Language development

One of my Secondary school friends found me on FB and we got chatting. She said that she enjoyed reading my blog and I went, "Blog?! What blog? I have a blog? Oh, that blog! Hmm, it's been untouched for I-don't-know-how-long already." Anyway, admitted that I wasn't keeping up with it and will get back to posting on it. So, here I am, checking back in after 2 years of hiatus! 

So, what have we been up to? Plenty, I must admit. Both children are in school now and I'm doing work that I enjoy on a casual basis.

With the youngest one in Prep this year, we've been through quite a lot of struggles. Started with "I don't want to go to big school", to "I don't care, I'm going to school tomorrow even though I'm hopelessly sick". Then there's meet-the-teacher session when her class teacher told me that she's not articulating her words and they would like us to work on it together. 

Therefore, an update on her speech now, after almost 2 years after checking with our Speechie friend. I'm grateful to my friend who had great confidence in little miss' speech development. Never once did she say that my child had a problem. Yes, she's late in talking, but that's because she's learning three languages at the same time. Yes, three. Can you believe it? We speak Mandarin at home. Little Miss had her dose of English at church, playgroup and kindy. But because she wasn't talking, we signed with her. She's better at signing than talking at one stage, but at least she got her message across and we had less tantrums. 

When she started kindy at 3.5y.o., she could only speak Mandarin. Her kindy teachers learnt sign to communicate with her. She even taught them a nursery rhyme "I can sing a rainbow" in Auslan. By the end of the first semester, she was speaking in English and using sentences, though she wasn't articulating each word properly.

When Prep started, she could communicate in both English and Mandarin and we stopped signing with her, though that came back every so often as we were so used to it. Now, mid-way through the year, she's speaking so much better in English. Her buddy in Term 1 said that he couldn't understand her. Her buddy in Term 2 could communicate with her! For someone who only started speaking English a year ago, she's improved by leaps and bounds. 

So, if your child is also delayed in speech, I certainly would recommend seeing a
Speech Pathologist to asses the situation. And trust your gut feeling. I know it sounds cliche, but it's true. As a mum, I know my children best. 

PS : Hope all you mums had a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday!

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Speech Development

About 4 months ago when my youngest turned 2y.o., I called up a speech pathologist friend. I spoke to her about my child's speech development. Well, more like lack of development.

We speak Mandarin at home, she is exposed to and understands English through playgroup and church activities, and we use Auslan as much as we can.

So, when I called up this friend, I told her that my 2 y.o. only says 5 words. For both English and Mandarin combined. She told me to make a record of words that the little one says and the signs that she knows and we'll compare in a month's time.

When I heard that, my first thought was, "Of course! Record, record, record! Why didn't I think of that?!"

I kept records of her activities and diet from birth, but never thought of keeping a record for her speech.

Anyway, I started recording and found out that she has about 50 signs but her verbal vocabulary did not exceeed 10 words. It'd take her a week to say a new sound, but she signs straight away and remembers it. Is she a visual person and not an auditory one?

After a month, my friend and I chatted and she said that my 2 y.o. is on par with others her age. She is learning 3 languages and for her, sign is more dominant. I was told to expect delays of at least 6 months for her verbal languages to come forth.

I was relieved to hear that, but on the other hand, still frustrated that she's not going the way I wanted it to be.

As parents, we worry all the time. If children are advanced in learning, we worry that the schools are not able to keep up with them. When children are behind their peers, we worry that they cannot catch up and that schools are going too fast. There's no satisfying a worried parent.

However, I took comfort in knowing that my toddler is developing well and according to the average children's benchmark. She's happy, growing and communicating, though not in the way that I had hoped she would.

I was reminded that my Creator God knows what is best for her and has her life and pathways in His plans. He will watch over her growth and needs. I'm here to guide and equip her with the tools for this earthly life. As I place my trust in Jesus Christ, I know that my child will never be lacking in anything with Christ as her Lord.

I put my worried mummy thoughts into His hands and I know that she will talk in her own time. For now, I shall enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts. Sphere: Related Content