Three Simple Steps to Help Your Late Talker
““Babies aren’t born smart; they’re made smart by parents talking with them.””
Talking with babies at home may feel like a natural interaction between parent and new family member, or it can feel awkward and unilateral- or somewhere in between.
Creating a rich language environment at home helps babies brains to develop in receptive language (what someone understands) and expressive language (what someone says).
When babies are born their brains are in a high state of neuroplasticity, that is a malleable state ripe for observing and learning new patterns and ways to interact with the world.
Babies learn through all their senses intaking a brand new world- a soft blanket, dad’s loud voice, the sweet taste of breastmilk, the smell of mom’s sweater they are wrapped in.
Talking throughout the day can capitalize on these learning opportunities, teaching children there is a relationship between sounds and words and actions or items.
Language Tips for Parents from a Speech Therapist
These tips are not meant to replace treatment with a speech-language pathologist, but I want parents to feel empowered to help their children at home without a professional present.
In addition to being the experts of their own children, parents have the most contact with their children throughout the week. Teachers and therapists aren’t at home to see the nuances of bedtime routines, car rides, and meal times.
In my own experience as a pediatric and adult speech-language pathologist, spending 30-60 minutes a week with a client or patient may teach some strategies or reinforce behaviors, but skills are carried over most successfully when practiced in the natural living environment.
As a mom, I know firsthand the impulse to tell your child “SAY hi, SAY turtle, SAY daddy.” We feel the urge to impress grandparents or teach manners in social situations, but modeling what to say is a low pressure approach to teaching functional language.
Not to worry! You have not ruined your child if you’ve said “say mama”-
Here a few more functional ways to add language at home:
Provide a verbal model with a sentence length that’s easy to comprehend:
Language modeling can be provided in several ways.
Recasting is using the words your child has said in a more grammatically accurate way or with more words in a phrase.
Child: “Car go.”
Parent: “The car goes fast!”
Parallel talk is narrating another’s actions during an activity.
Parent: “You’re putting the blocks so high. Up, up, up!”
Self-talk is narrating one’s own actions to provide a language model.
Parent: “I am mixing the green salad. Mix, mix, mix it up.”
Focused Stimulation is repeating a word within meaningful context in order to teach that word. As seen in the other examples, focused stimulation is not used in isolation.
“It’s time to sleep. Ahh, so sleepy. You will sleep, and I will sleep. We are sleeping.”
2. Follow the Child’s Lead
Think about your child contentedly building blocks, only for someone to come over and present 3 new toys with a bombardment of questions.
The intentions are pure, but it’s a lot for a little person to process, and suddenly their developing attention has been interrupted.
Try following a child’s lead during play by adding language to what they are doing.
Remember, we don’t need complicated toys to provide narration.
Playing with grass?
“Wow, soft green grass.”
High interest in a plastic bowl?
“Blue, round bowl. Blue, round bowl.”
Dad and toddler are playing with a car.
Toddler: car
Dad: Car goes
Toddle lifts hands to Grandpa indicating she wants to be picked up
Toddler: Up, up.
Grandpa: pick up.
Toddler protesting to caregiver that he doesn’t want to go in the carseat
Toddler: No, no, no.
Caregiver: No buckle?
3. Create Language Opportunities
Add unexpected chances for language input- be silly or create an unusual situation on purpose. We therapists call this “sabotage”, but it’s not as hostile as it sounds!
Or holding a cup under the faucet and saying, “Uh-oh! No water?”
This is also a time to lean in to organic scenarios to allow the child to ask for help.
Can’t get the blocks pulled apart?
“Mommy, open!”
Dropped the spoon out of reach?
“Spoon up.”
Additional Resources for Caregivers
Pathways.org is a comprehensive resource offering valuable information and guidance on child development, parenting, and early intervention. The website covers a wide range of topics, from infant milestones to helpful tips for caregivers, providing a wealth of educational content. With its focus on promoting healthy childhood development, Pathways.org serves as a valuable tool for parents, educators, and healthcare professionals alike.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders provides valuable information on speech and language disorders, as well as providing typical milestones for children’s speech and language. The website covers various topics such as types of disorders, diagnosis, treatment, and tips for supporting individuals with communication challenges. It serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding and addressing speech and language issues.
