Talking about talking, and more

MT: I’m so glad Ian is finally really talking, but gosh; he never takes a breath now. It’s exhausting!

AB: Our doctor brought up speech therapy by the end of the summer if MEB doesn’t have some more words. She just turned two. How old is Ian?

MT: Ian turned two in April, and I swear, in the last month or so something just clicked. He has become a lot clearer and is talking in full sentences, asking questions, etc. It’s really fun to see, but sometimes I just want a few minutes of quiet! There’s such a range of speech at this age that I wouldn’t worry — I’m sure M will be talking up a storm in no time and then you’ll be wishing for some quiet! ; )

Sound familiar? At some point, almost every parent has worried about some aspect of their child’s development, whether it’s crawling, walking, talking, or reading. Our developmental milestones section has several good resources for parents and teachers, including literacyThe ability to understand oral language, read fluently, and write well. milestones by age and grade. There’s an article that helps parents recognize how long they should wait before seeking help, what to do if you suspect a problem, and clues to dyslexia in early childhood. Our friends at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) also offer information about typical speech and language development (opens in a new window).

There’s no shortage of information out there. If you’re like me, you surf the web late at night looking for answers and hoping to quell your worries. Start (and stay) with trustworthy, authoritative sites, and remember that many developmental milestones happen within a wide range of months. Bulk up with good information, but also trust your instincts. And then go read with and talk to your child! Time flies.