[gbw69]

Hi,
I last saw my boy when he turned 1. Now he's 2 and a bit and he is starting to talk.
I'm very excited about this cause this gives me the opportunity to try and communicate with him.
Anyone who knows a 2year old knows they don't make much sense :o . let alone trying to talk to him over skype.

So...the mother of all questions is...how can i try to communicate with him? his mom says he asks to talk to me, but we don't say much when we are online.

any ideas?:confused:

[Marriedguy]

2 year olds find it difficult holding a conversations they can say a couple of words. Does he have phone like device or does he have the head phone mic. If he has the head phone mic tell mom to get the unit that is a phone... this may help.

[cjonline]

Try to find out from mom what cartoons he likes or what book is his fave. Maybe buy two of the same book and mail him one. When he comes online read it to him he can look at his copy while you read from yours. Something like Goodnight Moon might be good; its short and has colorful pictures. Or watch the same thing on TV and say things like... did you see that or wow that was neat. Let him say things and you comment, even if you don't understand what he said.

Maybe try several different times during the day instead of one longer time at night when he is tired. My oldest at two was talking on the phone for more than 15 minutes at a time before he moved on to something different, you couldn't understand some of the words, but he would talk to you. My youngest wouldn't even hold the phone for more than two or three minutes and didn't really say too much until he was older. I guess it depends on the child. Mine are older now and love to vidtalk to their uncle in Iraq. Its through Yahoo, others too I'm sure, but the camera and mic are all on the comp so there's no real fuss and they can see him -- maybe you could look into that too.

Its great that you are doing this. Keep it up.

[firmbeliever]

Hi,
I last saw my boy when he turned 1. Now he's 2 and a bit and he is starting to talk.
I'm very excited about this cause this gives me the opportunity to try and communicate with him.
Anyone who knows a 2year old knows they don't make much sense :o . let alone trying to talk to him over skype.

So...the mother of all questions is...how can i try to communicate with him? his mom says he asks to talk to me, but we don't say much when we are online.

any ideas?:confused:

Get a camcorder or something that takes videos.
Make videos of where you are and let someone take some of you too,maybe working(or whatever you are doing so far away).

I have a 2 year old and I know she remembers people from the news if she sees them more than once.

Video things he might like,maybe animals,parks,water(lakes,sea etc),fish.Visit as many places as you can and keep making short snippets which you can send over a week or months time.Let your wife make some of your son too so that you can watch him grow.

[gbw69]

Wow! thanks for a great response...:D

I should've mentioned that i use a webcam and a headset.:o

I'll give the camcorder idea a try, i think it would be fun to do something for him.
Would he not be somewhat influenced by what i show him, for instance, if i was send him a clip of me riding a dirt bike or something? I don't want to disturb the delicate environment his mother created. I know the little ones picks up things quickly...

[firmbeliever]

Wow! thanks for a great response...:D

I should've mentioned that i use a webcam and a headset.:o

I'll give the camcorder idea a try, i think it would be fun to do something for him.
Would he not be somewhat influenced by what i show him, for instance, if i was send him a clip of me riding a dirt bike or something? I don't want to disturb the delicate environment his mother created. I know the little ones picks up things quickly...

Try getting clips from where you are, which will seem important to a little guy.

Ask the mother what your son will want to see, I am sure she will know where his interests are.

[tawnynkids]

Since you use a web cam I would definitely take CJ's advice and buy two copies of some books, send him one and read book with him while you two are on. Conversations are really limited with a two year old but you can read to him and spend time together that way. Not only just reading to him but ask him to point to objects on the pages. He can learn a lot by trying to point to the colors or objects and spend great time with you. Have fun.

Just as a side note... you sound like a great, caring, considerate father who really thinks of the important things for his child. I wish there were a lot more of you out there. Great for your son and keep up the great work!

[vlee]

At two years old I think your best bet to communicate would be via a web-cam. Then he could see you and speak to you. You could read each other's facial expressions and he could learn to identify you not just by voice, but by sight recognition. If it is within you and the mom's budget, I think that would be the best way to go.