IDEAS FOR LANGUAGE STIMULATION
by Ann Marie Schindler, M.A., CCC/SLP Children at the preschool age primarily learn from experiences and from what they HEAR. The important point is that it is not always necessary to have a child repeat what he has heard as long as he understands what is being said.
Language activities can be incorporated into any daily activity:
1,) While watching television, discuss how the characters feel (scared, happy, sad, etc.); for example, you could say, "Vanessa is mad because she couldn't ........". In other words, instead of asking questions, just initiate the conversation.
2.) Televison time is a good opportunity for the child to learn how to respond to "wh" questions. "What happened?" "Who .....?" "Where.....?"
3.) While riding in the car, look for specific things, e.g. colors ("Let's find something red." or "I see something .......") Look for animals, restaurants, gas stations, etc. This is categorization.
4.) Use cooking or any household activity to increase language. A child will usually participate in a conversation when you are simply talking about something you are doing at that moment. "I think I'll cut up the carrots into small pieces for the salad." "I need a big spoon to stir the ....." "The water on the stove is boiling hot. I can see the bubbles. Time to put in the spaghetti." You may feel like you are talking to yourself, but remember that a child develops his vocabulary from what he HEARS and experiences. As his parent you are the primary source for this information.
** Something a little fun to do: Say or do something incorrectly and give your child the opportunity to correct you. He'll feel very smart and important!
5.) Name all the items you are using at a given moment: vacuum cleaner, lawn mower, hose, iron, broom, etc. When naming an item, use it in context, e.g. "I'm going to clean the rug with a vacuum cleaner."
6.) Categorize things into groups, e.g. foods, vegetables, fruits ("For dinner tonight we are going to have a vegetable (corn), a fruit (grapes), a meat (chicken), etc.
*** Of the utmost importance is building your child's self-esteem and self-confidence:
-Give him your undivided attention when he is speaking to you.
-Give him a special task that only he can do. Let him know how important it is and give him immediate praise when he finished it
-Just tell him what a wonderful kid he is and how happy and proud you are of him.
Remember that conversation is the key to building vocabulary, providing information, and so much more.
ARTICULATION/SPEECH CONCERNS:
Some don'ts:
1.) Do not give negative correction, e.g. "No, that's not the right way to say_____."
2.) Do not talk to a friend, teacher, spouse about his speech when he is within earshot, e.g. "I can't understand a thing he says...."
3.) Do not overcorrect!
Some do's:
1.) Correct your child by repeating the right way to say the word so he can hear the correct production. Emphasize the sound in error. For example, if the child says, "I see a tat", you can repeat, "Oh, you saw a Cat!" If he repeats the word after you, that's fine. Accept whatever production he gives. Say, "That's better" or "Good try!" The important thing is that he tried.
2.) What do you do if you can't understand your child?
a. Try to get a clue from the context. Does it involve something in the room? Is it on televison? Is it a food?
b. Ask him to show you what he wants.
c. If you think it is an object, ask him what he is going to do with it.
d. Sometimes it may be impossible to decipher what he is saying; in that case, you can explain that you don't understand, but it is okay. If it is just a passing comment that does not require a response from you, simply smile and nod.
TONGUE EXERCISES:
These can help improve clarity of speech if practiced daily:
1.) tongue clicks
2.) Put peanutbutter on the gum ridge behind the two upper front teeth; lick it off by slowly moving the tongue backwards towards the throat. (Never thrust the tongue forward.)
3,) To improve coordination and production of multi-syllabic words, have the child repeat tongue twisters with increasing speed, e.g. "Buttercup" (this word utilizes the lips, tip of the tongue, and back of the tongue).
4.) Hold a lifesaver or Cheerio on the tip of the tongue behind the upper gum ridge (behind the two upper front teeth); count to five, then ten, etc. Try to hold to a count of twenty-five.