3 Ways To Make Children Speak

At Agents of Speech, we understand the challenges faced by children with speech and language delays. Our approach emphasizes a consistent routine, which is enjoyable and a powerful tool in building basic communication skills. We use interactive activities like bubble play, which create an engaging exchange. This excites a child's interest, leading to more participation. It sets the stage for further development in communication.

From these routines, we advocate for incremental teaching methods. They nudge children towards speech. It's not about perfection but effort. In our practice, we acknowledge and reward even the slightest attempt, like a sound. This praise encourages kids to keep trying. As they do, we slowly add gestures and simpler words. These help bridge the gap between nonverbal communication and speech.

Key Takeaways

• Establishing engaging routines aids initial communication efforts.

• Incremental steps and positive reinforcement gradually build speech abilities.

• Modelling language at the child's level enhances learning and reduces frustration.

Enhancing Communication Through Established Routines

Engaging Children with Bubble Play

We understand the importance of a solid routine in encouraging language skills. Bubbles are a fantastic tool due to their inherent appeal. We find oversized bubble containers. They're heavy and hard to open, so children must ask for our help. At first, we provide the bubbles for free. We show the joy of popping bubbles. Once the child is eager for more, we begin instigating a trade: the bubble container for action. We hold out our hand. We wait for them to give it back. This action starts a basic exchange. It is a building block of communication. Repeating this action shows that giving the container back to us makes more bubbles. It sets up a routine that leads to talking.

Bubble play has many advantages. One is immediate engagement. Children are quickly drawn to the fun of bubbles. Communication Basics Exchanging the bubble container acts as non-verbal communication. Trust and Anticipation Kids learn that returning the container leads to more enjoyment.

Fostering an Exchange of Communication

We then gradually elevate these exchanges to advance towards verbal communication. Small steps like gestures, imitation, or sound approximations help form words. We celebrate every attempt, no matter how small; we even acknowledge a simple 'ah' as progress. When the child struggles to open the container, we prompt children with short commands or sounds. For example, we say "open" or make a soft grunt. This encouragement helps children connect gestures or sounds to the fun outcome—more bubbles.

Steps Towards Verbal Communication Description Use of Signs and Gestures. They use simple gestures to convey messages. Acknowledging Attempts Rewarding any form of communication progression. Prompting and Pausing Offering prompts and then waiting for the child to respond.

Through these interactions, we build the foundation for speech and communication growth. They are consistent and rewarding.

Initial Communication Development Activities

Communicating with Signs and Body Language

In speech development, it's beneficial to incorporate signs and physical movements. This approach provides a foundation for understanding and creating language. It's not just about speaking with words but also about expressing through actions. We introduce signs to show concepts, like 'more' or 'open'. They bridge the gap between nonverbal and verbal communication. These signs are often paired with the desired actions to reinforce understanding.

• Establish a sign for a desired action (e.g., 'open').

  • Perform the action while signing.

• Reinforce the child's attempt to imitate the sign, even if imperfect.

Children can link the sign with the action by modelling these signs often in our routine. They will realize that their gestures can express their needs or desires.

Recognizing Attempts at Speech

It's crucial to appreciate any effort a child makes toward verbal communication. The sounds may be clear words or simple noises, but it's important to acknowledge them positively. This encouragement helps build confidence and reinforces the child's attempts at speaking.

• Listen for any sounds that approximate a word or desire (e.g., 'ah' for open).

  • Respond affirmatively (e.g., "Yes, open!") and proceed with the action.

• Provide a demonstration of the correct pronunciation or action.

We view any attempt to speak as a big step in creating a positive environment. In doing so, we create a loop that entices further attempts and shapes the child's ability to speak.

Refining Communication Techniques

Minimizing Repetitive Cues

In our practice, we focus on a routine to aid communication with children who have speech and language delays. We often mix fun activities, like playing with bubbles, to make it enjoyable. First, we give the child a hard-to-open bubble container. This makes them ask us for help. We show them how to open it, then let them try. When they struggle and return it to us, it's a way of asking for help without words. We repeat this so they learn that returning the container means more bubbles. This simple exchange is a step towards verbal communication. Step-by-step routine:

• Present Activity: Introduce the heavy bubble container.

• Demonstrate Fun: Open and blow bubbles while the child watches.

• Encourage Interaction: Allow the child to handle the container to foster engagement.

• Guide the Exchange: Provide subtle assistance, prompting the return of the container to blow more bubbles.

Streamlining Linguistic Interaction

Advancing communication further involves breaking down the process into manageable steps. We begin by encouraging nonverbal cues like gestures and imitations. These cues lead to verbal attempts. We celebrate any vocalization, no matter how imperfect. We say "yes" and quickly reinforce the attempt. We do this by blowing more bubbles. We may use simple vocal prompts, like 'open' or 'ah.' They reward even a slight attempt with acknowledgement and action. This step-by-step method shapes verbal skills bit by bit. It does so without the pressure of accuracy, removing barriers to language learning.

• Gradual progression:

  • Initial Gestures: Encourage simple signs or mimics like an opening motion.

  • Verbal Approximations: Celebrate any attempt at speech, such as 'ah.'

  • Reinforcement: Instant gratification through the action the child desires, like blowing bubbles.

  • Vocal Prompts: Experiment with verbal cues and sounds, acknowledging all efforts.

Consistent Language Demonstration

Another strategy we leverage is continuous language modeling unlike typical children. Children with language delays may find repeated prompts to speak overwhelming and unhelpful. Hence, we focus on modeling words and sounds that are achievable for the child’s current levelFor a non-verbal child, we simplify our language. We use single words or playful sounds, aligning them with daily activities. This shows them how to use simple language. It sets an achievable goal, making speaking less scary and more doable. Language modelling techniques:

• • Simplify Language: Use single words or sounds appropriate to the child’s ability.

  • Environmental Sounds: Incorporate playful noises that relate to regular activities.

  • Accessible Goals: Set realistic language targets that encourage attempts without pressure.

Wrapping Up

Reflecting on Key Takeaways and Further Information

We foster communication abilities in children with speech and language delays and see the importance of strong daily practices. For instance, using bubbles during play can be fun and strategic. This is because of their appeal and the physical demands they place on children. Kids find bubbles tough to control. In doing such activities, we let children interact, which sets the ground for meaningful communication.

We start by freely offering an object of interest, such as bubbles. Then, we progress to invoking small tasks for interaction, such as handing back the container or trying to open it. This not only becomes a form of play but also a teaching moment. It advances from gestures and, eventually, vocal attempts. Rewards and acknowledgement for even the slightest sound encourage further efforts.

Here's a basic instructional sequence we favor:

• Present the object, like bubbles, openly to incite curiosity.

• Encourage the child to interact by performing simple actions or voicing sounds.

• Reinforce any attempt they make with immediate positive feedback and continue the activity.

Speech prompts might overwhelm. Instead, we advocate for step-by-step language development. It happens through mimicking actions, using gestures, and using simplified language. By showing the desired output, we enable children to see and copy it at their own pace. Simplification may even go down to using single sounds or one-syllable words. This ensures the child is not overstretched.

We are committed to nurturing communication skills. This goes beyond talking to modelling the language heard from children. It involves using incomplete sentences. We must tailor our language to their level. Short words and sound play can help children more than complete sentences, especially for kids starting to speak.

If you're interested, learn more from our free online courses at https://www.skool.com/agents-of-speech