There are many do's and don'ts when it comes to helping foster your child's speech and language development. Please read below to see what you can do to assist your child as s/he works to improve his/her speech and language skills.

1. HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD'S ARTICULATION:
2. HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD'S LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
3. HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD'S FLUENCY
4. GOOD HABITS FOR A HEALTHY VOICE
5. 101 WAYS TO PRAISE A CHILD

HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD'S ARTICULATION:

1. BE UNDERSTANDING! Learning to speak is a complex task. Your child is not
just lazy. Certain patterns develop in normal articulation development as a
result of a concept called "simplification". When children continue to
simplify their speech beyond what is expected at their developmental level,
they are not doing so purposefully. Usually, this is the result of motor
issues, hearing issues, or processing issues that are not under the child's
voluntary control.

2. BE A PRACTICE PARTNER! Ask you child's speech therapist to let you know
when and what would be helpful for you to practice at home. Then practice 
your child's successful words, using word cards or objects at home. Use 
games and other fun activities and make your practice sessions short and 
frequent (5-15 minutes per day).

3. DON'T DIRECTLY CORRECT SOUNDS THAT YOUR CHILD HAS NOT WORKED ON YET. 
Direct correction has been shown to be largely ineffective and disruptive. 
This is especially true when the child has not had to the opportunity to 
have the new skill presented in a more isolated way than connected speech 
(i.e., conversation). As some point, your child's speech therapist will let 
you know if your child is at the stage where gentle reminders may be 
effective during connected speech for the targeted sound. This is usually 
after mastery has been achieved in speech therapy in single words, phrases 
and/or sentences.

4. USE REVISION EVERY DAY TO ADDRESS THE ARTICULATION NEEDS AS A WHOLE.
Parents don't realize how powerful this can be, particularly if the revision
is used consistently and simply. Revision is the technique where you repeat
what the child has said, but use the correct pronunciation. You may want to
give your child's sound a little extra emphasis. For example, your child 
says, "Look at the bu!" and you repeat slowly, "Look at that bug! Go, bug, 
go," emphasizing the ending "g" on bug.

5. DON'T DIRECTLY IMITATE YOUR CHILD'S ERRORS. MODEL GOOD SPEECH. Some of the
cute things children say are very precious to us. But don't inadvertently
reinforce the incorrect productions by laughing or drawing attention to them.
Repeat the utterance using the correct pronunciation. And make a tape or 
video recording to save your memories of some of the adorable things your 
child says at this age. Model good speech.

6. ADDRESS HEALTH ISSUES THAT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM. Fight ear
infections. Address other physical difficulties that may contribute such as
mouth breathing or voice difficulties with your speech therapist and/or 
doctor. 

7. READ TO YOUR CHILD. It is amazing how much this accomplishes. Use reading
as a way to surround your child with their target sound (i.e., "If you Give a
Pig a Pancake" for the sounds /k/ and /g/). When using books with a targeted
sound, emphasize your child's sounds in words found in the book. 

8. PLAY WITH YOUR CHILD. Spend time talking with your child in play while you
model the correct productions using revision. Some recommended games include:
Memory, Go Fish, Candyland, and Hi-Ho Cherrio.

9. TALK TO YOUR CHILD. Talk to your child as you go through your daily
routine. This is a chance to model many correct productions, use revision, 
and stimulate language development.

Back to Top

HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD'S LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

1. Talk to yourself about what you're doing, thinking, and feeling while
engaged in an activity. Let your child listen and comment.  

2. Describe your child's actions while he or she is engaged in an activity.
Talk about what you think he or she is thinking, feeling and experiencing.  

3. Name and describe objects you are using for an activity. Use words that
relate to color, size, shape and function.

4. Provide good speech examples. Speak in simple sentences. Model correct
speech.  

5. Talk naturally, casually. Don't over-exaggerate. 

6. Listen to what your child has to say. Respond to questions, comments,
ideas, plans, etc.

7. Make talking fun. Use rhymes, jingles, finger plays, make-believe games and
musical activities.

8. Expand upon your child's language attempts. Build on what your child says.
Add to it. 

9. Read to your child often. Read cereal boxes, road signs, store
advertisements, game directions, TV schedules, etc.

10. Ask questions. Find out how much your child knows and understands about
what you're experiencing together.   

MORE SPECIFICALLY...

1. Provide more information, not less. Keep information relevant, 
meaningful, contextual, and purposeful, NOT broken into meaningless parts.

