Here are 5 ways to create communication opportunities:
- Be silly. Wear a sock on your hand or try pulling pants on as a sleeve. Not only will it make them laugh, but it may encourage them to correct you and tell you how to do it the right way.
- Put a favorite item where your child can see it but cannot reach it. A favorite toy on a high shelf creates an opportunity to ask for it.
- Use a closed container. Put bubbles, Play-Doh, cars, dolls, markers, or crayons in a clear closed container. You can also give a banana or orange without peeling it and wait for your child to ask for help.
- Hold back one part of an activity. Give them paper and hold back the markers, give them molds and hold back the Play-Doh, or give them train tracks without the train.
- Omit or replace a word. Say something silly like “wheels on the banana,” or pause during a familiar phrase such as “If you're happy and you know it, clap your ____.”
If you are concerned that your child is not talking adequately for their age or you suspect a speech or language delay, an evaluation can help you understand whether support is needed. If your child is a late talker, you do not have to simply wait and hope they catch up.
Uma Kalani Gosu, M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist • Playdate Speech Therapy
Speech-Language Pathologist • Playdate Speech Therapy