Guilt No More: Using Routines to Stimulate Language
As parents, we constantly wonder, “Am I doing enough to support my child?” Life is busy, and guilt seeps in no matter how hard we try. When your child is in speech therapy, this guilt can be magnified. Your child needs help, but you have other kids, or a job, or a parent who needs you. How can you possibly fit in something else?
Routines!
Routines help us manage everyday events, such as bedtime, meals, and getting out the door each morning. We all have them for our children.
For language stimulation, here are 5 reasons why routines are ideal:
Routines are a natural part of a child’s life, and children learn best in natural situations.
Routines occur regularly and are consistent, and children learn from repetition.
Routines require that parents and children work together. Each has a role to play in the routine.
Routines are predictable. You perform the same steps in the same order every time and both you and your child always know what is going to happen next.
Routines are time that you are already spending with your child!
So, let’s start with the small routines, such as the little games or songs you and your child play together. In the book It Takes Two to Talk, author Elaine Weitzman calls these “people games.” Peek-a-boo, Hide-and-seek, Chase, and Tickling, are all examples of people games. You may have people games that are unique to your family.
How do “people games” encourage your child to communicate?
By encouraging your child to take a turn! Taking turns is a form of back-and-forth communication.
Your child will become familiar with all the steps of the game: words, actions, and sounds that are consistent every time you do the routine. The first turn often occurs when the child asks you to repeat the routine immediately after you have finished it. They might also ask for you to repeat their favorite part of the routine. Finally, if you pause unexpectedly, they might fill in the next word, sound, or action.
At first, your child relies on you to help them play the game, but over time, they will take turns more often, and eventually, they will initiate the game.
In order to S-P-A-R-K your child’s ability to take a turn in your routine, follow these steps:
Start the same way each time. Consistency and predictability are key.
Plan your child’s turn. When will your child participate? At the end, at the high point, or when you pause? How will they participate? Through a sound, gesture, or word? Note that you can model more difficult responses as your child’s communication skills improve.
Adjust the routine so your child can take his turn. Pause or cue your child (e.g. do you want more…)
Repeat the same actions, sounds, and words each time.
Keep the end the same.
Your child may not always want to participate in a routine, and that’s okay. If you start a routine and their attention is elsewhere, it’s okay to stop and switch activities to something they are interested in.
Adding turns to everyday routine
Once you have added your child’s turn to smaller routines, you can start thinking about how to add turns to everyday routines, like bedtime and meals. Your speech therapist would be happy to help you brainstorm ways to do this.
Enjoy these special times with your child and watch the magic that routines can bring to you and your child’s daily life.
