Wondering if your child is reaching their communication milestones? Do you think they may have a speech impediment or disorder? Whether or not your child has been evaluated or diagnosed with a speech challenge, there are a few speech building skills you can do at home to help boost your child’s communication skills.
Creating opportunities and activities that foster and develop language skills at home is very important. Long before a toddler says their first words, they begin to comprehend and learn words and phrases.
The success of early language and speech skills depends heavily on the parents and caregivers. Here are a few easy activities to help encourage speech and language development at home.
Encourage Conversation
Instead of the typical Yes and No questions, ask thought provoking and opened ended questions. Such as, “What would you do if there was a tall giraffe in your backyard?” Questions such as this should encourage a detailed response. Try and prompt a detailed response from your child. They should feel comfortable to express their ideas without worrying about being right or wrong
Listen Carefully
Remember that old game of telephone? More than just a fun game, it is also a great way for children to reinforce listening skills and relay them to someone else. The game starts with a few people getting in a circle, one person whispers a phrase of words to the person next to them, then that person whispers the same phrase to the next, and so on. The goal is to end up with the last person saying the same phrase you started out with, hopefully it’s the same one you started with.
Children want to feel like they are being heard. So when you talk to them validate their feelings, ideas, and even their language, by saying thoughtful responses.
Reading
One of the most fundamental things you can do, is to read to your child on a regular basis. When reading, ask questions about the story, point to pictures on the pages, ask open ended questions about the book, and ask them about experiences similar to the story. This will help make connections with what your child is hearing. Many children like to read the same book over and over again, this helps build language skills while, fostering security and familiarity
Early Intervention Is Key
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s language or speech development, it is important to have them evaluate.
Contact First Words Therapy for an evaluation. We are dedicated to providing personalized care to meet your child’s needs. The earlier you get them treatment, the easier it is for everyone.
