Shopping (for words) with your kids in tow.

Speech and language therapy session are important for toddlers with delayed language abilities. Yet as a speech therapist, I often try to make it a point to remind parents that the time I spend with their child is significantly less than the amount of time they spend with their child.

For me it is of critical importance to spend the last 5 minutes of a session talking with parents, or even better showing parents some of the therapy techniques I use. This has proven to work better than sending long lists or homework to be completed. I'm a parent too. I know there is just too much to get done without having someone adding to my "to do list." So, what I try to do is encourage parents to integrate learned skills into everyday, family centered activities. From shopping at the supermarket to setting the table to cleaning up toys. All children, including those with language delays or disabilities use simple language to express themselves. They are just in process of learning to use more "grown up" language, which they hear from parents, older siblings or teachers. Two ways I use to help develop children's language skills are with language expansion and language extension.  

Language expansion “expands” a what a child has said. So when talking with a child, use adult grammar but do not add new information. For example, if your child says, "daddy home," you could say, "Yes, daddy is home." If your child says, "Him tired?," you could respond, "Is he tired?"

Language extension “extends” what a child has said. When speaking with your child,  child, use adult grammar and add new information. For example, if your child says, "Car go," and you could say, "The car is going. It's a blue car."

There are so many opportunities to expand and extend your child’s expressive language skills throughout the day. A parent has the power to model a helps the child learn new vocabulary, grammar, stress and inflection.

So let's go on a pretend trip to the supermarket.
  
Vocabulary: Color are everywhere! As your toddler helps you put some apples in a bag, she might say "Apple!" Expand the sentences by saying, "Yes, apple." Extend the sentence by saying, "That is an apple. A red apple."

Concepts: Did you let your child put something in the cart? Spatial concepts are great to know, especially for following directions. If he says "cart" after he put the cereal in the cart, you could expand by saying, "It's a cart." Extend the concept by saying, "Put it in the cart."

Grammar: Toddlers are learning certain simple grammatical elements such as the possessive 's. Did you find daddy's favorite ice cream? Your son might yell, "Ice cream!" Expand it by saying "Yes we found ice cream!" Extend his grammar by extending and say, "It's daddy's ice cream."

Of course, some kids just don't want to go shopping. And let's admit it, sometimes shopping alone is a great way to escape. As parents there is so much on our plates to get done. Sometimes its OK for a trip to the to be just a that and not a learning activity. If the time is right, any activity can provide a chance to model new forms of expressive language. From playing ball in the part, to taking a bath.

Don't forget your shopping list. 
Michelle Lachman
Schedule your free consultation today: 1.408.365.4423 / mlachman.speech@gmail.com