I picked up the faxes for the Features department yesterday and came across one from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Apparently, some "nationally renowned" pediatrician is coming to teach parents how to speak "Toddler-ese." Although it sounds like you're going to learn what your toddler is saying when she says "Da Be Da Be Da Be Da," you're really going to learn how to minimize the incidence and magnitude of tantrums. At least you're supposed to learn that.
Toddlers are quite a funny bunch when it comes to communicating. Sometimes they have the words, just like a little adult, and sometimes they just cry, like the infant they were a short time ago.
Sign language helps with the language barrier. It has helped my daughter say more, milk, please, thank you and eat for some time now. But the words are a little more difficult. We're just getting Ni Ni (Night Night), wawa (water), side (outside) and ammimamal (animal). The other ones, like tinky (stinky), Mama, Dada, Papa, ammy (grammy) have been around a little longer. A coworker, Kevin Flowers, wrote about his daughter's first words in a column not too long ago. You can read it here if you missed it.
But it seems to me that until a toddler can speak fluently, or until we figure out what "Da Be Da Be Da Be Da" really means, we'll be stuck as far as Toddler-ese goes. Tantrums appear to happen more when the child can't be understood than when the child simply can't get his or her way.
Anyway, if you're near Pittsburgh and have the desire learn about Toddler-ese, the lecture will be held July 13 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Chrildren's Museum of Pittsburgh, 10 Children's Way, Allegheny Square. Tickets cost $25 per person or $40 per couple. You must register in advance and can do so online at www.chp.edu.