Practicing language skills at home

Emily Jones, CCC-SLP

If you notice that your child is having a hard time communicating it can be a frustrating time for both the child and the parents. You may see increased tantrums, abandonment of the communicative attempt, or not wanting to interact with peers. Here are a few strategies you can implement at home to help with early language learning. 

Narrate what is happening in the child’s immediate environment. 

• This creates a language rich environment for the child and brings attention to things in their environment they may not have noticed. 

• Some children may have difficulty coming up with novel words and phrases. When language is modeled for them during play and activities it can help increase their vocabulary. 

• This can also bring the parent into the child’s world and what interest them about their environment. 

Try using less questions with your children 

• When parents ask too many questions it can put pressure on the child and make them not want to interact. 

• Children learn more through modeling than when they are quizzed. 

• The child may not have the answer and will often move on to a new activity or communicative interaction. 

Give the Child Time:

• It can feel awkward to be silent after asking a question or initiating a conversation. Some children need extra time to be able to process what was said to them and then scan through their language inventory to respond. 

• When a child feels pressured to respond quickly it can create a negative interaction and decrease their willingness to try. 

Follow Your Child’s Lead:

• Play is how children learn. If the child is able to choose and direct the activity, they will be more willing to engage. 

• Play creates a low pressure environment and provides opportunities to model language. 

• Play also promotes creativity 

• “Child-centered approaches may also be called indirect language stimulation, facilitative play or naturalistic. This approach focuses on teaching communication skills the way most typically developing children naturally develop their skills, by playing and interacting with others. Parents who watch this type of therapy often remark that it seems as if the SLP is “only playing” with the child. It is well-known among early interventionists that “play is the work of childhood.” In this approach, the SLP follows the child’s lead and adds language to each activity. Children pay attention when adults act like good playmates.” Author: Patricia Chambers, CCC-SLP