alexist

Aliza has discovered that writing implements can be used to make marks on things. (First target, her trousers.)

She has been given giant baby Crayolas (they're short and fat and have no labels and are supposed to be harder to break) and a big piece of paper and is having loads of fun. Half the fun is scribbling. The other half is dumping all the crayons on the floor. I collected them all but didn't put the top on as she was still using one, and she dumped them on the floor and laughed.

I also have these block crayons which toddlers are supposed to love, but she tried eating them instead (mmm natural beeswax), even after I showed her they work just like crayon shaped crayons. I guess she associates "makes color" with a stick shaped thing.

I'm starting to get worried about Aliza's speech. Supposedly, an 18 month old should have 6-20 words, use names, and be beginning 2 word combinations.

She does none of that. She has a few words, that she doesn't use consistently. She doesn't call me mama, and uses dada indiscriminately (to any person). She babbles constantly but with few or no recognizable words.

Her receptive language is perfect, even ahead--she understands what I say, follows commands, points to objects when I name them. It's just expressive language. People keep telling me it will improve, but it hasn't.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not freaking out, but I am concerned. If things don't improve by the time we've moved I'm going to take her to the pediatrician and ask about a speech and language evaluation. I know that if she does have a problem (and speech is the most common developmental delay in children) you get better outcomes the earlier you start therapy.

One of my cousins is actually a speech therapist for Nassau BOCES so I could always ask her if I have any questions. She doesn't do evaluations AFAIK (she does in school service) and I'd rather have her evaluated by a non family member anyhow, but she'd know if I'm right to be concerned.