As parents, we all want to support our children's growth and development, especially regarding their speech, language and communication skills. Early language skills are foundational for learning and social interaction, and the good news is that there are simple, everyday strategies you can use to help foster your child’s communication abilities.
We’ve worked with Goodstart Speech Pathologist Mary Gornik to bring you effective techniques for home use. In this article, we will explore some of these strategies and how they can help your child develop language skills, alongside a handy resource from Speech Pathology Australia to track communication milestones.
1. The OWL + R Strategy: Create Space for Communication
One of the simplest and most effective strategies to support your child’s speech is to slow down and allow space for communication. The OWL + R method (Observe, Wait, Listen, Respond) is a powerful way to encourage speech development.
- Observe: Pay close attention to what your child is focused on. What are they looking at or pointing to?
- Wait: Give them time to process and respond. This might feel like a long pause (up to 10 seconds), but it's crucial for communication.
- Listen: Everything your child does is communication, whether it's a sound, gesture, or word.
- Respond: Let them know you understand, whether through words, a smile, or a gesture.
Following the child’s lead creates an environment where they feel heard and encouraged to communicate.
2. The Power of the Pause
Did you know it can take up to 10 seconds for a child to process your words and respond? That pause can feel long in a busy world, but your child needs this to comprehend and respond.
Next time you ask a question, try this: pause for a moment, silently counting in your head—1 elephant, 2 elephants... to 10. This simple act gives your child the time to process and respond, whether through words, gestures, or expressions.
3. The Four-Finger Rule: Encouraging Rich Conversations
Supporting language isn’t just about asking questions - create opportunities for rich, back-and-forth conversation. The Four-Finger Rule is a great way to balance comments and questions during playtime, daily routines and even during car trips. Try making four comments about what your child is doing for every question you ask.
For example, if your child is playing with a yellow shovel in the sandpit:
- Comment 1: “Look, you’re playing in the sandpit.”
- Pause
- Comment 2: “You’re holding a shovel.”
- Pause
- Comment 3: “It’s yellow, a yellow shovel!”
- Pause
- Comment 4: “You’re digging with your yellow shovel.”
- Pause
Then, you can ask an open-ended question like, “What else could you do with that shovel?”
This approach models language and encourages your child to engage, without putting pressure on them to answer questions immediately.
4. Supporting Pre-Linguistic Skills
Before children start using words, they develop critical pre-linguistic skills that are the building blocks for speech, language and communication. These skills include:
- Eye contact
- Taking turns
- Copying sounds or gestures
- Pointing and reaching
- Responding to their name
- Understanding simple instructions like “give it to me”
You’re laying the foundation for future language development by recognising and supporting these early signs.
5. Fun Toys That Build Language Skills
Toys like bubbles and shape sorters are not only fun - they’re also powerful tools for language development. Here’s how to use them:
- Bubbles: As you blow bubbles, you can model words like “pop,” “big,” “small,” and even expressive words like “wow!” or “uh-oh!”
- Shape Sorters: Use these toys to introduce your child to colours, shapes, and spatial words like “on top,” “underneath,” or “inside.”
These toys and others including everyday household items provide an excellent opportunity to comment on your child’s actions and help them hear new words in context.
The shape sorter featured in this video is supplied by Modern Teaching Aids - our trusted partner in delivering the What & When for Families guide. Inside the guide, you’ll find QR codes linking to carefully selected learning resources you can purchase to support your child’s development at home.
Communication Milestones: A Helpful Resource for Parents
If you’re unsure whether your child is meeting their speech and language milestones, the Communication Milestones posters from Speech Pathology Australia are an excellent resource. They provide downloadable information sheets and a poster outlining the talking and understanding milestones for children aged 1-5 years. They also include helpful information on how speech pathologists can assist with your child’s development.
You can access the kit, including a poster and information sheets, on the Speech Pathology Australia website.
By incorporating these strategies into your daily routine, you can create an environment that supports your child’s language development in a natural, playful way. And remember, every child develops at their own pace - patience and encouragement go a long way in helping them find their voice.