As SLPs, we know that consistent speech therapy for your child helps them overcome speech and language difficulties, more effectively. However, we also acknowledge that accessing professional therapy sessions may not be feasible for every child.
Fortunately, parents and teachers can practice a few techniques and strategies at home to contribute actively to their child’s speech and language development.
In this article, we will explore practical, and most importantly, doable tips and techniques to stimulate your child's speech in the comfort of your home.
Let's understand the basics of Speech Therapy:
Before we get into the intricacies, we must grasp the fundamentals of speech therapy.
Speech Therapy improves a child's communication skills, including speech sounds, language comprehension, vocabulary development, and social communication. Therapists design sessions and goals based on the unique needs, and targets articulation, phonology, fluency, voice, or language disorders.
Let us now see what you as parents or educators can do to help the child with speech and language development.
Structure the child’s environment: As parents, we let kids do anything that would keep them busy and happy, even if it is not contributing to their long-term development.
Parents are encouraged to create a structured environment; a predictable environment helps in nurturing a ready learner who has greater potential for successful learning and growth.
Choose a quiet and distraction-free space where you can engage with your child without interruption including keeping off the digital devices as well.
Block your calendar daily for dedicated sessions, keeping your child consistent with routine and making them familiar with the structure to progress.
Engage in play-based activities: Parents can always use games, toys, and interactive items that stimulate communication and language development. Play-based activities serve as the bedrock of speech therapy in children, so activities like – storytelling, role-playing, and pretend play really encourage language expression, waiting for their turn and speaking, and social interaction.
Use visual support and resources: For a child encountering speech and language difficulties, visual aids and resources can be a boon to uplift the child's speech growth. For example, you can use flashcards, picture books, and many educational apps to reinforce vocabulary, concepts, and speech sounds. These visuals provide scaffolding and gives a platform for understanding and recalling information more effectively.
Enabling verbal and non-verbal communication: Parents, remember to support both speaking and using gestures or expressions with your child. Assist them in speaking clearly and accurately, paying attention to their pronunciation. You can use hand gestures, smiles, and body language to aid their understanding. Make sure to give your child lots of chances to start conversations and share what they're thinking or feeling.
Incorporate speech therapy into daily routines and activities: Daily routines and activities such as outdoor playtime, bath or bed-time rituals are excellent opportunities to help your child pick up language organically within natural learning opportunities. Get creative! And take advantage of everyday commonplace situations to help with their learning, and encourage spontaneous communication.
Keep on providing positive reinforcement and feedback: Always maintain motivation in your child by offering positive and constructive feedback. Keep praising your child’s effort and acknowledge achievements, progress and persistence. You can be more detailed in providing specific feedback and highlight the areas of improvement while putting the badge on the success elements. Also, don’t forget to celebrate milestones.
Keep an eye on how your child is doing and change your plan when needed: Regularly check how your child is doing and track what works and what doesn't. Some helpful things to keep track of are: After this, stay open to change and adjust what you're doing based on what your child needs.
Milestones (important things they learn or do)
Improvements and problems
Any changes in how they talk or act
Connect with Speech and language professionals: While these tips are helpful in the context of home, remember you're not a speech therapist. So always connect to professionals like speech therapists, teachers, or specialists. They can check your child's needs and provide therapy activities and goals.
If you need to connect with the right professionals for your child’s speech therapy needs, you can contact Total Communication. Our team of therapists can help your child develop the necessary speech and communication skills.
Important links:
Contact details:
Phone/WhatsApp: +65 9115 8895
Address: 10 Winstedt Road, Block A #02-01, SINGAPORE 227977
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