ACT NOW
Wondering what to do while you’re waiting for speech-language therapy?
As a talking-reading-writing adult you posses the basic tools to help your child.
A. PRESCHOOLERS
1. Speak your mother tongue, all the time, inside and outside the house. Your only responsibility is your mother tongue. This is the solid foundation your child needs in order to add more languages to his/her repertoire (i.e. English, French, etc.).
2. Remember! You can't teach a child to talk. Learning to talk happens in communication contexts where language is useful. Focus on what attracts your child's attention and lend him/her your words.
3. If you want your child to repeat.... repeat, repeat, repeat yourself! Your child will only repeat when he/she is ready to use those words. In order for him/her to get to that stage, you must repeat, repeat, repeat!
4. Reduce screen-time or eliminate it entirely. Some specialists recommend avoiding all screens until children are 6 years old. Research demonstrates the negative impact of screens on language development. Interaction with humans is what activates the brain's language areas. Replace screen-time with free play, play-dates with children who have don't have language issues and audiobooks.
5. Maintain a bedtime story routine where the adult does the reading and the child does the listening.
B. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1. Speak your mother tongue, all the time, inside and outside the house. Your only responsibility is your mother tongue. This is the solid foundation your child needs in order to add more languages to his/her repertoire (i.e. English, French, etc.).
2. Help your child with his homework. Read and explain the questions and instructions. Write the answers you compose together right beside him/her. If you ask questions your child can't answer, you're testing him/her. Homework should be a time for effective training: read and write alongside your child.
3. Reduce screen-time. Research demonstrates the negative impact of screens on children's sleep, attention and grades. Replace screen-time with free play, sports, playdates with friends that don't have language issues and audio-books.
4. Maintain a bedtime story routine whereby the adult does the reading and the child does the listening. So long as your child has not learned to enjoy reading it's still up to you to do the reading or to provide audio-books.
BOOKS TO READ IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
C. SECONDARY SCHOOL
1. Help your teen with homework as needed. Read and explain the questions and instructions. Write the answers you compose together right beside him/her. In truth, we learn better when we work together. Additionally you can provide a valuable model for effective study strategies. Read your teen's obligatory reading books to him. Discuss them with him. Or, find the audio version.
2. Reduce screen time. Research demonstrates the negative impact of screen-time on sleep, attention and grades. Instead, encourage sports, socializing with peers, and audiobooks.
3. Maintain an evening reading routine whereby the adult does the reading and the teen does the listening. So long as your teen has not learned to enjoy reading it's still up to you to do the reading or to provide audio-books.