At RosyTalk, we believe in empowering parents with tools and strategies to support their child's speech development at home. While you're considering professional support for your child's speech and language needs, here are some practical techniques you can start using right away. These strategies can help reinforce what your child learns in speech therapy and make the practice feel like a natural part of your daily routine.
Model Clear & Slow Speech
Children learn by imitation, so one of the best ways to help them is to model clear and correct speech. When you speak, make sure to pronounce sounds accurately and naturally. If your child struggles with specific sounds, try to incorporate those sounds into your conversations more frequently.
Example:
Child: "I wuz this!"
You: "Oh, you L-ove this! Me too!"
Emphasize Target Speech Sounds
When your child speaks, repeat back what they say but with a clear emphasis on the sounds they have difficulty with. This helps them hear the correct pronunciation and understand the difference.
Example:
Child: "I see a tat!"
You: "You see the C-at, it's black and white."
Bring Attention to Target Speech Sounds
During activities like reading or playing, take the opportunity to highlight and practice target sounds. When you come across a word with a sound your child is working on, point it out and provide guidance on how to produce it.
Example:
Activity: Reading a book with your child.
You: "Did you hear that? ‘Thunder’ has our /th/ sound! We need to get the tip of our tongue between our teeth to make the /th/ sound… TH-under."
You can adapt this for any target sound by inserting the specific sound and the corresponding cues.
Please don't hesitate to contact us as RosyTalk if you would like tips and guidance on how you can provide cues for specific speech sounds to your child.
Repeat the Errored Word with Intonation
When your child makes an error on a target sound, repeat the word back to them with a questioning intonation. This encourages them to think about and correct their pronunciation. This strategy works best if your child already knows how to produce the sound correctly sometimes.
Example:
Child: "I want the wed one!"
You: "You want the WED one....or you want the R-ED one?"
If this doesn't prompt your child to self-correct, provide verbal cues to help them produce the sound correctly.
Recognize and Praise Self-Correction
Positive reinforcement is crucial. When your child self-corrects or produces a target sound correctly, acknowledge it. This reinforcement helps them become more aware of their speech and builds their confidence.
Example:
You: "I loved how you said 'SHOVEL' the second time. I heard you repeat 'SHOVEL with your best /sh/ sound. Nice careful listening!"
Monitor and Adjust
It's important to observe how your child responds to these strategies. If you notice that your child becomes frustrated or withdrawn, reduce the frequency of the corrections or pause the activity. Our goal is to support and encourage, not to make them self-conscious about their speech.
At RosyTalk, we understand that each child's needs are unique. If you have any concerns or would like personalized guidance, don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help you and your child on this joyful and collaborative journey towards clearer communication.
For more personalized tips and support, consider scheduling a free 15-minute consultation with us. Let's discuss your child's specific needs and how RosyTalk can help them thrive.
RosyTalk offers a variety of speech-language services tailored to fit each child's unique needs. Whether through telehealth/virtual sessions, in-person sessions in the DMV area, or a mix of both, we provide comprehensive evaluations, treatments, and screenings. Contact us today to learn more and start your child's path to confident communication.
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