| As a parent, you may wonder what you can do | | | | Again, this does not involve expecting your child |
| to help your child learn *how* to speak. | | | | to repeat anything. It simply means that you are |
| Amazingly, most children naturally acquire language | | | | providing a verbal narrative of what is happening. I |
| just by daily experiences listening to others speak. | | | | would suggest keeping your sentences short for |
| Parents sometimes try to "jump-start" their child's | | | | toddlers or preschoolers who are speaking in |
| speech in different ways. Some of these ways | | | | phrases, and to using single words or two word |
| intuitively are helpful; other methods may actually | | | | phrases for children who are just beginning to |
| discourage children from attempting to speak. | | | | speak with single words. You might think of this |
| Rather than listing things you should not do, let | | | | as narrating an event. |
| me share with you 3 techniques that I use as a | | | | A third tool is to understand, accept, and relish |
| speech-language pathologist to promote language | | | | the pronunciation that your child is using during |
| development. You may recognize that you are | | | | their speaking attempts. Too often parents |
| already using these methods intuitively without | | | | attempt to correct their children's speech, with |
| realizing it! Let me encourage you to spend some | | | | the effect of discouraging speaking, or turning it |
| time each day using these communication | | | | into a control issue. By acknowledging your |
| techniques with your child. | | | | understanding of what your child is saying, and |
| The first tool available to you is to simply | | | | re-stating the words (as mentioned above), you |
| acknowledge and repeat what your child is saying, | | | | increase the likelihood of your child's desire to |
| but adding just a bit more information to what | | | | keep talking. We really want communication |
| your child said. For example, if your child says "du" | | | | between you and your child to be an enjoyable |
| for "juice", and you know that your child is | | | | event. Developmental pronunciation is how children |
| requesting more, you can say "want more juice?". | | | | learn! |
| This will provide additional information about how | | | | A caveat to the above suggestions: if you have |
| to pronounce the word "juice", as well as to | | | | specific concerns regarding your child's speech, |
| demonstrate expanded grammar. In fact, this | | | | hearing, or language development, please contact |
| technique is known as "expansion", and is a helpful | | | | your child's pediatrician, family physician, or school |
| concept for parents to understand. (By the way, | | | | district in your area. The above information is to |
| this does not include expectation of your child | | | | provide parents information as to how they can |
| repeating back your words like a parrot! You are | | | | support and encourage language growth. It is not |
| simply providing additional information - with a | | | | meant to replace needed assessment and |
| smile - in the context of a naturally occurring | | | | intervention. |
| event.) | | | | I will continue to post articles on child speech and |
| The second tool you can use is to comment | | | | language development in the coming weeks. |
| about what you are doing, or what your child is | | | | Please check back soon! |
| doing, while the event or activity is happening. | | | | |