Toddler Talk Thurday {Building Toddler’s Vocabulary}

Welcome to Week 52 of Toddler Talk Thursday!

ONE FULL YEAR!!! (Plus some because I am sure we lost count somewhere!!)

Happy Anniversary Toddler Talk Mamas!!

Where Family and Life in Las Vegas, Crazy about my Baybah, and My Life as a Sippy Cup Mom talk all things TODDLER!!

** If you want to follow this on twitter – or plan on tweeting your post – please use hashtag: #letstalktoddler **

Toddler Talk Thursday was created as a place for moms and dads of toddlers to come together over a weekly topic and share ideas, go-to toys, or products. It is a great way to meet other parents of toddlers. Each week the topic will be different; we invite you to link up, share your weekly Toddler Talk!!

Each week the hosts will travel around to each blog to see what topic your suggest for the following week. If we choose your topic – you will be our featured blog.

Keep the GREAT suggestions coming. We have an on-going list we will choose from each week. Some topics are ones we have done in the past – but that doesn’t mean we won’t revisit them!!

In order to qualify for this you need to blog about this week’s topic, and follow the hosts. Please do not link up past posts or non-toddler talk posts.

And the end of your post – suggest a topic for next week.

Comments letting us know you are participating are always great too. If we choose your blog, we will link back to your post the following week.

This week’s featured Blog is Living at Whitehead’s Zoo who suggested This Week’s Topic:

Tips for building your toddlers vocabulary

PBS Kids has a great website full of tools for parents on how you can help your child meet their developmental milestones.

We love PBS because their programming is fun and educational.  I can’t tell you how many times my son has watched Super Why and repeated letters and sounds letters make.  Or while watching Sesame Street he learns a new word or how to count to a different number.  (FYI I learned how to count 1-10 from Maria on Sesame Street growing up!)

PBS Kids is so much more than programming though. They have tips, tools, games, books, fitness tools, and more for parents to use to help with their child(ren)s education.  You really should check out their site!

When I saw this week’s topic, I knew PBS Kids would have tips! Check this out!

We do a couple of things to work on vocabulary.

• We sing ABCs in a couple different ways each day.
• As often as I remember we pick a letter each week. During the day when my son in most receptive and have him bring me items that begin with that letter.
  (I have seen wonderful results and lasting impact from this.  We will walk around in a store and he will call out 1-2 items that begin with that weeks letter!)
• When he points out a word or repeats something, I use it in a descriptive sentence. EXAMPLE:
  “The car goes vroom vroom, the horn goes beep beep.” or “The wind blows the leaves in the tall tree.”
• Since my son was born, I have talked to him throughout the day, and not in baby talk.
• As often as I can, I show him a visual example. The firetruck is longer than the dump truck, but the dump truck is taller than the firetruck.
• Instead of just reading his books as is, we ask questions about the items on the pages. I ask him to tell me what the sheep says, or what color the bird is. I also ask him to find items on the pages.
• Now that Squishy is talking more, I ask him to use his words when he gets mad or frustrated. I ask him to use full sentences when asking for something. Instead of just letting him use please, thank you, or more, I ask him to say, “May I have more please.” “I am all done.” “I would like more crackers.” Normally he looks at me like I am crazy, but the other day he looked up at me from his crib and instead of saying “Mommy Out” he said “Mommy, I all done sleepy.” Hey it’s a start!
• Story-time at the library is great, because sometimes he pays more attention then he would when his at home.  Plus it is free!
• We utilize TV shows that are educational to help out as well.  PBS Kids is our favorite stations.  We love Signing Time (bonus learns words and signs), Sesame Street, and Super Why are all TV shoes Squishy learns something from every time he watches them.