Beyond the Treatment Room…

“How much time should I spend working with him/her?” is probably one of the most common questions I’m asked as a pediatric SLP. The answer? (My opinion) You shouldn’t have to “work” with your child. I would never expect you to a) find extra time and/or b) assume a role other than your child’s caregiver- you have a million and five responsibilities at baseline.

So what can you do? You CAN support your child’s speech and language skills throughout the day- without carving out time or spending loads of money on overpriced toys.

The answer is: keep doing what you’re doing…just tweak it a little.

Strategy #1:

First: What do you and your child do every day? Change diapers? Get dressed? Take a bath? Pick one.

Next: What does your child absolutely love? Peek-a-boo? Hide-and-seek? Tickles? Keep one in mind…

Then: Combine the two and add words.

For example: after changing your child’s diaper, say: “I’m gonna tickle your…belly!” and blow raspberries on their cute little belly. Soak up all that laughter and enjoyment. Take a little break…then, “I’m gonna tickle your…toes!” and blow raspberries on all those toes. “I’m gonna tickle your…” wait for it…wait for it…

Did they move a body part toward you? Are they smiling? Did your child pull your face closer to theirs? You’ve created a beautiful game out of an activity you would have done anyway. You’ve added specific language (hello, body parts!) and your child probably had a lot of fun.

When getting ready for bed, hide a stuffed animal somewhere in the room. Encourage your child to help you look for it: “is it under the blanket? behind the pillow? in the closet?” You’ve just created a fun game with bedtime vocabulary (and if your kids are like mine, you needed to find that stuffed animal anyway).

Strategy #2:

First: What do you do every day? Make coffee? Check the mail?

Next: Involve your child, give them a “job.”

Then: Add language.

For example: when ready to check the mail, say to your child “let’s check the mailbox!” Walk to the mailbox together and say, “open the mailbox!” Allow your child to pull the door down and reach inside. Name what’s inside- “Mail! Magazine!” or “Empty!” Tell your child to “close the mailbox” or “carry the mail inside” and “sit it on the table.” You’ve now give your child a variety of directions, and built their vocabulary.

Does your child always want to steal your coffee (like mine)? Make them work for it…walk through the steps: “Let’s find a cup…push the button…let’s wait…pour the milk…mix it up.” Encourage your child to complete a “job” like find a cup and give it to you. Hand them the spoon to stir. Think about how PROUD this will make them. And you’ve turned a seemingly solitary job into an activity full of nouns and verbs.

When you add up the time dedicated to these “activities” (which you would have done anyway), it’s probably equal to multiple hours each week. MULTIPLE HOURS of motivating, language-rich activities. You were “working” but it was fun.

Remember: you’re already doing so much for your child- some days, you can’t build in anything more. And that is okay.

Keep it up- I see you, and you’re doing a fantastic job.