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Home › Expert Q&A › Speech › How can I help twin toddlers who refuse to speak?

Expert Q&A

 

By Mindy Hudon
Speech and Language Pathologist

I'm a daycare provider of 2 1/2-year-old twin boys and am very frustrated. They really have no speech at all. I have only had them for two months and have taught them some farm animals and the sounds they make and I'm trying to get them to talk. All they can say is "bye bye" and "what's that" and a few farm animal names. I'm trying to teach them how to say "please" and "thank you" and am getting no where. I've talked to the parents about it but they don't seem to really mind that they don't talk. Is this normal? What can I do to help these little guys out???

First, I would like to applaud you for your concern and attention to the children in your care. You may be the first person identifying a possible speech and language problem with these boys. Talking to the boys parents was the right thing to do. Many parents may not be aware that their children's speech and language skills are delayed. The reason some parents do not realize this may be due to the fact that they are first time parents and have nothing to compare their language to – their pediatrician could be telling them the child is developing fine and to wait until the child turns 3 before becoming concerned, or they have listened to well intentioned family members who say, "My children didn't start talking until they were 3, so don't worry."

As a childcare provider, you obviously realize that it is not typical for 2 1/2-year-olds to use only a few single words. In most situations, by the time a child is this age they are talking in sentences.

In order to help these children and their parents, it is important that you educate yourself about speech and language development. Visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association at www.asha.org for more information about normal language development. They also have brochures for purchase that discuss speech and language development. Giving the parents a brochure may be a nice way to help them better understand their child's development. In the end, it is the parents who need to get their children evaluated by a speech-language pathologist, so try to help them be aware that a problem may exist.

For now, continue modeling language during play and daily routines. Don't be too concerned if they don't say, "please" and "thank you." Focus on more functional words like, "more," "up," "juice," "Mommy," etc. Provide opportunities for them to use language during the day.

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