it’s worked wonders for me.  He went from saying 3 words to saying like 20 in 3 weeks.  It’s a work in progress but I feel really good about the direction we’re headed.
 
Let me know what you decide to buy and do.  I would love to hear about your progress. 

Apparently the Denver Early Start Model is showing some good results. We have no therapists here in Western Australia... But I just wanted you to know that there are viable alternatives to ABA out there...

Having said that, my son gets ABA, and what that woman was doing, wasn't ABA. horrid, horrid woman !

Hmmm,... just read the rest of this thread... The ABA that my son gets breaks down each skill into a set of tiny tasks, which he is encouraged to complete using a "No.No.Show" method. So you show him what you want him to do, and then ask him to do it. If he refuses, or does it incorrectly, you say "No" the first two times, and the third time, you show him how to do it again. He gets LOTS of positive praise.

He gives all of his therapists grief the first time he meets them :) He's as stubborn as hell. He's yelled and carried on for twenty minutes or so when he first meets a therapist, to see what he can get away with. None of these beautiful young women has ever raised her voice, moved him involuntarily, or hurt him in any way. Listening to a woman twenty years younger than me singing to my screeching son, to distract him, has brought me to tears. I certainly don't have their patience or dedication.

And at the start of this year he had NO functioning language. He didn't even say "Mum". Now he asks for food and drinks, and to use the computer, and going to his special school (which also uses ABA) he waves to me and says "Bye Mum". ABA has given him that.

I do not deny in any way that ABA has a very dark past. I was actually warned by my providers against Googling for videos as some of them are incredibly distressing. ABA as it is practiced here uses no stronger an adversive than ignoring unwanted behaviour. I would like to stress again that what this awful woman did to your child was NOT ABA and it WAS abusive. Someone who thinks and behaves like that should,not be working with children at all, let alone special needs children..

Anyway, Floortime has some good ideas and the Denver Early Start Model does too. If you look them up on Amazon, you'll be able to get a good idea of what's involved in each method as people put loads of helpful info in the reviews.

Denver Early Start

Floortime

I also found It Takes Two to Talk useful, although its expensive... As well as The Verbal Behaviour Approach which is like a more DIY child-centred approach to Autism.

Lastly I would echo the PP who said "Trust your Mummy Instincts". Trust your Mummy instincts ! Don't be ashamed to hover outside the classroom (out of sight); ask more questions; fight for your child :)