2. Overlap information in as many ways as possible to increase repetition 
and help your child make needed associations.

3. Language addressed toward the child should be appropriate to his/her 
developmental level. Some comprehension problems are not obvious and can be 
perceived as a lack of effort or attention initially.

4. Use pointing, gestures and labeling to help develop relationships among 
concepts and words. Non-verbal language is important, too!

5. Try to use a slower speaking rate whenever possible. Use pauses in speech 
to highlight important points.

6. Encourage your child to question what they don't understand. 

7. Consistently check for understanding. Ask your child to repeat directions 
and important information back to you. Question your child specifically to 
see is s/he understands what is expected of him/her.

8. Try to reduce background noise as much as possible, especially during 
homework time. 

9. Be sure you and your child are making eye contact when you speak.

Back to Top

HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD'S FLUENCY

1. Use a slow, relaxed rate when speaking with your child and others. Avoid
telling your child to slow down.

2. Pause more often and for a longer period of time between phrases, comments
and questions.

3. Make sure everyone takes turns when speaking and each person is allowed to
finish what they want to say. Do not allow the child to interrupt others or
others to interrupt the child. 

4. Keep eye contact with your child to let them know they have your attention
and you are interested in what they have to say, whether being fluent or
dysfluent.

5. Set aside time each day when you can sit and talk individually with your
child in an unhurried, relaxed manner. Increase opportunities for your child
to talk when he or she is going through a fluent period.

6. Follow your child's lead when talking or playing with him or her. Talk
about your child's chosen topics or comment on their activities.

7. Speak in simple sentences, using vocabulary that is appropriate to your
child's language level.

8. Ask fewer questions and make more comments.

9. Avoid having your child recite in front of people or tell about things on
demand, especially when overly excited or upset.

10. Acknowledge your child's comments about having difficulty talking or
getting the words out, and assure him/her that you will listen.

11. Give the child lots of opportunities to participate in activities that 
are fun for him or her and that he or she is good at to keep self-esteem up.

12. Have routines throughout the day that the child can follow, and know what
is expected.

Back to Top

GOOD HABITS FOR A HEALTHY VOICE

1. Avoid talking in a funny voice (i.e., Donald Duck, Darth Vader, etc.)

2. Drinks lots of liquids throughout the day. 

3. Avoid caffeine. Cold medicines can also irritate the vocal cords.

4. Avoid constant throat clearing and coughing.

5. Rest your voice (cut down on talking).

6. Try to eliminate background noise when talking.

7. Avoid yelling and screaming.

8. Avoid whispering.

9. Get plenty of sleep.

Back to Top

101 WAYS TO PRAISE A CHILD

The most important thing you can do to support your child's speech and
language development is praise them for all of their hard work. Here are a 
few suggestions...but remember, a smile is worth 1,000 words!


Wow! * Way to go! * You're special! * Outstanding! * Excellent! * Great! *
Good * Neat * Well done * Remarkable * I knew you could do it! * I'm proud of
you! * Super Star * Nice work * Looking good * You're on top of it * You're
catching on * Now you've got it * How smart! * Good job! * That's incredible!
* Hot dog! * Remarkable job * You're beautiful * You're a winner * You make 
me happy * Hip, hip, horray! * You're important * Magnificent * Beautiful *
Fantastic * You're on target * You're on your way * How nice * You're
spectacular * You're darling * Super * Super job * Beautiful work * Good for
you * Nothing can stop you now * Dynamite! * You're fantastic! * Awesome! *
You're precious * Fantastic job * You've discovered the secret * Bingo! *
Great discovery * You're responsible * You're exciting * You're fun * You're 
a real trooper * Marvelous! * Terrific! * You're growing up * Outstanding
performance * You tried hard * You figured it out * What a good listener * A
big hug * What an imagination * You learned it right * You're incredible * 
Now you're flying * Bravo! * Beautiful! * I like you * I respect you * You're
sensational * Phenomenal * A+ job * Horray for you! * You're unique * You 
care * Creative job * You belong * You brighten my day * Super work * That's 
the best * You made my day! * Say: I love you! * Beautiful sharing * You 
mean the world to me * You're important * You've got a friend * You're a joy 
* You make me laugh * You're A-OK * I trust you * You're perfect * You're 
wonderful * Give a big kiss * Exceptional performance! *

Back to Top