10 Ways to Work on Your Toddler’s Speech Every Day

Brought to you by Oasis President and Pediatric Speech Therapist, Lacy Hoyer-Helms

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On the blog today, one of Colorado’s best Speech and Language Pathologists (also co-founder and President of OASIS Pediatric Therapy), Lacy Hoyer-Helms, shares her top 10 ways to work on your toddler’s speech every day.

1. HAVE FUN TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH YOUR CHILD DURING DAILY ACTIVITIES 

Children sense when we are talking with excitement and it grabs their attention.  Have fun talking about serving their food, dressing them, and bath time.

2. GIVE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT FOR ATTEMPTS TO SAY WORDS AND PROVIDE A CLEAR MODEL BACK TO THE CHILD

 “Good job trying to say cookie” and overemphasize the /k/ sound if the child is not using that sound correctly

3. TALK ABOUT THE OBJECTS IN THE CHILD’S ENVIRONMENT

“Look at the big, red stop sign.“

“I want the blue car.” 

“I have a soft blanket.” 

4. WORK ON WORDS WITHIN CATEGORIES:

Foods, Animals, Toys, Colors , or Clothing

 5. GIVE CHOICES TO LIMIT FRUSTRATION AND PROVIDE SOME CONTROL FOR THE CHILDREN WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT

“Do you want the red or blue cup?” 

“Do you want to sit in the chair or on the couch?” 

“Do you want crackers or apple?”

6. ADD A WORD, SO IF THE CHILD USES ONE WORD YOU ADD TO IT

Child says “up”, you say “up please” or “want up” 

Child says “car,” you say “blue car” or “red car”

 7. LOOK AT BOOKS AND SING SONGS, REPETITION OF THE SAME WORDS HELPS CHILDREN EXPAND THEIR COMMUNICATION

8. USE SCRIPTED PHRASES TO HELP BUILD THE CHILD’S ABILITY TO COMBINE WORDS 

“I want _________.” (more, water, ball, toy) 

“I like _________.” (apples, toys, cats) 

9. PRAISE YOUR CHILD FOR USING WORDS TO COMMUNICATE AND BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT THEY SAID

“You did a great job asking for more food” 

“Nice job using big words like animal” 

“I’m so proud of you for using new words like purple” 

10. HAVE FUN

Helping your child develop their communication skills, learning is fun and exciting!!!