Parents and caregivers can help enhance their child’s communication and language skills. Learning to talk first requires a child to regularly listen to others speak. Therefore, providing good speech models throughout the day plays a critical role in learning to talk.
The following are some tips to help encourage your child’s language development:
1. Play!!! Playtime is one of the best times to encourage communication.
Allow your child to pick the toy he wants and play with it in a way that is meaningful to him.
Be at the same physical level. Get down and play face-to-face. Letting your child see your face allows him to make eye contact, see your mouth and facial expressions. It also puts you in a position to see what he is focused on.
2. Use simple language.
Use single words or simple 2 to 3 word sentences (depending on your child's level of language).
Go slow and emphasize key words.
3. WAIT! Allow your child an opportunity to start communicating.
4. Respond to your child’s communication (gestures and vocalizations).
Show him that you are interested in what he is doing and saying.
Label the specific object or action
Imitate your child’s response or action
Interpret what your child is communicating to you
Expand by adding words to provide more information about the situation (e.g., Child: “car”; Parent: “Red car. The car is going fast.”
5. Take turns. Allow the interaction to continue by responding through a look, making a sound, gesture or using words.
Avoid yes/no questions as these often stop the conversation.
After your comment, WAIT for your child to take their turn.
Comments