How do I teach my toddler?

Question

My question is pretty broad but my son will be 18 months soon (would be 14 months if born on time) and sometimes I feel like I'm not contributing much to what he learns. Sometimes I feel like a lazy parent! I know hearing me and his dad talk to him and each other helps but I would really like to do more advance things to help build his vocabulary. I try to read to him(i often forget), say the names of things that he touches or that I point out on our walks(which I have been trying to do more often and encouraging dad as well). He currently says about 5words that I know of (mama, dada, car? keys, quack quack?) He knows to clap his hands when I sing if your happy and you know it. I guess I'm just wondering if I'm doing a good job. I'd like to know easy activities to help him learn that I can do with him that don't require much effort as I'm always extremeley tired from working the night before and then having to watch him all day til I go to work again in the evening.

Answer 1

I'm the same way, lol :D I'd say he's right on track developmentally, as you said he was born a preemie, right? Just narrate your day to him, help him learn more words. My brat is 19 months and has a lot of words, our favorite thing to do is sit in the window and watch the world go by. I tell her what color a car/truck/van/bike is, and we discuss things like birds and trees, well, as much as you can have a discussion about things with a toddler anyways, lol. Sounds like you're doing a great job! Good luck!

Answer 2

We played a game of having him point to items we named. He knew many, many more of them then he could say at the time. "Where's the fan? Where's the dog? Where's the chair?" etc. Pointing out pictures in a book was good too.

Answer 3

With my son, I got some of those books from the dollar store, that has shapes, numbers, colors, and ABC's.  If you read it to him, and have him point to the objects when you say the color/shape..ect. that helps, my son is 2 1/2 he knows, and says all his shapes colors, can count to five on his own, and can identify the letters in the ABC's and numbers too.  He isn't a big talker, but he is starting to talk a little more.  Also, get Elmo videos...one's with ABC's and Shapes...and Dora and Diego are really good too.  Cartoons really draw a child's attention, so get him ones he can learn with.  Take him for a walk or go to the park for a little bit, when you aren't too tired, and point to things like trees, birds.  I know exactly how you feel on the tired part!  Good luck and happy learning!