NHS Lanarkshire

Understanding

• Get down to the child’s eye level
• Make sure the child is looking at you. If they are looking they are more likely to be focussed and listening. Your facial expression will help give clues about what you mean to say
• Keep your language simple and use lots of repetition
• Emphasise key words
• Where possible use gesture alongside speech
• Use objects, photos or pictures to show the child what you are talking about
• Minimise background noise e.g. turn off the TV

Expression

• Talk about things as they happen, e.g. when you are both unpacking the shopping
• Encourage the child to make choices e.g. ‘Do you want orange or blackcurrant?’ as this motivates the child to use language to communicate
• Always respond to the child’s attempts to communicate
• Help the child to use more words by adding to what is said e.g. if they say ‘ball’ you might say, ‘yes, throw me the ball’
• If the child says something incorrectly, say it back the right way, e.g. ‘goggy bited it’ you could say, ‘yes, the dog bit it, didn’t he?’
• Have fun with nursery rhymes and songs, especially those with actions
• Do not pressure the child to repeat the target words, s/he will begin to use them spontaneously when the time and situation is right
• Try to have a special time with the child each day to play with toys and picture books