​5 Ways You Can Positively Impact Your Child's Speech-Language Skill Development Everyday

Parent interactions can have a HUGE impact on a child's speech and language skills.  By taking a small amount of time each day to do one (or more!) of these things you can make a difference!

1.  Listen.  Being available to listen gives your child the opportunity to communicate thoughts, feelings and events.  Knowing you are there to hear them makes children feel supported and can help with emotional and behavioral regulation.  Let your child know he or she is being heard by summarizing and repeating back the message that was shared.

2.  Talk to your child about feelings and events, both past and future.  Exposing your child to hearing these types of conversation introduces them to the language they will need to understand stories, make connections in the classroom, and become good writers.  

3.  Read books together.  You have heard it a million times but it is so very important to read with your child.  Talk about the pictures using language that describes.  Ask deep questions that go beyond the words on the page.  Make personal connections to the story.

4.  Play games.  Play games that encourage language use and description.  Rhyming games, category games (see how many items in a given category you can name), "simon says", "telephone" and "I spy" are all wonderful choices and a good use of car time!

5.  Ask open-ended questions.  These types of questions require more than a one-word response.  Question starters include "What would you do if.....", "Where would you go if....", "Tell me what could happen if...."  ​

Do you think your child is struggling with speech-language skills please give us a call or send an e-mail, we will be happy to help!  Also, please share this video or post with anyone you feel would find it helpful!