CPR (Choices, Parallel Talk, and Repeat) for late talkers
Choices: If your toddler is not talking or using only a few words, giving choices is one of the best ways to elicit a response. Keep it simple by giving only two choices. For example, you might ask, “Do you want juice or milk?” “Blue or yellow?” “Cookie or pretzels?” “Strawberry or orange?” If they point to their selection, encourage them to repeat the word. Using this closed-ended approach consistently will yield great results. Choices also help them connect the words to the objects.
Parallel Talk: Describe what your child is doing. Parallel talk creates an association between the object or action and the words. For example, you would say things like: “You are washing your hands,” “You are eating a banana,” “You are rolling the ball,” and so on while they are doing it.
Repeat: When your child says something, repeat it and expand on it. For example, if your child says “juice,” you might say, “You want juice,” and encourage them to repeat or expand the request. Accept repetition in any form, whether it is initial sound imitation or word approximation. Encouraging them to repeat or expand a request can support expressive language skills.
Speech-Language Pathologist • Playdate Speech Therapy