One of the greatest powers an individual can have is knowledge and communication. These are two important aspects of our lives that cannot be snatched away but, can only be learned. So, the importance of communication or talking starts from the day a baby is born.
It becomes a crucial part of a child’s development and social integration. However, it can be a significant concern for parents when they find out that their child is struggling to find their voice. Interestingly, early intervention with late-talkers can have a positive impact on your child’s communication.
So don’t go anywhere else and explore of different and effective strategies for early intervention with late talkers in this article.
Importance of Stepping In Early
A prior action for anything is always better and the same with late-talkers. Researchers have proved that taking necessary strategies with late-talkers can lead to better communication or language outcomes. So, providing early support can help benefit the child a lot when they communicate with their peers.
Now, during the initial days of a child, the brain is particularly receptive to adapting and learning new things. Activities like speech therapy, parent training, and other play activities become very important for your child.
So, the right and timely support for your child can help them to adapt to the language, making it easier for them to learn and communicate. But, what are the different strategies that you could use for your child? Here are some effective strategies that can truly make a difference:-
Speech Therapy
One of the most effective strategies for late talkers is simply going with speech therapy. Among all the therapies, parents must consider taking up Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).
This therapy is an evidence-based approach that encourages parents to become their child’s primary helper. The primary focus of this strategy or activity is to focus on improving the quality of parent-child interactions. As a result, it not only strengthens the existing relationship but, addresses various childhood challenges including language delays.
Make sure to consult with an experienced and properly trained PCIT therapist before getting started. Participate in weekly sessions for 1-2 hours with your child and do not forget to keep the activity running at home whenever you get time.
Interactive Plays
Various interactive plays are quite a powerful strategy to encourage your child to speak. It not only becomes an attractive option for your child but, you get to learn about them of the difficulties they are facing. Activities such as charades, role plays, singing, nursery rhymes, and many more can help your child to express themselves verbally. Parents or caregivers should pay very close attention to minor problems they are making and encourage them to use simple words and phrases.
Engage with Turn-Talking in Conversations
One of the most amusing methods to encourage children to communicate is by turn-talking. It is a fundamental communication skill that includes alternating between listening and speaking in a conversation. In simple, participants in this activity speak one at a time in alternating terms.
In this activity, the person speaking can speak about anything from sharing ideas or talking about a movie they watched. From a children’s point-of-view, turn-talking helps them to understand the flow of dialogue. Some of the benefits that your children can witness are the following:-
- Builds vocabulary
- Motivation
- Enhanced communication skills
- Builds self-confidence
- Improves sentence structure
- Develops listening skills
Book Reading
Encouraging children to develop a habit of reading books is a very important and most effective strategy. This simple strategy can be a very powerful tool to stimulate language development and understand words properly. If possible, encouraging children to read books loudly would further help parents to know where they are going wrong and can be corrected immediately.
Some benefits of book reading are the following:-
- Children can learn new words, phrases, and sentence structures which will further expand their vocabulary.
- Correct pronunciation, grammar, and intonation are initiated when book reading.
- Children develop a habit of listening carefully while book reading and comprehending spoken language.
- A habit of book reading helps children learn to analyze, predict, and make informed decisions from an early stage.
Create Communication Nurturing Environment
Surrounding late-talkers with an environment where communication is essential is very important. Parents or caregivers should engage in conversations throughout the day, near the child. Even if they are not participating in the conversation is completely fine but, parents must create such an environment. If a child makes any noise or is trying to speak something, reacting to them is necessary.
One of the best ways to create such an environment is by describing what you are doing or pointing out objects you are using. Additionally, encouraging your child to respond more with a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ would work just fine. Creating such an environment will help parents know the challenges the child is facing.
E-Learning Courses
In this fast-paced world, encouraging your child to join e-learning courses can be great. Individuals who have a problem communicating can get one-on-one consulting from professionals. It will help both parents and their children to know where the main problem is and can work accordingly.
Additionally, professionals working with late-talkers must participate in multiple e-learning courses for SLPs and OTs to enhance their skills. Additionally, to stay ahead of the curve interested individuals should consider E-learning courses for SLPs, OTs, and parents which offer excellent guidance and the latest education in this field.
Conclusion
While implementing the strategies or activities given above, ensure that you do not forget to monitor progress. Routinely assessment of your child’s progress can give the adjustments they require for better future growth and development. Make sure whatever strategies you are giving to your child are done in the right way for better efficiency in communication. It will help make a great difference in late-talkers.
If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to take the first step toward the development of your child’s future with TalkTools.
