As a speech pathologist, I have a huge passion for educating parents and teachers on effective ways to facilitate and encourage healthy speech and language development.
I have compiled a list of 3 “Do’s” and 3 “Don'ts” to help encourage you to play an active role in your child’s speech and language development.
Do:
Talk! - There is a crazy myth that parents don’t need to talk to babies until they are able to understand what is being said. This could not be further from the truth! From the moment your baby is born, you should be talking to him/her. This may feel unnatural at first, but the more you do it, the easier it will be. Talk about what you see, where you’re going, and what you’re doing. Narrate the world around you. The more words your baby is exposed to, the better!
Model and Imitate - Imitation skills are a great predictor of speech and language development. Babies begin babbling as early as six months and you can further your child’s development by encouraging him/her to imitate you. Repeating simply syllables, such as “ma ma ma “ or “ba ba ba” is a great start.
Expand your child’s utterances - The easiest way to do this is to repeat your child’s phrase back to him/her, but add more words! For example, if your child says, “My car!” you can repeat back, “Yes, that is your big, red car!” By expanding your child’s utterances, you can increase his/her vocabulary, which leads to faster language development.
Don’t:
Model incorrect speech/language - Parents can sometimes fall into the trap of “baby talking” to their child. Not only does this hinder your child’s language development, but it can also teach them bad habits. It is perfectly acceptable for your 18 month old to ask for “wa wa” (water), but if your three year is still referring to his water as “wa wa,” it is your job to teach him the correct word. When your child asks for “wa wa,” model the correct word by saying, “Do you want your water?” or “Oh, you need water!” Similarly, if your child is incorrectly producing a particular speech sound(s), such as “tootie” (cookie), avoid the temptation to repeat it back to them incorrectly. While you may find it endearing and cute, it will make it much more difficult for your child to eventually correct.
Ignore attempts at communication - There are two forms of communication: verbal and nonverbal. Verbal communication refers to oral speech and nonverbal communication refers to anything else, such as facial expression, body language, and gestures. Adults use both verbal and nonverbal communication to interact with the world. Likewise, children learn to use both forms of communication; however, their nonverbal communication sometimes goes unnoticed. It is crucial that you acknowledge ANY attempt at communication, especially if your child has a developmental or speech/language disorder. For example, your child may tap your leg while you are busy doing something else. Instead of ignoring him/her, saying something like, “I know you are trying to show me something. Wait one minute until I am done,” can greatly benefit your child. It lets him/her know that the attempt to communicate with you did not go unnoticed and encourages them to continue interacting with the world around them.
Wait it out - If you suspect your child may have a speech and/or language delay, do not wait to see if they will “outgrow it” or if it will “just go away.” A parent’s intuition is strong, and if you sense that your child may not be developing as anticipated, make sure to bring up your concerns to your pediatrician. Your pediatrician will be able to determine whether or not your child needs to be evaluated by a speech language pathologist. Keep in mind...all children develop at different times and speeds, so avoid comparing between siblings and peers and always, always, always talk to your pediatrician when in doubt.
I hope you enjoyed these do’s and don’ts! I plan to share much more about speech and language (my favorite topic!), so please leave any questions or suggestions below!
