Many families aren’t really sure where to start when they have concerns with their child’s development or behaviors. Going to your child’s pediatrician is always a good place to start. Typically, pediatricians will give you information to be evaluated by developmental specialists, speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Here are my suggestions:
Tag Archives: communication
4 Things That Can Keep Children From Completing a Task
Many toddlers and preschoolers struggle with appropriate play or completing an age appropriate task on their own.
Here are some things that may keep them from completing the task:
- not understanding the directions or what is expected of them
- not having the attention to complete the task
- needing assistance with a motor component of the task
- having a sensory concern that interrupts the completion of the task
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Provide the Opportunity
When working with families I often use the phrase, provide the opportunity.
What I mean by that is provide the opportunity to engage or read a book or take a walk. The more opportunities your child has to practice his skills, the more likely he will be to reach his goals. Parents and caregivers are providing learning opportunities all of the time without even thinking about it. We have age appropriate toys and activities within reach in our home environments. Those who travel, make sure that their children have items to entertain them along the way. Trips to science centers, museums, theaters, and parks of all kinds provide great opportunities for kids to learn about the world around them.
Sometimes providing learning opportunities at home can be a challenge for parents and caregivers even though we have homes full of toys and activities. In order to focus on a child’s specific language or engagement goals, we often need to model play behaviors.
As children play, they learn through repetition and social engagement. They learn when they can observe others and also problem-solve themselves. When our children learn within their daily routines and natural environments, it is typically incidental in nature. Meaning that they are not formally being taught. They learn to use the same language and engage with items in the same way that you do because they are observing and are imitating your behaviors.
When children are not imitating language or playing with toys as intended we, as teachers, therapists, and parents, find ways to provide more opportunities throughout their day to observe and practice these skills.
So how do we provide the opportunity for children to learn?
8 Reasons to Give Your Young Child Choices
Why Should I Give Choices?
- Choice making is a part of problem solving. When we make choices, we are building a base for further decision making and problem solving.
- Providing opportunities for children to make a choice boosts cooperation and engagement. You are asking for their joint attention and social involvement. These are great skills to practice for communication.
- Choice making is great for behavior management. Giving young children choices between two objects gives them some control within their environments. It is important for children to have some control but not all of the control.
- We are modeling language when we label items for choice making. This helps with receptive language. Your child hears you say or sees you sign the word for each item every time you give the choice.
- This is great for expressive language. It gives you the opportunity to have your child repeat the word in imitation.
- Boost pointing and gesturing skills.
- Making choices will give your child practice at answering questions.
- When we provide opportunities for young children to make choices, we are giving them a voice. We are showing our children that we are interested in what they have to say, whether it is verbal or through gestures and signs.
What should I do?
The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of Bean Bin Sensory Play
Sensory play activities are not only fun but also great learning opportunities for young children. There are so many different manipulatives that you can incorporate into hands-on play tasks.
Who
So who should engage in bean bin sensory play? Everyone! I love these play times for ALL kids because everyone can benefit from the social engagement and language.
What
Use a large plastic container with a lid to house your beans. Use black beans for “planting” tasks, brown beans for general purpose sensory play. Buy some white beans and dye them a variety of colors for different holidays. Place objects into the beans for your child to explore. Use themes–animals, letters, or dinosaurs, for example. Provide different colored cups and have your child find a variety of items in different colors, sort them into the cups.
Speech vs Communication: Part II: Why is social engagement important?
Part II: Why is social engagement important?
I recommend that you read Part I before continuing with this blog. It will give you some insight into the differences in some of the terms that are used.
Let’s continue with our subject of communication and how to move forward with toddlers and preschoolers who are not yet communicating their wants and needs.
Speech vs Communication: Part I: What is the difference?
Part I: What is the difference?
When it is recommended that your child begin speech therapy or early intervention services, it may be because your child is not yet talking or socializing with others. If you have a toddler or preschooler, you may be experiencing this right now. It is important to understand the difference between speech and communication as you move forward and begin therapy. There is an important element that is often ignored, socialization. Being social and intentional is the difference between speech and communication.
Communication is the broad term. Speech is a form of communication. However speech can occur without a social component, intent, or meaning. Parents that I work with often tell me that they just want their children to talk. I know that what they really mean is that they want them to communicate their wants and needs.