Customer Reviews

Look Who's Talking

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Look Who's Talking is a wonderful resource for parents who have questions about their child's speech. Laura Dyer, a speech-language therapist with a master's degree in communications disorders, has written a book that is well researched, easy to use and full of practical advice.

Look Who's Talking begins with an overview of speech and language development, including influences, potential problems and causes. Complicating issues such as auditory processing, hearing, language delays, and developmental delays are discussed. One of the key features of this book is the very detailed descriptions provided for each age and developmental stage; parents of babies and older children will find this a helpful resource.

I purchased this book several months ago seeking advice and tools to help my daughter who is developmentally delayed. I found this book to be filled with very practical advice and tools that a parent can use to help their child to develop great language skills. I highly recommend this book.

Knowledgeably written by Laura Dyer (a speech-language therapist especially skilled in working with children), Look Who's Talking! How To Enhance Your Child's Language Development, Starting At Birth draws upon academic research and field work alike in order to show how parents just how they can help stimulate their children's ability to use language. Individual chapters address such topics as proverbial signs and gestures; common language development concerns and warning signs; steps for successful sign language usage; bilingualism and second-language learning; the unique challenges of international adoptions; using music to enhance language development, and so much more, Look Who's Talking! offers straight answers to common questions and is highly recommended reading for the parents of bubbling young personalities wanting to express themselves with an articulation suitable to their age.

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading Laura Dyer's book. As a parent of small children and an elementary school teacher, I found this book to be a valuable resource for anyone who has or works with small children. The information is very practical and presented in a way that's easy to read and understand. Laura addresses what a vital role parents play in the language development of their children. She gives wonderful hands-on activities, reading suggestions, musical activities, and imaginary play activities that parents can use to enhance their children's language skills and development. She addresses things that can influence language development such as daycare and television viewing and she includes useful information about language development that is broken down in stages from ages birth to age seven. I would highly recommend this book!"

I hope Laura Dyer does not blame me that I have rated her book with only 3 stars. I have read a few books on child development but this is my first that guide parents towards developing a child's reading ability from birth to second grade.

I found this book an easy read with detailed pointers to guide the parents on how to encourage a child towards literacy fluency. Pain has been taken to categorise the reading milestones for different age group and the associated suggestions to help anxious parents achieve that. Fun and pragmatic suggestions were given. Her categorisation helps parents to be focused and allowed them to zone in on what is relevant to meet their immediate needs.

However, the book lacks guidance on how to develop a child's mental development and writing skills as they picked up their reading ability. I might be asking for too much but the inclusion of these topics would make the book more comprehensive.

If I were to rate the book on the title alone "Look Who's Talking", I will highly recommend this book to first time parents and give it 4.5 stars!

Virtually everyone, at some time or other, has influence upon the speech and language development of the very young. Understandably, parents and grandparents are in the best position to guide and motivate their offspring as they learn to communicate. While well intentioned, most parents do what comes naturally. Of course, children will learn language and communication skills as a natural part of growing up, but you can have a dramatic impact on how the baby, toddler or young child in your life learns to communicate. In fact, you will, whether intelligently planned and executed, or not.

Laura Dyer's remarkable book, Look Who's Talking!, covers all the bases regarding language and speech development among children, from birth to age seven. Though rich with references to current research explaining how children learn to talk and the potential problems your child may have along the way, and what to do about them, Dyer has beautifully cut through the scientific jargon. Her language is clear, informative and easy to understand.

A Certified Speech-Language Pathologist, Laura Dyer, MCD, CCC-SLP, is well qualified to write comprehensively on her subject. While working with researchers at Florida State University, Mrs. Dyer studied the early detection of communication problems in infants. After earning a master in communication disorders from Auburn University, she worked with children as a speech-language therapist.

If you are concerned about the language development of your child, Look Who's Talking!, will become the most dog-eared book in your library. And for good reason! You'll learn how to enhance your child's language development and communication skills beginning at birth, including significant influences and common concerns about their development. You'll be able to spot warning signs and head off potential problems with sound production, vocabulary, and overall language ability. Dyer thoroughly equips caregivers in such important matters as nurturing pre-literacy skills, sign language, multi-language learning, and using musical activities and imaginary play to enhance language skills.

I had my copy of Look Who's Talking! several months before reading it. My children are grown, so I didn't feel a pressing need. Now, I regret the delay. Reading it has opened my eyes to its value, not only for parents, but for grandparents and anyone interacting with children. Everyone who works with little ones in any capacity needs a copy of Look Who's Talking!

Look Who's Talking is an excellent book. Ms. Dyer has obviously reviewed a large volume of research (see the notes section for many helpoful resources)and has covered many topics. Yet, she has managed to write in terms that are easily understood and helpful to parents and others. She has included specific examples to illustrate important points. Her book is filled with helpful and encouraging statements like these.

- You are your child's first and most important language model.
- Language is best learned by doing.
- Talking about a child's interests helps language development.
- Active learning is better than passive learning.

The author describes scaffolding as it relates to speech and language development. She includes helpful charts which provide information about a wide variety of topics including the following.

- Sound Acquisition
- Consonant Cluster Acquisition
- Recommended Staff-Child Ratios (childcare centers)
- Signs of Hearing Impairment

I have a copy of this book myself, and I have given the book as a baby shower gift. I also have the author's Little Language Songs for Little Ones tape, which my children and I enjoy listening to in the car.

You'll be glad you added this book to your personal or professional library.

This book is a treasure--a definite "must-have" for every parent's bookshelf!

Speech and Language pathologist, Laura Dyer has written the ultimate book on how children acquire speech and
language skills during the first seven years of life. The book is comprehensive in its scope, yet is very readable
and practical as well.

Are you mystified about how babies learn to talk?

Do you wonder how to tell if a child is experiencing developmental lags, or speech difficulties?

Maybe you want to know the ideal time to introduce a foreign language to a child, or how to teach English to a child
adopted from another country.

Should you use sign language to improve communication with your child, even if they aren't hearing impaired?

How can a parent or caregiver ready a child for the important task of learning to read?

In crystal clear fashion, Laura Dyer explains all that and more!
Page after page is packed with practical advice, anecdotes, resources, and sidebars filled with the easy to
understand nuggets of information any parent can understand and apply. No technical, head-scratching data. No
confusing jargon. No 64 letter words that leave you scrambling for a dictionary!

If you want a book that takes you step by step through the stages of speech and language learning in children, this
is the book for you!

Laura's book is wonderful. It should be
included with the owner's manual as each child is born

From a parent of a former (now resolved) speech delayed
special education student:

http://edchapman.tripod.com/ParentLinks.html

The past few years, I've had several people tell me that my child had some speech delays, but no one could tell anything concerning what his delays specifically were. It wasn't until I found this book that I was able to pinpoint & know what delays he had & didn't have. Laura begins the book by telling you what you can do with your child at birth in order to enhance his/her language. She has ideas for different stages until age 7.
Laura has included easy to read graphs that tell you what sounds should be developed at each age. I would have never known that it sometimes takes boys a year or so longer to develop some sounds. For instance, the "th" may not be fully developed until 2 1/2 years after most girls. Who would have known that boys sometimes develop that much slower than girls?
This is a wonderful book to have in your person library & to use as a resource for many years. It would make a wonderful baby gift.