ENCOURAGING SPEECH AND LANGUAGE AT HOME

 

A helpful website for information is the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association’s website:  http://www.asha.org/   

On it, you will find helpful information about typical speech and language development as well as information related to dual-language learning, communication problems and treatments.

 

The following are ideas for encouraging speech and language in children 4-6 years of age, from the asha website.

 

•   When your child starts a conversation, give your full attention whenever possible.

•   Make sure that you have your child's attention before you speak.

•   Acknowledge, encourage, and praise all attempts to speak. Show that you understand the word or phrase by fulfilling the request, if   appropriate.

•  Pause after speaking. This gives your child a chance to continue the conversation.

•  Continue to build vocabulary. Introduce a new word and offer its definition, or use it in a context that is easily understood. This may         be done in an exaggerated, humorous manner. "I think I will drive the vehicle to the store. I am too tired to walk."

•  Talk about spatial relationships (first, middle, and last; right and left) and opposites (up and down; on and off).

•  Offer a description or clues, and have your child identify what you are describing: "We use it to sweep the floor" (a broom). "It is cold,        sweet, and good for dessert. I like strawberry" (ice cream).

•  Work on forming and explaining categories. Identify the thing that does not belong in a group of similar objects: "A shoe does not belong  with an apple and an orange because you can't eat it; it is not round; it is not a fruit."

•  Help your child follow two- and three-step directions: "Go to your room, and bring me your book."

•  Encourage your child to give directions. Follow his or her directions as he or she explains how to build a tower of blocks.

• Play games with your child such as "house." Exchange roles in the family, with your pretending to be the child. Talk about the different rooms and furnishings in the house.

• The television also can serve as a valuable tool. Talk about what the child is watching. Have him or her guess what might happen next. Talk about the characters. Are they happy or sad? Ask your child to tell you what has happened in the story. Act out a scene together, and make up a different ending.

• Take advantage of daily activities. For example, while in the kitchen, encourage your child to name the utensils needed. Discuss the foods on the menu, their color, texture, and taste. Where does the food come from? Which foods do you like? Which do you dislike? Who will clean up? Emphasize the use of prepositions by asking him or her to put the napkin on the table, in your lap, or under the spoon. Identify who the napkin belongs to: "It is my napkin." "It is Daddy's." "It is John's."

• While shopping for groceries, discuss what you will buy, how many you need, and what you will make. Discuss the size (large or small), shape (long, round, square), and weight (heavy or light) of the packages.

 

The following are some additional fun things to do online with your child that foster speech and language skills.

 

Listening Skills

 

Clifford's Sound Match

http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/flash/phonics/index.htm

 

PBS Kids Memory Games

http://pbskids.org/games/memory.html

 

Frog's rhyming machine

http://pbskids.org/wordworld/characters/game_frm.html

 

Language

 

Synonym Sam

http://pbskids.org/lions/games/synsam.html

 

Grammar Blast

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/grammar/

 

Hoposites

http://pbskids.org/lions/games/hopposites.html

 

Octopus Hangmouse

Play this "hangmouse" (hangman) game and try to save the mouse with good vocabulary words!

http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/word-games/hangman-games/animal-hangman-games/octopus-hangmouse.html

 

Idioms and vocabulary matching games

 

 Idioms are expressions that we use that mean something else. For example, "I could eat a horse" is an idiom that means you are very hungry.  Students with language difficulties often need to be taught these differences in meaning.

http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/vocabulary_games/idioms.html

 

Get Ready To Read

Get Ready to Read! is designed to support educators, parents, and young children in the development of early literacy skills in the years before kindergarten. Intended for use with all children, the resources and information provided on this site promote skill-building, communication between adults, and ways to address concerns.

http://www.getreadytoread.org

 

 Tumble Books

Tumble Books are books that come to life! There is a library of books for students to choose from. The books are narrated and the words are highlighted as they are read. There are fiction and nonfiction books to choose from.

http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/book_details.asp?Category=PictureBooks&isflash=1

 

Where Are Milly and Billy?

http://dotolearn.com/games/wordpairs/index.htm