[blParent] Accessible apps and other ways to help encourage yourchildren to talk?

[Star Gazer]

			Melissa has some good suggestions. 
Along with these, I’ve noticed that show tunes have a lot of words you might not normally hear or use and the music is fun. The same goes for old-time radio shows. Both of these can lead to good conversations and bonding.   
We read a lot both in Braille and on the bard app for audio books. 
We read stuff geared to the kids but I’ll also read things I like that are appropriate. 

I’m listening to a book about Thomas Edison and I was lying on the bed listening to it when my 6 year old wanted to cuddle. I told her  that was fine but that I was enjoying the book and was going to continue listening to it and that she was welcome to join me.  The book isn’t a kids book, but it wasn’t inappropriate either. 
All of my kids have found the words to tell me about pictures that matter to them. I wouldn’t get hung up on that, though I understand why you might since that’s what the world tells you to start with.  
Just go about your day and the words will happen. 
Also, with kids and professionals, a lot of the results you may get depend on the time of day… literally. 
My husband booked our kids’ physicals for the afternoon which was fine for the older two, but not our toddler who refused to do anything the doctor asked him to do. 

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From: Melissa Ann Riccobono via BlParent
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 10:11 AM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Cc: Melissa Ann Riccobono
Subject: Re: [blParent] Accessible apps and other ways to help encourage yourchildren to talk?

Since she's only a toddler, I would say the best thing to do would be to help her explore her environment and talk to her about what you are touching, hearing, smelling, etc. I'm sure you all ready do this throughout your day. Experts say limiting screen time for the first two years is best if you can. If you really want to have her engage with a screen for a limited time, perhaps finding a kids' show which is described would be the way to go. I believe Clifford the Big Red Dog has described episodes. My son really loved Go Diego Go when he was about 20 months old. He watched it everyday. It was not described, but it was very easy to follow what was going on, and he learned tons of rainforest animal sounds from watching it. Not sure if it's still on now though.
National Braille Press used to sell some very nice plastic flash cards with a braille letter, a print letter, and a tactile picture of something that starts with the letter on the card. Not sure if they still sell them or not, but they would be fine for a toddler to handle and you could talk about the tactile pictures on the cards. 
Also, music might be a good way to help her learn words. There are great kids CDs with educational songs, and also songs that are just fun. Are professionals concerned that she is not progressing appropriately with her speech, or are you concerned? Or both? Children do learn to talk at different rates. Some kids really take words in, understand tons, and then all of a sudden explode with language when they are ready. Other kids learn words one at a time and enjoy saying those words... Neither is wrong. They are just different ways of learning. 
Again, I can't emphasize enough that all of your day to day interactions with her and what's going on in the house as you play is the best thing you can do for her. Books are great, but I don't think not being able to talk about the pictures is a huge deal. All kids at this age need to learn most by doing and experiencing. And by hearing words. If you would like to talk to her about pictures, perhaps call a sighted friend or family member using some type of video app and have them describe the pictures in a few of her favorite books to you. That way you can have that information and can talk with her about the pictures if you would like.
The best of luck! I hope some of this is helpful. I'm always happy to help brainstorm ideas.
MelissaARiccobono at gmail.com
Melissa
-----Original Message-----
From: BlParent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dacia Cole via BlParent
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 8:01 AM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Cc: dacia.luck at gmail.com
Subject: [blParent] Accessible apps and other ways to help encourage your children to talk?

Hey, are there any accessible apps or other ways that you have helped encourage your toddler’s to learn more words? I read books to my daughter, but cannot see the pictures myself, so I cannot tell her what is in the picture to help her identify things. Are there accessible apps that I could use that would help her learn words in her environment and other words?
Dacia
PS, she is 20 months old, so I know that some of it is that talking will come in her own time.

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