Think back to when you were in school. Remember the days we were given pop quizzes and expected to know the answers after just learning about the content. Remember that feeling of defeat or failure if you didn't pass the quiz? Children feel that same defeat when getting bombarded with questions in development.
Quizzing children about family member's names, shapes, numbers or other common items they start learning about in development can sometimes lead to frustration, feelings of defeat or not responding for fear of failure. Rather than quizzing children into answering developmental questions using "wh" questions (what is this, who is this, what does this do, etc.), use statements and patience with your children. For example, when you're playing with shapes, say, "This shape is a___" and leave some time for them to answer. If they don't give an answer, that is okay, just finish your statement, "This shape is a circle." By adults modeling language using statements, and not bombarding children with questions, communication and engagement becomes more carefree and fun for children, rather than a constant pop quiz.
You can use this type of language with many things. If playing with toys where you can use "ready, set, go" give longer pauses for your children to finish your statements. For example, say "ready (wait five seconds), set (wait five to 10 seconds), then say "go." This gives your child time to process what is happening and respond if they feel confident enough to do so. If they aren't ready to respond, that is alright, you as the caregiver modeling that language is still teaching them, even if they aren't verbally responding.
Children learn best through play. Teach children through modeling and repeating. You can model action words like "up, down, on, off, under, over" or model requests, "more, all done, please, thank you." Many words can be modeled through play. If your child likes cars, model, "ready, set, go" when pushing the cars around the room. You will be surprised at how quickly your child may catch on to these fun phrases. You can also model action items with cars and move them under and over certain things around the room. For example, "you put the car UNDER the chair" or "you put the car ON your head." Make play silly and fun and watch your child engage with you and start to model your words and actions. This modeling can be used for any items or games. There is no need to go out and buy certain toys to elicit language. Bubbles, stickers, coloring, blocks, etc., are all easy, inexpensive ways to elicit language for children.
Bubbles: You can use "ready, set, go" with bubbles, model "pop" when popping bubbles, stop/go with bubbles, all gone or all done with bubbles
Stickers: On/off, under/over or teach body parts using stickers; "you put the sticker on your face, how silly" or "put the sticker on your hand/arm/foot" while modeling that body part to the child
Songs: You can teach stop/go with music, too - start a song the child likes and then say "stop" and pause the song. This is teaching them cause and effect as well as other language with a song they like
Coloring: Draw shapes or animals and talk about what you are drawing or what the child is drawing. You can talk about what color the child chooses and just model language through drawing
Blocks: on/off, fall down, up/down, different colors, maybe in/out when taking blocks out and putting them away
There are many ways to talk about language and model words for children in short phrases. When thinking about language, you can think of their age as the amount of words they should be saying in phrases. If they are one, they should be starting to say one word phrases, "milk, more, mom, dad, up, down, etc." If they are two, they will start saying two word phrases, "more milk, want more, up please, no more, want blocks, read book," etc. If they are three, they will start three word phrases, "I want more, want more milk, where mom go, what is that, I love you, etc."
Modeling language appropriate for your child's age and making communication fun and engaging is key to success.
Emily Thelen, C.C.C., S.L.P., is a speech-language pathologist who sees patients in West Branch.
