Building Language Ages 12-12 Months

“If my parents had done these things with me, I probably wouldn’t be in this place.  This stuff is fun and easy. I’m going to read to my grandkids and show my daughter.” Person at the Marquette County Detention Center GTT training sessions. 2014

 

  Between ages 12-18 months your child will probably say a few words and understand sometimes what you say if you speak in a normal voice and short sentences. There are many ways to interact with your 12 -18 month old in a way that will help develop language. It is a stage of giving them words for what they are doing and carrying on the strangest conversations. You can often pretend to understand, repeat what you think they are talking about, and question.

  By this time most babies have good balance while sitting. They will enjoy hitting various sizes of pots and pans or cardboard boxes.  You can turn on music and sing with the beat. Pound fast, slowly, loudly and softly. Experiment. Will they copy you? Talk and listen to them talk back to you with partial words or their own words.

At the Sink

  Children 12-18 months may stand on a chair by the sink with a guard chairs on each side. Make the water warm and add a few drops of gentle dish soap. Supply some plastic dishes for them to wash and show how to clean with a new little sponge. Remind them not to put bubbles in their mouth. If they do, they will learn a lesson, too. Provide towels on the floor and a plastic bib. Explain what they are doing with words, phrases and complete sentences. Use the correct words without baby talk. Otherwise, they will need to unlearn baby talk later. Avoid saying, ”Let ME help you.“  Instead say, “I will help you.” “I” begins sentences.

Messy

 The 12-18 month old loves to squish and splat while you chat, question together and provide words for actions. Place different textures on their high chair tray like gelatin, spaghetti, jelly colored water, or mashed potatoes.  They will joyfully do their own brand of talking with you before bath time. 

 Peek, Seek, Sleep

   Fill a pillowcase with items from around the house and discuss what they find. Hide items under, on top, beside and behind pillows to help them solve problems with you. Ask “Where is Teddy?” Then model searching and thinking out loud together. Teddy is also a useful model to put to sleep, groom and feed, chatting all the while.

  Read Often

Even looking through a book, talking about characters, and telling the story in your own words is reading. You are developing language and getting ready for the next stage. 

More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest

Reminder:  The last article for Grandparents Teach, Too will be Nov. 20,2020.  Thank you for helping  families learn how to be meaningfully engaged in their children's early learning and development.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Zoom Cooking with Grandparents

“What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies.” – Rudolph Giuliani

Zoom Cooking

  These times sometimes require an abundance of grandparent ingenuity, too.  Grandma Cheryl has introduced Zoom cooking to her long-distance family.  To sign up for a free Zoom go to zoom.us/sign up on your computer or ask local teens to bring over a laptop or Chromebook sign you up and show how to use it.  Then schedule a time to meet online with multiple people for Zoom Cooking. Facetime and Skype are also available. Fair warning, you will have only 40 minutes before being kicked off  Zoom unless you pay for a subscription.

Pumpkin Cookies

  Cooking something easy like pumpkin cookies is a good start.  To save time, gather all of the ingredients and cooking utensils before the Zoom, heat  the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment. In a large bowl whisk together 2 ½ cups flour,1 teaspoon baking powder,1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In another bowl use a mixer to mix until light and fluffy: 1 stick of softened butter with 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar.  Then add 1 ¼ cups of canned pumpkin puree, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla on medium speed.  Fold in the dry ingredients until just combined. You want to keep the fluffiness. 

  Use a little scoop to drop on the cookie sheets and use a spoon to flatten slightly.  The cookie does not flatten while baking.  Bake 15 to 20 minutes.

  While baking you can make the frosting and catch up on the latest family news. For the frosting, cream together 8 ounces of low-fat cream cheese, room and 3 tablespoons butter, and1 teaspoon. Gradually add powdered sugar until you like the consistency. When the cookies bounce back up when touched, they are done. Ice when cool.

  Your time will probably be up for now.   You can make arrangements to call back and have pumpkin cookies and apple cider together.

Homemade Playdough

  Although it can’t be eaten, making and playing with playdough is another fun on-line activity. Mix 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, and 1 tablespoon cream of tartar together and place in 3-quart saucepan. Stir in 1 tablespoon cooking oil and 1 cup water tinted with food coloring. Cook and stir constantly over low to medium heat until mixture looks like dough. Remove from heat, cool, and knead. Store in plastic bag in the refrigerator. 

  Spend the rest of the time reading books out loud or talking.  Next time challenge each other to make playdough animals and people while chatting. More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Sketches: Mike Nowicki