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READ! READ! READ!
Reading is one of the most important ways to develop your child’s language. Try to find time to read to your child every day! Try to find a variety of books from books with large pictures and 1-2 words or a simple phrase per page to books with a simple story line (like Silly Sally). Also, make your own books with your child. For example, make a scrapbook of favorite or familiar things by cutting out pictures. Group them into categories, such as things to ride on, things to eat, things for dessert, fruits, things to play with.
When reading to your child:
- Take time to name and describe the pictures on each page…”I see a car. It’s going fast. The car is going to the park.”
- Have your child point to pictures that you name…”show me the dog…where’s the tree”
- Ask your child to name pictures (He or she may not respond to your naming requests at first. Just name the pictures for him or her. One day, he or she will surprise you by coming out with the picture's name.)
- Look at family photos and name the people. Use simple phrases/sentences to describe what is happening in the pictures (e.g., "Sam swims in the pool"). Write simple appropriate phrases under the pictures. For example, "I can swim," or "Happy birthday to Daddy." Your child will begin to understand that reading is oral language in print.
MODEL
- Use good speech that is clear and simple for your child to model
- Model sounds as well as words. Listen to the clock as it ticks, “the clock says, t-t-t-t." The boat says, "p-p-p-p." Let her feel the air of sounds as you make them. Blow bubbles in the tub and make the sound "b, b, b, b." Feel the motor in your throat on this sound. Cars and trucks can say "rrr-rrr-rrr"
- Model actions as well and teach your child to imitate them, including clapping you hands, throwing kisses, waving goodbye, and playing finger games such as pat-a-cake, peek-a-boo, and the itsy-bitsy-spider.
SING
- Sing simple songs, play finger games and recite nursery rhymes to show the rhythm and pattern of speech.
- Listen to children’s CDs, tapes, and stories on tape in the car ….repetition is good
TALK & LABEL
- Talk while you are doing things, such as dressing, bathing, and eating. Talk about what you are doing and what your child is doing, describe for him. "Mommy is washing Sam's hair." "Sam is eating carrots." "Mmm, these carrots are good!"
- Talk about colors (e.g., "Sam's hat is red"). Practice counting. Count toes and fingers. Count steps as you go up and down them. Teach animal sounds (e.g., A cow says "moo").
- When taking a walk, point to familiar objects (e.g., cars, trees, and birds) and say their names. "I see a dog. Dogs say 'woof.' That’s a big dog."
- Name body parts, and identify what you do with them. "This is my nose. I can smell popcorn with my nose."
- Put objects into a bucket, and have your child remove one object at a time, saying its name. You repeat what your child says, and expand upon it. "That is a comb. Sam combs his hair."
- Strengthen your child's language comprehension skills by playing the yes-no game. "Are you a boy?" "Is that a zebra?" "Is your name Joey?"
EXPAND
- Show your child that you are interested in what he or she says to you by repeating what he or she has said and expanding on it:
- Expand on single word utterances. For example, if your child says "car," you respond by saying, "You're right! That is a big car."
- If your child says, "flower," you can respond by saying, "Yes, that’s a pretty flower. The flower is red. It smells good too. Do you want to smell it?"
- Child says “ juice”. You can expand: "You want juice? I have apple juice. Do you want some apple juice?"
SCRIPT
- Talk about where you are going, what you will do once you get there, and who and what you'll see. "Sam is going to grandma's house. Grandma has a dog. Sam will pet the dog."
CHOICES
- Ask your child questions that require a choice, rather than simply a "yes" or "no" answer. For example, rather than asking, "Do you want milk?”, ask, “Do you want milk or water?" Be sure to wait for the answer, and reinforce successful communication. "Do you want an apple or an orange?" "Do you want to wear your red or blue shirt?" Offer a visual choice along with the words (an actual red and blue shirt so that you know which he wants when he selects it).
- Acknowledge and reinforce the attempt to communicate by maintaining eye contact, responding with speech, and imitating vocalizations.
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