Encouraging speech and language skills at home

One question I get asked frequently is how to work on speech and language skills at home.  You can target many things in your daily routines such as labeling items to expand vocabulary, following directions and asking wh- questions.  The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) has a great list of different ways to do this.  Here is the link:

Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development

I hope this list helps to think of some ideas to try!

-Cassee

Getting Ready for Summer (and Keeping a Schedule)

The school year is winding down.  This is a busy time for kids and families with end of the year celebrations, wrapping up a year of learning, and preparing for summer.

It is tough to maintain a predictable schedule/routine right now, but it is a good time to plan and create a new summer routine.  You can help your children maintain and improve the skills they learned this school year by creating opportunities to use them at least weekly over the summer.

You may find that your child thrives without the limits of a routine or your child may like the predictability that comes with a schedule.  Either way, here are some key elements to work into your summer plan.

1. Reading time.  This probably involves reading to your child.  There are many wonderful summer adventure stories out there.  If you child is a reader encourage them to choose topics of interest to read over the summer, before assigned reading begins again in the fall.

2. Writing.  I've been hearing a lot about journaling.  It seems like journaling has been part of some school routines beginning in kindergarten.  Keeping a summer journal and chronicling activities and vacations will encourage and maintain narrative skills.  Writing 'snail mail' to a family member/pen pal would be a fun activity too.

3. Math.  Some kids in my neighborhood have been doing their math with sidewalk chalk and I love to walk by and see what they're working on.  Recently, they've been incorporating addition and subtraction into their hopscotch squares.  Brilliant!

4. Science/Engineering.  I'm not talking about complex experiments that take a lot of materials here.  I'm talking about blowing up balloons and seeing how far they go when you let the air out.  Timing how long it takes to freeze a batch of popsicles.  Building block towers to see which base is most stable.  Digging in different areas to compare soils.

5. Creativity/Art.  This includes ideas like painting, decorating bikes with streamers, making obstacle courses at the park.

One last thing I want to add is that none of these activities involve media or technology.  Summer is a great time to take a break from iPads, etc. to entertain your kids.  As long as they are safe, send them outside to solve their boredom.  Stargazing is encouraged.

Enjoy the last few weeks of school and the beautiful weather!

Tips to creating a richer experience when reading with your child

Tips to creating a richer experience when reading with your child

Reading books with your child is a wonderful activity to do together. This is also a great way to build your child’s language skills! Here are a few tips and ideas to encourage more language growth.

-Label and describe items on the page that you see and encourage your child to do the same. Talk about the actions, nouns, colors, shapes, etc (and include adjectives!) that are seen in the illustrations. This is great for expanding your child’s vocabulary.

-Ask questions to encourage story comprehension skills, such as WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, and HOW.

-During and after the story promote sequencing and re-calling skills by having your child re-tell story events.

-While you are reading with your child, before you turn to the next page, ask your child what they think will happen next. This will help strengthen predicating skills.

-Talk about the characters and their feelings/emotions. You can even talk about what clues (facial expression, body language, tone of voice) that made you think that.

-Model sounds and words from the book so your child can imitate by watching you. Be sure your child can see your face.

Remember you don’t need to do all of these activities at once! But most importantly have fun with your child and cherish these bonding moments!

Have fun!

-Kirsten

Better Hearing & Speech Month 2016

Are you concerned that your kids spend too much time on tablets, smartphones, or other devices? Do you have fewer conversations with your kids than you’d like because of technology distractions? Do you find yourself constantly asking your kids to lower the volume on devices because you can hear the music blaring through their earbuds or headphones?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are a typical parent in the digital age. These are struggles for most of us as technology increasingly becomes central to our lives and our children’s lives.

During May, our professional association—the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)—celebrates Better Hearing & Speech Month. Given that, I want to take this opportunity to remind you of the important roles that verbal communication and personal interaction—free from technology distractions—play in children’s academic and social development.

Kids today are using devices for hours every day—time that once was reserved for talking and reading, interactive and imaginative play, outdoor experiences, and other activities. Yet, the primary way young children develop their speech and language abilities is through verbal exchange—talking and reading with parents. This is a precursor for their own reading abilities and overall academic success. Children also learn from hands-on experiences. Educational apps can play a part, but they are in no way a replacement for what is learned through person-to-person communication. As we head into the summer months, when children no doubt will have more time to use devices, consider carving out some device-free time each day. You may be surprised by how little they (and you) miss it!

Another pressing issue related to technology use is hearing damage. Unfortunately, there has been a significant spike in hearing loss in young people in recent years. This coincides with the rise in popularity of mp3 players, tablets, and other devices. Even mild hearing loss can lead to reduced academic achievement (particularly in reading and math), poor self-concept, and feelings of social isolation, among other consequences—so, encourage your kids to keep the volume on their devices to half level and to take listening breaks. Hearing loss due to unsafe listening habits can be prevented, but once it occurs, it is irreversible. Teach (and model yourself) these good habits early.

Finally, this is an opportunity for us to remind you about our availability should you have any concerns about your child’s communication development. Speech, language, and hearing disorders are among the most common disorders in school-aged children. Communication disorders are also treatable and some can even be prevented if identified early.

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