how much does your 2 yr old talk?

[frugalmum]

I am not around a lot of other mommies... if you could indulge me this question I would appreciate it! I read a post here a while ago where a mom was having a hard time with her two y.o.. When she described the things her daughter was doing she sounded very verbal!

I have a 2 1/2 yr old DD who did not say a word until around her 2nd bday (which I know is late). However right around that time she started imitating sounds, words, and she will blurt out single words, but still primarily gestures, grunts, and cries to get what she wants.

Could you describe how your 2-3 yr old is talking? How big a vocabulary, any sentences? TIA!

[LadyCatherine185]

My DS turned 2 at the end of August. He has always been slightly ahead verbally. Currently he speaks in 5-7+ word sentences, about 1/3 of the time it is gramatically correct. I have no idea how many words.. close to 1000 maybe? He pretty much says anything/everything. He also speaks pretty clearly. But, like I said, always been a little ahead verbally. His ped said at his 2 year checkup he was more like a 3 year old in terms of language development.

[lyra2007]

I don't think it's really helpful to discuss what anyone's particular child can say. It sounds like you have some concerns, and that's what matters.
In Oregon, we take an on-line quiz regarding several areas of development, including speech. Your score determines whether you should have your child evaluated for early intervention. (We are having an evaluation for delayed motor skills next week.) Here is the link...I don't know where you live or if they will process people from other states, but it might at least give you an idea what to look out for. It's also part of a research study for the University of Oregon.


http://asqoregon.com/index.php?lang=en

[ellemenope]

Originally Posted by lyra2007

I don't think it's really helpful to discuss what anyone's particular child can say. It sounds like you have some concerns, and that's what matters.
In Oregon, we take an on-line quiz regarding several areas of development, including speech. Your score determines whether you should have your child evaluated for early intervention. (We are having an evaluation for delayed motor skills next week.) Here is the link...I don't know where you live or if they will process people from other states, but it might at least give you an idea what to look out for. It's also part of a research study for the University of Oregon.


http://asqoregon.com/index.php?lang=en

Here are some more resources:

From The National Institute for Deafness and othe Communication Disorders

2 - 3 years

• Knows about 50 words at 24 months.
• Knows some spatial concepts such as "in," "on."
• Knows pronouns such as "you," "me," "her."
• Knows descriptive words such as "big," "happy."
• Says around 40 words at 24 months.
• Speech is becoming more accurate but may still leaveoff ending sounds. Strangers may not be able to understand much of what is said.
• Answers simple questions.
• Begins to use more pronouns such as "you," "I."
• Speaks in two to three word phrases.
• Uses question inflection to ask for something (e.g., "My ball?").
• Begins to use plurals such as "shoes" or "socks" and regular past tense verbs such as "jumped."

Between two and three, from LD Online

• Identifies body parts
• Carries on 'conversation' with self and dolls
• Asks "what's that?" And "where's my?"
• Uses 2-word negative phrases such as "no want".
• Forms some plurals by adding "s"; book, books
• Has a 450 word vocabulary
• Gives first name, holds up fingers to tell age
• Combines nouns and verbs "mommy go"
• Understands simple time concepts: "last night", "tomorrow"
• Refers to self as "me" rather than by name
• Tries to get adult attention: "watch me"
• Likes to hear same story repeated
• May say "no" when means "yes"
• Talks to other children as well as adults
• Solves problems by talking instead of hitting or crying
• Answers "where" questions
• Names common pictures and things
• Uses short sentences like "me want more" or "me want cookie"
• Matches 3-4 colors, knows big and little

My favorite list from The child development institute

Typical language skills of a 24 month old:

• Can name a number of objects common to his surroundings
• Is able to use at least two prepositions, usually chosen from the following: in, on, under
• Combines words into a short sentence-largely noun-verb combinations (mean) length of sentences is given as 1.2 words
• Approximately 2/3 of what child says should be intelligible
• Vocabulary of approximately 150-300 words
• Rhythm and fluency often poor
• Volume and pitch of voice not yet well-controlled
• Can use two pronouns correctly: I, me, you, although me and I are often confused
• My and mine are beginning to emerge
• Responds to such commands as "show me your eyes (nose, mouth, hair)"

by 36 months old:

• Use pronouns I, you, me correctly
• Is using some plurals and past tenses
• Knows at least three prepositions, usually in, on, under
• Knows chief parts of body and should be able to indicate these if not name
• Handles three word sentences easily
• Has in the neighborhood of 900-1000 words
• About 90% of what child says should be intelligible
• Verbs begin to predominate
• Understands most simple questions dealing with his environment and activities
• Relates his experiences so that they can be followed with reason
• Able to reason out such questions as "what must you do when you are sleepy, hungry, cool, or thirsty?"
• Should be able to give his sex, name, age
• Should not be expected to answer all questions even though he understands what is expected

And a cool PDF

Also,Here is a nice article on determining if there might be a language delay.

I can understand your desire for anecdotes. FWIW DD can do all of these items and then some. Well, actually she can't hold up 2 fingers AT ALL. I do think she is behind on fine motor. Please don't let my DD's verbal precocity cause you any anxiety. All kids develop differently. It seems like your DD could have qualified for speech therapy before age 2, but depending on how you interpret your post, she is saying many words now. Is that right?

ETA: DH and both worked at one point in the field of linguistics. We know 5 foreign languages fluently between us, English being are only native language. We are 'good' at language. The apple dosen't fall far from the tree.

[Latte Mama]

My DS is behind at 2 but catching up. He basically had said nothing by 18 months so we started speech therapy. He's made great progress and though he is still a bit delayed, we are opting not to go beyond the intitial 6 months of therapy. He is doing more and more each day and we don't think he really needs it and his therapist agrees.

Right now he is just starting to put 2 words together, probably has a vocabulary of about
75-100 words. Some words sound great like "cheese" "fruit" and some, only mama can decipher The funniest thing is, he runs around the house yelling "football" over and over and OVER with this weird little pitch on the word. Yea, thanks DH

[MamaPhD]

DD is 21 months and can do probably 2/3 of all the above described milestones. Plus she is bilingual, so most of the words/phrases she says, she will say twice, once each in English and in our language. She started to say mama, dada, no, milk, etc at around 13-14 months or so. One boy in our playgroup is almost 2 and does not say any words, not even mama and mostly grunts. I think his mom is going to check his hearing, have you thought about doing that?

[redvlagrl]

DD is 23 months. I'm pretty sure she is fairly average or maybe a bit ahead of average (haha, don't we all want to think this!).

She knows all the body parts and can name them. She knows her colours, animals plus sounds, most household objects, foods etc. I think she is good at her colours because she does a lot of drawing. But she doesn't know the names of as many types of vehicles as other kids who are more into cars/trucks etc.

Typical speech would be:
- "Red car!"
- "Up there! Mama, Eleanor up there?" [can you put me up there]
- "Goes there. Cheese goes there" [ referring to cheese grater. There is pronounced "dair"]. Also used with, toilet (poo goes there) bike path (bike goes there) etc
- "More prune? please? Yep, uh huh, mmmm" [repeat ad infinitum with any other desirable food]