The pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, but not like children. According to Healthy Children.Org, “A key part of learning to communicate for a child is watching the faces, mouths, and expressions of the people closest to them. Babies and young children study faces intently, so the concern about solid masks covering the face is understandable. However, there are no known studies that use of a face mask negatively impacts a child’s speech and language development.”
In last week’s blog we talked about how parents and caregivers can help children with developmental delays. Here are a few more.
Expand on children’s speech
It is important to support the development of your child’s language. One example is to respond to what they say by adding adjectives or details.
For instance, if your child sees a cat, and says “Kitty!”, you can respond with, “yes, it’s a small orange cat”. Not only are you acknowledging there is a cat, you are providing additional language for the child to respond to and hear.
Be an attentive and warm conversation partner
Providing supportive interactions means to follow the child’s lead. For instance, as the child is playing with toys or having a pretend scenario, take turns talking to your child, about the topic they choose. Stay engaged and positive, even if this means talking about the neighbor’s cat a hundred times.
Share a book
Sharing a book with your child has been shown to expand vocabularies, increase complex language, and even have better comprehension grades. Ask open ended questions when reading, “What will happen next?” Talk about similar real life experiences, “Remember the cat we saw at the park? What color was it?”
Talk about words
Point out letters and words while reading aloud. Define new and interesting words. Talk about the sound of letter in words, such as the “C” in “Cat”. Children learn language is made up of sounds and words that represent letters. Nursery rhymes and count or clap syllables in words can help children.
Don’t let your child fall behind
At First Words Speech Therapy, we understand how hard this situation can be for everyone, the stress of a new routine, and we are here to help you. Contact First Words Therapy To Schedule An Appointment, we have several successful strategies for parents to help their child at home.
