Count to Ten
There is so much to think about and so much to do. It’s easy to get lost in the fog and wonder if you are doing all the important things that matter most on this listening and language journey with your child. Take a deep breath and make sure you follow these 10 steps daily.
There is so much to think about and so much to do. It’s easy to get lost in the fog and wonder if you are doing all the important things that matter most on this listening and language journey with your child. Take a deep breath and make sure you follow these 10 steps daily.
- Check your child’s technology to be sure batteries are new or charged and all components are undamaged and ready for the day.
- As soon as your child wakes up, get that technology on. You don’t want your child and his/her listening brain to miss a minute of the day. There is so much to hear, enjoy and learn.
- Be sure to do a listening check with your child based on age and stage of development. Unsure how? Ask your LSL interventionist.
- Start your day with a song. Any silly good morning or hello song will work. Listening should be fun and personal from the start of the day.
- Narrate your daily routine. Use a variety of vocabulary. The more words your child hears regularly, the bigger his or her vocabulary will be.
- Ask fewer yes/no questions. Ask more who, what and what doing questions. Your child will build better listening skills, vocabulary, and language when you ask a variety of questions.
- Give your child wait time, an expectant look and the opportunity to share in the conversation by responding to you. How many volleys can you get?
- Model communication expectations for your child and expect him/her to practice that model.
- Listen to your child. Observe. He/She is providing you information on the skills you need to target.
- Plan some time every day to engage in a purposeful play routine, sing together and read books new and old.