The Secret to Early Language Success
The early years of a child's life are crucial for their overall development, and one of the key areas that significantly impacts their future success is speech and language development. Effective communication skills serve as the foundation for learning, social interactions, and academic achievement. As parents, caregivers, and educators, we have the power to shape and enhance this essential aspect of a child's growth. In this article, we will explore six powerful early language strategies that can greatly contribute to improving speech and language development in children.
Follow your Child’s lead - Observe what they are interested in and wait for your child to initiate the interaction. They might show this my making a sound using a gesture, or a facial expression. Your job is to engage in exactly what they’re interested in talking about and doing. What does that mean? You can imitate their actions, sounds, & provide language for what they’re focused on. Your child might want to do something with an object that is completely different from what you expected and what the object is intended for, let them!
Interpret meaning from your child's gestures & actions - What does this look like? For example, your child might be reaching for their milk, you might say “milk….You want..milk!” Emphasizing “milk” during the exchange, as this is what your child was trying to communicate. You say the message as if your child can say it.
Cue your child to take a turn - You can do this with a pause, a facial expression, an animated question or comment. Pauses can be powerful when used during high points of songs or while reading a books that’s been repeated. For example, in “Ring around the Rosy” when we say “We all fall………”, (raise your pitch and loudness during fall and pause) your child might be compelled to say “down!” Or do the gesture of falling down.
Expand your child's message - Imitate what your child says and add a few more words to make their message complete. For example, if your child says “milk” you can say “want milk” or “I want milk”.
Use routines - Routines are repetitive and predictable, which makes it an ideal environment for facilitating learning language. Repeat the same actions, words, and sounds during your routines. Pause at predictable moments to get your child to take a turn.
Join in & play! - Play like your child does. This builds connection and gets your child learning language about their interests. It’s easy to get bogged down by all the things you have to do as a parent and playing may not be on the agenda but it’s an important factor that will help contribute to your child’s language and overall development.
By implementing these six powerful early language strategies, you can create an enriching environment that supports and promotes your child's speech and language development. Remember, every interaction and activity contributes to their growth, so make the most of these strategies to lay a solid foundation for their future success in communication and beyond.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s speech and language development contact Northport Speech Therapy for a free consolation.
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