7 Easy Ideas Families Can do to Help Develop Language Skills at Home
Parents are helping develop their child’s language skills at home, they may just not realize it.
Speech therapists can empower families by sharing ways those daily activities are improving communication skills.
Here are a few examples.
Building Background Knowledge
We know that building background knowledge carries over to reading comprehension.
With the spread of the coronavirus more therapists are providing speech therapy through telepractice. We have an opportunity for kids to engage in more real life experiences.
Instead of using flashcards to sequence events like baking cookies, coach families on making them at home.
Skills to target: sequencing, first / next / last, following directions
Vocabulary suggestions: pour, mix, roll, burn, taste, melt, gooey, cool…
2. Retelling events
Looking through family photo albums is a wonderful way to retell important events.
Take advantage of the visuals to ask who, what and where questions.
What does the child remember about when the photo was taken?
Can you expand on what they said?
3. Sharing information
Many families are connecting with friends and family online.
This is a great time to practice conversation skills.
Is the child staying on topic?
Can they share information?
To make this experience a little easier for kids have them prepare something to share ahead of time, like show and tell.
4. Developing Executive Functioning Skills
If you wanting to raise independent teens, start teaching them to how to complete tasks on their own while they are young.
Having kids help at home is a great way to build life skills.
Completing tasks such as folding laundry helps to develop:
initiation
organization
planning
problem solving
self monitoring
task completion
5. Self Expression
Art and craft activities are a perfect chance for your child to take the lead.
Let them make choices.
What are their interests?
How do they communicate their wants and needs during the activity.
Can they tell you about what they created?
6. Problem Solving
Families have been spending lots of time together since schools have been shut down. There is bound to be some conflict.
Help kids work through disagreements by
stating the problem
expressing how they feel
discussing solutions
compromise and apologize
7. Exploring Interests
With extra time at home kids have the freedom to explore new interests.
Maybe there are hobbies that parents would like to pass down to their children.
Encourage families to learn a new skill.
Talk through the experience together.
Let kids ask questions
Can they ask for help when needed?
Share what you’ve learned with others.
