How to
enhance your developing child's
communication
Get down, Get down!
I literally can not say it enough! Your child is a little one! Come down to their level in every way. Come down to their eye level AND to their developmental level. Coming down to to their eye level, you can be sure to make good eye contact with them by being face to face, and to them, that is a more welcoming manner rather than demeaning. Then he/she can see your face and read your reactions to their actions and stories. This helps your child to connect with you and in turn, build their communication skills. Developmentally, it helps them understand words they know and by adding one new word to a sentence, you’re not overloading them.
Pay attention to them!
It is harder for children to tune out from background noise and concentrate on what you are saying if you’re on the phone, watching the tv, and talking to each other. We’re not saying don’t watch any TV; just try to limit it especially when talking with your child
Follow their lead
Follow your child’s lead. If they are interested in something, talk about it and describe it. If they interested in something play with it, but don’t overdue it so they’re no longer interested in it. One doesn’t learn language by being bombarded with it, so 1 – SHUT UP! 2, play normally! Comment occasionally!
Choices, Choices
Offer your child options to choose from. This can motivate them to talk with you and learn to use new or existing vocabulary.
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat...
Repetition is key! Children have to hear words many times before they learn their meaning. Don’t be afraid to repeat what you say while your playing with your child! If they make a mistake, try very hard not to correct them, instead model for them what you want to hear. If you’re correcting them, this not only creates a negative memory and relationship between you and the child but if you simply model the correct behavior, they won’t even notice, but they will try again to do it well.
Questions
Try to never ask questions. A child with a limited vocabulary most likely will not only know how to answer high level questions but they may not have the language to answer the question asked and may have pragmatic difficulties as well. Along with play, th best way to learn and teach language is through modeling.
I literally can not say it enough! Your child is a little one! Come down to their level in every way. Come down to their eye level AND to their developmental level. Coming down to to their eye level, you can be sure to make good eye contact with them by being face to face, and to them, that is a more welcoming manner rather than demeaning. Then he/she can see your face and read your reactions to their actions and stories. This helps your child to connect with you and in turn, build their communication skills. Developmentally, it helps them understand words they know and by adding one new word to a sentence, you’re not overloading them.
Pay attention to them!
It is harder for children to tune out from background noise and concentrate on what you are saying if you’re on the phone, watching the tv, and talking to each other. We’re not saying don’t watch any TV; just try to limit it especially when talking with your child
Follow their lead
Follow your child’s lead. If they are interested in something, talk about it and describe it. If they interested in something play with it, but don’t overdue it so they’re no longer interested in it. One doesn’t learn language by being bombarded with it, so 1 – SHUT UP! 2, play normally! Comment occasionally!
Choices, Choices
Offer your child options to choose from. This can motivate them to talk with you and learn to use new or existing vocabulary.
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat...
Repetition is key! Children have to hear words many times before they learn their meaning. Don’t be afraid to repeat what you say while your playing with your child! If they make a mistake, try very hard not to correct them, instead model for them what you want to hear. If you’re correcting them, this not only creates a negative memory and relationship between you and the child but if you simply model the correct behavior, they won’t even notice, but they will try again to do it well.
Questions
Try to never ask questions. A child with a limited vocabulary most likely will not only know how to answer high level questions but they may not have the language to answer the question asked and may have pragmatic difficulties as well. Along with play, th best way to learn and teach language is through modeling.
INTERACT ON YOUR CHILD'S LEVEL
Interaction on your child's level is extremely important in expanding your child's language. However, 'level' means two different things;
When they make simple Facial and Mouth Movements; expand on their movements. Comment on what your child is doing. However use simple language. Do not speak in complex sentences and ask questions to a baby and expect an answer! If your child says "ba" while playing with a toy try to extend the sound into an appropriate word (i.e. "bubbles", if you are playing with bubbles). Then when your child says 'bubbles' you may want to expand on that and say 'more bubbles' or 'big bubbles', etc.
- You should try to remain on the same physical level as your child as often possible, as to increase eye gaze and so your child feels as they are on your level
- Communicate on your child's level as well so you are on the same linguistic level as your child. What you want to do is interact on their communication level and simply expand their linguist level at little steps as to not overwhelm them.
When they make simple Facial and Mouth Movements; expand on their movements. Comment on what your child is doing. However use simple language. Do not speak in complex sentences and ask questions to a baby and expect an answer! If your child says "ba" while playing with a toy try to extend the sound into an appropriate word (i.e. "bubbles", if you are playing with bubbles). Then when your child says 'bubbles' you may want to expand on that and say 'more bubbles' or 'big bubbles', etc.
FOLLOW YOUR CHILD'S INTERESTS/LEAD
The first step is to notice what your child is interested in talking, playing with, or learning about. Children will tell us if not verbally, through gesturing, eye gaze, body movements, or vocalizations what they are interested in. It is our job to enhance those interests by not only affirming those interests but also expanding on them. When we know what makes our child happy, interested, inquisitive, we can use those times as opportunities to communicate.
Example: Your child is playing and engaged with his/her favorite dolls. Your dog suddenly walks by and your child's eye gaze moves toward the dog, meaning that the dog suddenly caught their interest. Your language would then switch from language about the dolls, to language about the dog.
This will again affirm your child's interests and make him/her feel that his/her interests are worthy
Example: Your child is playing and engaged with his/her favorite dolls. Your dog suddenly walks by and your child's eye gaze moves toward the dog, meaning that the dog suddenly caught their interest. Your language would then switch from language about the dolls, to language about the dog.
This will again affirm your child's interests and make him/her feel that his/her interests are worthy