5 Easy Tips For Parents To Support Their Child's Speech And Language Development

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Parents often worry about their child’s speech and language development. They want their child’s language to be on the right track. It’s important for parents to know that their child’s speech and language development can be supported in many ways. As a parent, you are the best teacher and advocate. With a few simple suggestions, you can support your child’s speech and language development.

Talk to your child:

This might seem as if this is an obvious suggestion however it is not in all cultures. One of my positions was as a clinical supervisor for graduate students. It was a job I loved! We had an after-school clinic that the graduate students would offer speech and language therapy. One of my best and brightest graduate students had a child who needed the services that we offer. Our relationship therefor was both as a supervisor but also as a consultant discussing her own child’s therapy plan. When I talked to her about talking to her child she was amazed at this simple suggestion. She explained that it was not something that they did in her culture.

The best way to encourage speech development is to talk to your child as much as possible. Make eye contact, and clearly articulate your words. Talking to your child while performing everyday activities such as dressing, bathing, or cooking, can provide a natural platform for communication. You can describe the activities you’re doing and ask your child questions, encouraging them to respond.

Create a Language-Rich Environment:

Children learn best by immersing themselves in a language-rich environment. Surround your child with language through conversations, storytelling, reading, and exposure to different forms of media. Regularly engage your child in dialogue, making sure to use age-appropriate language and asking open-ended questions.

When I began to study speech and language pathology ( back in the 70’s) one thing that impressed me was the connection between language and reading. Children can begin to identify logo’s and familiar words. Point them out in your travels. You will be amazed at how many EXIT signs you will begin to see!

Active Listening:

Listening is a fundamental aspect of language development. Encourage active listening by maintaining eye contact, using expressive facial expressions, and responding appropriately when your child communicates. Show genuine interest in what they have to say, no matter how simple or complex it may be. Active listening helps build their confidence, encourages them to communicate more frequently, and fosters a deeper understanding of language nuances.

Play and Learn

Playing with your child is an excellent way to stimulate their language development. Encourage your child to talk about their play activity and ask them questions to engage them in conversation. Turn taking games like “I Spy” or “Simon Says” can help a child learn new words and improve their vocabulary.

Encourage your child to play with siblings or friends, and this will help to develop their social communication skills. Play involves turn-taking, sharing ideas, and negotiation skills. These are essential skills for communication.

Read and Sing

Engaging with books and music can also play a significant role in speech development. Reading and singing can help expose your child to new words, sounds, and patterns. It can also enhance their listening skills, which is a vital aspect of speech and language development. You can sing nursery rhymes together, read books, and repeat sounds, or words back and forth.

Make reading time fun by choosing a location that is comfortable for you both and using animated voices when reading the story. Point out pictures in the book and ask your child questions to engage them in the story.

Not all people are natural in knowing what to say while reading a book to a child. In working with graduate students I witnessed that many were reading the words on the page and may have even put in some voices but missed opportunities to develop vocabulary or teach story grammar. This is where book companions come in. When I make a book companions I put in the page by page information vocabulary, background knowledge and story grammar highlights. There is not a need to use ALL of the information but it is a helpful guide. You may not need a book companion for every book you read ( that would become overwhelming!) but using one book companion may assist you in knowing what to do for other books.

As a parent, you have a significant role to play in supporting your child’s speech and language development. By engaging in regular communication, using simple language, and engaging in activities such as reading and singing, you can create an environment that encourages speech and language skills. Remember to be patient and seek professional support if you’re concerned about your child’s development. A speech and language pathologist can assist you. With the right support, you can help your child become a confident speaker and succeed in their communication with others.