Wondering How You Can Help Your Child’s Language Development?
It’s not all flashcards and tablet apps! You can support your child’s communication while you go about your day without adding another task to your to-do list.
Here are a few of my favorite strategies to get kids engaged and communicating:
Sensory play and movement. Finding the activities that give your child’s body what it needs so they can stay engaged in playing with you is key! This might be jumping on the trampoline, running into a heaping leaf pile, swinging gently, or even snuggling under a big blanket.
Sing it out … predictably. Pick a tune and just keep singing to narrate your day with simple language. Whether the tune is to “The Farmer in the Dell” or a conga line song, keep it repetitive and predictable. “It’s time to wash your hands! It’s time to wash your hands! Hi-ho the derry-oh! It’s time to wash your… hands!”
Ask fewer questions, and make more comments. Instead of saying, “Are you sliding?” while you’re at the park, say something like, “Wow! You’re sliding! Wee! That’s so much fun!”.
Let your child lead. Try not to worry about whether or not they are playing with a toy “the right way”, matching all the colors just right, or keeping the different toy sets organized. Play their way and watch their eyes light up when they see that you “get” them.
Join in the fun! As much as you are able to, get involved in your child’s play. Bounce on the trampoline, play shop, school, or house, go down the slide, or do a silly dance. I find that most children are much more confident in trying new words and sounds when we are playmates.
Silence is golden! Grown-ups have the hardest time staying quiet when all we want to do is help a child speak. But, very often, the constant prompting can be overwhelming. Try periods of quiet while you continue to play together and see what your little one experiments with on their own.
*If you have concerns about your child’s communication, don’t hesitate to bring it up to your pediatrician or talk to a speech language pathologist.
