10 - Read - You do not have to read all the words, emphasize key words, escepically the ones you want them to start saying more. Choose simple books with fewer words. Let your child turn the pages. Kids love to hear the same stories over, and
over again. Kids learn lots from repetition.
9- Turn off the T.V. T.V. cannot teach language, language learning involves INTERACTION between people. When they do watch t.v., try to draw them out of the ''zoned out mode''.
8- Limit soothers, bottles, and sippy cups. Children can't talk when they have something in their mouths. Limit soothers to nap + bedtimes. Limit sippy cups to meal + snack times. They don't need to carry them around the house. Try straws, straw -sippers, and regular cups instead of bottles + sippy cups. Straws and regular cups promote a more developed swallow versus bottles + sippy cups.
7 -Sing - Kids learn from kids songs. Although it's cute seeing your 3 year old sing Shania, they need kids songs to learn language. Songs teach concept: '' Head and Shoulders, Knees, and Toes'' teaches body parts. '' Old MacDonald'' teaches animal names and sounds , ''ABC's '' teaches the alphabet. ''Wheels on the bus"' teaches action, repitition, and imagination. ... The list goes on and on.. Dance as you sing together , remember ''The Hockey Pokey''?
6- Play- Get on the floor and play with your child as many times as you can . Teach new play skills by pretending, showing and repeating. Talk to your child about what they are doing, seeing, hearing , as they play. Look for simple toys that need imagination to be fun, blocks, cars, trucks, farmsets. We have all been there when X-mas comes they are more interested in the cardboard box than the fancy toy. Encourage your child to use toys and objects in different ways such as use a pot as a drum, measuring cups as stacking toys, a box as a fort. The list goes on and on.
5- Go outside- going outdoors will give your child something new to look at and talk about. Talk about the clouds, the sky, rocks, grass etc. Observe the smells, sight, sounds. Let them touch things that have different textures a feather- soft, leaves crinkly, rocks - smooth Encourage your child to use all their senses!
4 Talk - I cannot stress this enough. TALK. Use short simple sentences. Talk about what you are doing to get things done around the house, while they are playing, what they are playing, how they are playing, etc Talk about what your child wants/ needs when they are upset. Talk about how they are feeling when they are happy. Give your child time to talk, pause after asking a question even if they can' talk yet. This doesn't come naturally for everyone, so it may take a special effort. It sounds simple, but does take focus to make this part of a daily routine. Talk while you do any routine , talking makes any routine more fun and interesting.
3- Eat together- Food is a big motivation for some children, and it may be the only time when your child will copy you to get what they want. Give choices when possible. Meal time is great time for language learning, get your whole family to talk about their day.
2 -Repeat - As many times as you can, repeat words and concepts you want your child to learn. Read the same stories over and over. The same games over and over. Say the word several times in one conversation. Example-You want milk, baby. Mmmm yummy milk. Milk tastes good. Cold milk. White milk. You like milk. Here you go . Here's your milk. Milk time! I used milk 8 times , now 9. Children need to hear the word many times before they learn to use it on their own.
1 -Use gestures Use lots of body language and gestures to help your child understand. When you are pointing to something, hold your hand out longer so your child has more time to connect the two things.( the word you are saying + the object that it is) Use signs for objects, a kiss you pucker your lips, a hug hold your arms up. Talks about make facial expressions and emotions. Exampe- '' look at that baby, she is sad, she is crying. Mommy is tired , my eyes are closed, mommy is yawning. You are upset, you want the bannana. You can't reach it. You need help.
Bonus Bedtime - At the end of the day make sure you have regular routine for bedtime. Example bath, story, snack time, quiet-time, hugs and than bed. Talk about what you did in the day, read a quiet book together. Children learn language in their sleep. It is very important that your child gets enough sleep so they can be ready to learn the next day.
These tricks help me( still help me) teach my 2 children language as my son is behind in his speech. We are quickly catching up. Now I can't get my 3 year old to be quiet for any longer than 5 seconds. LOL
Hope you find this information useful such as I did. Hope it helps
Tinker79 Karla
(August 2006) (
