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

by Kimberly Scanlon

Are you concerned that your child is not talking as much as his peers? Is he growing increasingly annoyed because he can’t tell you his wants and needs? Bring out the toys and get ready to shake up your perspective –we’re going to decrease your frustration and learn some tried and true techniques to get your toddler talking! My Toddler Talks, by Kimberly Scanlon, is a must-have for anyone interested in developing language in young children. Learn how to model and elicit language in a fun, straightforward and practical manner from an experienced & licensed speech language pathologist. Textbook theory and evidenced-based speech therapy techniques are applied in an enjoyable and user-friendly way. Whether you’re a parent or a professional, Kimberly shows you how to engage your toddler with play routines that stimulate speech while having fun. The guide includes detailed steps, numerous examples, and play routine activities to facilitate learning and language development. Speech language pathologists and parents describe My Toddler Talks “a go to resource”, “unintimidating and user-friendly” and “simply fabulous!” MY TODDLER TALKS • Effective language stimulation tips, techniques and strategies used by professional speech therapists • Advice on how to maximize your child’s potential without causing pressure or frustration • 25 fun play routines designed to improve your child’s speech and language skills • Straightforward instructions with many examples to foster understanding and empowerment • Step by step directions on how to elicit communication from your child • Charts to monitor progress with your child • A system to track your child’s word growth • Ways to incorporate speech development activities into your daily routines • Recommended goals to drive results • Ideas for troubleshooting development setbacks MY TODDLER TALKS is the perfect resource • Parents, Grandparents & Caregivers • Speech Therapists • Speech Therapy Grad Students • Early Intervention Specialists • Early Childhood Educators • Occupational & Physical Therapists

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

127 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2012

About the author

Kimberly Scanlon is a New Jersey licensed speech-language pathologist who is nationally certified by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). She is also the author of the best-selling book, My Toddler Talks: Strategies and Activities to Promote Your Child's Language Development and the unique interactive picture book, Learning to Read is a Ball. She lives in northern New Jersey with her family. You can visit her website, www.mytoddlertalks.com, to learn more speech and language tips, techniques, and activities.

Reviews

[Adelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book! I have a 2 year old son who is speech delayed after hearing issues, and this book is full of easy ideas to help your little one! The intro is important to read - don't skip it!

[B Casteau · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read this book it may seem basic, but that is how well it is written. She gives you tool that you can do at home and just gives you way to promote speech in a fun positive way. During a time, when as a parent I'm stressed and have probably made speaking more stressful for my son.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good tips - but I think it was a little young for what my needs were.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geared towards toddlers starting at 18 months so some games don't work for younger than thst age group

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me implement new strategies.

[Kelly Costea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be very helpful to find activities to promote language with my twin toddlers. The introduction is very useful as well for what we should and shouldn't be doing when talking with our little ones.

[Erika AO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book as a resource to use with parents!

[Migdalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start for helping a late talker!

This book has FINALLY helped me understand what I can do to help my toddler to talk. I've been looking everywhere online for things I can do with my son to help him talk more, but nothing was as specific and helpful than this book.

It starts with guidance on what to do and what not to do with your toddler, and it also has games you can play at home to help him talk more. Some people might find them too simple, but simple is good when it comes to a late talker. Complicated games won't help at this moment. It will just end up overwhelming them.

This book is for parents or caregivers of late talking children from around 9 months through three and a half years old. I borrowed this book with Kindle Unlimited but I'm so pleased with it, that I'm going to buy it. I highly recommend it!

[Jennifer McCasland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a simple straightforward book about implementing language with your toddler. I appreciated that it gave specific examples of play. This book might not be the best for children who are delayed, or should be aimed towards older toddlers.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as helpful as the Cow Says Moo book, but still concise and easy to read. Gives some examples of word play and songs and books that can encourage talking for toddlers, all things I've seen or done before, but helps you to be more mindful while doing what comes naturally in interacting with your toddler.

[Olivia Bardsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and easy read. Lots of suggestions that made me reflect on how I communicate with my child. The actual activity ideas aren’t anything new or outside-the-box, but I like how she demonstrates how to use the language development methods in each one. A very practical and helpful book!

[Andrea Ezra · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who knows nothing about how to help my 1 year old learn to talk this book was informative. Only 4 stars because I feel like it was written to be more helpful for parents of 3 or 4 year olds, but claims it’s for toddlers 18months and up.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas for parents and for SLPs new to working with the 0-3 age population.

[Mary]

Very helpful information and exercises.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really fantastic. It has so many great ideas for play that will help children with any sort of speech delay.

[Gwin Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The things she said are relatively true. Cannot wait to do this to my son. So far, he is picking up and enjoying.

[Sarah Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Read, Very Informative

This book includes easy to follow guides for playtime and has many great activity ideas. I work with kids of many ages and the information presented in this book gave me a better idea of development and promoting development. I have a twenty month old not yet speaking and the book gave lots of ideas and help on how to promote his language skills. Would recommend to childcare and early education professionals as well as any parent, especially those with late bloomers.

[Rin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives some very good examples of play activities for children who are learning to speak. I am very interested in how to use different speech therapy techniques to promote vocabulary expansion. Especially because I am planning a multilingual household, so I thought these games were useful and I will be using some in the future. This was a good addition, as I have been watching a speech therapist on Youtube, who seems to keep a lot of her methods behind a paywall.

[Teresa Kusant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, Concise, Very Useful

This book is very useful and informative on how to help your child to learn how to talk. Do not skip anything, as the explanation of the process is just as important as the activities.

[Sook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my husband to figure out how to best help our 22-month-old who doesn’t seem to be interested in talking yet. A lot of great suggestions and we are so eager to try the recommended play activities with Jake!

[Monolus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book with a bunch of practical ideas. I just think I'm reading a little bit too much in this subject because books are starting to sound similar, bringing up the same technics over and over...

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been very useful a year ago, but many of the tips and techniques are just too young for our son at 3.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good launching point

Some good pointers/guidance on activities to encourage language through play whilst reminding one to be patient during a process that won’t happen overnight

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Great guide for parents and toddlers

Love the simple activities easy to follow and do. Great advises for parents :)

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this to help my 19 month old who isn’t talking, but it didn’t have anything different or new to me as a seasoned mom and former nanny. Most of it was what I did instinctually. It frustrated me and worried me.

Maybe helpful if you really don’t know how to play with a child.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Purchased for our parenting collection at the public library. Will be helpful to some parents who are unsure how to just play with a toddler. The book is organized into sections Materials, play, beginninh, middle, end and language techniques. The long and short of this book is relax, play and model behavior with your child and TALK to the child. Turn off the TV, put down the phone and enjoy these important years.

[Romana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative!

I liked that the author provided a multitude of examples of ways to interact with your child through play. I think as adults we tend to expect things to develop in our children without realizing that you need to concentrate on simple steps to achieve them. I have just started implementing these techniques with my son and he seems to be responding well.

[Julia Melon]

Good strategies!