First of all, grommets are placed inside the ear when a child has repeated
ear infections, so I’m not sure why your friend is suggesting this in your
case. If you are concerned at all about your son’s hearing, you should
really ask for it to be checked by your health visitor or baby clinic,
however, most parents can tell quite well if their child is hearing
clearly. Many small children tune out their parents and don’t follow
instructions, but there is nothing wrong with their hearing. They are just
focussing on the things that interest them. If you need your son to pay
attention to an instruction, you must get down to his level, make eye
contact, and speak in a very clear voice with simple instructions. Many
parents fall into the trap of nagging slightly, giving instructions in a
vague way to a child who is some distance away, and this is almost always
ignored. Also, for some children even this is not enough at two years and
they need some help to get a task started –for example making a game of
tidying toys, seeing who can put the most away (but make sure you let him
win).


To help increase speech, it is necessary to speak very clearly to a child,
with lots of repetition of words. They don’t learn so well from general
conversation going on around, or from the television. Reading books
together and chatting about absolutely everything is the best way to
encourage an improvement in speech.

Good luck with this but do speak to your health visitor to check out any
concerns.

The average age that children start putting two words together is 22 months. Average means that half the children out there are NOT putting words together by the time they are 22 months. Children start to put words together once they have about 50 words.

If you are worried that he has some hearing loss, ask your doctor/ health visitor if he can have a hearing test. Not responding when asked to do something is quite normal at this age. Toddlers find it difficult to switch from doing one thing to another or to listen while they are also playing.If he is engrossed in he may not hear you. Rather than shouting get down to his level, look him in the eye and speak.
Most two year olds have tantrums. Some with their mothers, some with both parents. Children do not have tantrums when those they love best are not around. Without "attachment" there is no tantrum. Nursery teachers have told me that it is the very rare child who has a tantrum after his parents have left.
The best way to get children of this age to do the things we want is to give them praise and attention every little step of the way.
The way the brain develops (and it is still developing) is the "go for it" mechanisms mature first- and the stop meachanisms follow. It is always easier for him to keep doing what he is doing than to switch tack and stop. If you shoult you arouse him- and this just makes it harder for him to stop. Which is why its always more productive to bite your frustration and speak softly.
Have you tried making a game of picking up the toys? Put on your familye "toy pick up song" and race with him to get everything back in the box before it stops. Remember chldren get more out of a toy if they are not distracted by having others "out" at the same time. A policy of one toy out, one toy back in the cupboard makes for an easier life- and more productive play.
Dorothy Einon

Hey there, My little boy is nearly 3 but he would have been well over 2 before he started to talk much, then once he got started he picked it up really quickly and can have more conversation than any of the other wee ones that were talking before him! As for him not doing what u ask my little one is like that at times too if he is busy doing something else, its just like they concentrate on that one thing and don't hear anything else around them!!
I agree that the tantrums could be from feeling unable to express himself coz again my little boy does it too if he gets annoyed about something and can't get the words out quick enough to explain to me so he jus cracks up instead! Things should get easier as he starts to talk although i wouldn't worry too much yet as they all develop at different rates. Maybe creche will help him too as he may learn from the other little ones around him all the time. They also say little boys are slower at talking (dunno how much truth is in that tho! lol)
Soon enough u'll be getting all the 'why' questions from him!
Karen xx

Sounds just like my son (2yrs next month)and everyone's told me not to worry as they all develop at different speeds. Think the tantrums are because they can't make themselves understood, which I know is frustrating for us too.
It can only improve I guess!
Mxx

hi, i have a 2 year old son and 6 month old daughter i am concerned about my 2 year old his speech seems to be developing very slowly as when he tries to speak it just comes out all gooble goup, i know lots of 2 year olds and they say lots of phrases already, so it worries me someone has said to me about gromits??. with his behaviour every time i try and ask him to do something it takes so many tries to get him to do it and i have to raise my voice which i hate doing,and he still doesnt do anything when i ask him to pick his toys up or tidy up toys he will start to have a tantrum i really dont know what to do and im worried that he wont listen when he starts creche in a couple of weeks please help x.