As I mentioned, Remy is our first Quaker. Hubby and I adopted him from another couple when he was around 6 months old and he's coming up on 13 months. He chatters quite a bit and of course, calls outs for us, but I was just curious...from reading different posts here and other research...does it just depend on the individual QP when they start trying to talk? I take college courses from home, so I am able to be here with him during the day alot and hubby is here with us at night. So, I guess, what I'm really trying to ask is, should we be working with him on certain phrases at a time or just see what he picks up on his own?

Also, sadly, little Remy didn't get very much attention at all from his previous family... so could that be a factor? We want him to develop normally and have a much happier life than before he found us!!!

If they are going to talk they tend to pick up the phrases that are used a lot and/or used in an exciting way. Usually repeating certain things over and over again doesn't work but just talking with them like a child does work. Casey has picked up certain things that we just say on a daily basis, like 'good morning' when she wants to be uncovered, 'night night' when she wants to go to sleep, 'buh bye' when we leave the house etc. The first thing she learned was 'peek-a-boo' because it's said in a very exciting way.

Just keep talking to Remy like he were a child, tell him what your doing when you're with him etc. Hopefully he'll talk for you, although some start talking while they are still being weaned or when they are just a few months old, it's not uncommon for them to wait until they are 1+ years old.

I'm beginning to think Clyde is the exception to every Quaker rule , but in his case, he picks up sounds faster than words. I taught him to whistle part of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony by whistling it at him over and over again, and once he got the first few notes, we started working on the rest and we're making progress. He learned tongue clicking and kissy noises really fast, and "huh?" and "ow!" (guess why he heard THAT one so much, ) and he can do my husband's laugh and mine plus his own particular laugh, and I taught him an evil cartoon villain laugh, too. So you could try stuff like that at first until he figures out you want him to learn to copy things, and then move on to words. If he makes any attempt to repeat something, make a VERY big deal out of it, even if doesn't sound right, so he'll keep trying. I've been working on "love you" with Clyde and he makes sounds that have the same cadence but don't quite sound like the words, but I can tell he's trying to say it, and I always act prouder than a mother with a brilliant toddler, so that makes him happy and willing to keep working on it.

I agree with Casey's mom .. keep talking to him like he were a toddler and make things really exciting for him.. your laughter is very powerful and if thinks your having fun talking he is going to want to as well.... and try to associate words with things you do.. etc.. want fresh water? then give fresh water.. wanna play? then play a game.... etc etc

i live alone so i was worried that cricket wouldn't be a talker. he's now 1.5 years old and says more phrases that i ever could have imagined. i find myself talking to him constantly now and i wonder if my neighbors think i'm crazy!!

I agree! That seems to be the main way Truman learns. His first word was Hello, and I suspect he might have learned it at the pet store since people probably said it to him there. He loves to say things we tell him a lot, like Step Up, Good Bird, What, Bye Bye and even Shut Up!

rocky was a quick learner also his first was step up then rocky he can say every word of itsy bitsy spider so dont just talk sing to him rocky loves nersery rymes ,he sings wheels on the buss go round and round , sings it as plain as i can so just talk and sing to him alot,