Life with kids is busy- I understand! That’s why as a speech-language pathologist, I always encourage parents to embed language activities into everyday life.
- Place cheerios in a tupperware container. Have your child say “open” or use the American Sign Language sign for “open”. Give your child a handful of cheerios. Repeat this during snack time and practice the target word 5-10 times.
- Place a handful of goldfish on your child’s highchair tray. When she is finished eating them, model the word “more” and have her repeat. Or, have her use the American Sign Language sign for “more”.
Ideas to target 2-3 word phrases:
Another helpful strategy for children who are not yet talking or who are working on expanding their utterances is self-talk. When using self-talk, a parent will narrate what she is doing while she is doing it. As you prepare a meal in the kitchen, tell baby what you are doing! “Mommy is stirring the soup. Mommy is getting bowls for everybody. Mommy is cooking dinner”. When your child can see what you are doing and hears the language that is paired with the activity, it helps build a strong connection for language comprehension, and later expression. You might feel silly narrating what you are doing, but your baby is learning!
Remember to always meet your child at his current level of function, and to keep these activities fun and engaging. If your child seems frustrated, try simply modeling the target word you are working on. Most importantly, always contact a licensed speech-language pathologist if you have specific questions related to your child’s communication skills.
