Positive interactions between parents and children have been proven to be important for developing speech and language. This is especially true in the early years when children's brains are learning the most.
Research shows that these positive parent: child interactions are important to help your child to develop language concepts, language skills, social skills and confidence, as well as lay the foundation for future academic skills.
For this reason, Spokle's approach is to empower parents with knowledge to incorporate best-practice communication skills in their daily activities with their child. When parents use these skills, practicing speech therapy becomes a frequent and natural part of the child’s daily routine, rather than something that only happens in an appointment with a therapist. This may help language goals to be mastered more quickly and confidently.
Labelled praise is a speech therapy activity that parents can do at home with their child throughout the day as a reinforcement activity. Labelled praise is a technique where you specifically identify what your child has done that makes you happy - it is one of the most positive parent: child interactions there is!
Here are 5 suggestions for parents to incorporate speech therapy techniques when you are giving praise:
1. Proximity.
Be close to your child when you are giving praise, rather than yelling it from across the room. Your child is more likely to pay attention if you are standing near them.
2. Be enthusiastic and sincere
It is important for children to see that you are even MORE excited and energetic when they do something well in comparison to when they have done something negative.
3. Use non-verbal reinforces such as a high five, a hug, or a pat on the back.
This makes your words more powerful since they are coupled with another positive reinforcement.
4. Be specific about what the child has done that you are praising.
This is VITAL because it is by being specific about what the child has done well that they can learn what to do in the future. What’s more, telling your child “I really appreciate how you tidied up your toys straight away when I asked you to” is more meaningful and shows more effort on your part than just saying “good job”.
5. Keep the praise developmentally appropriate.
Keep the language, tone of voice and content of the praise appropriate to your child’s level of development. For example, a high pitched, sing-song voice is great for younger children, but can seem patronizing for older children.
For more speech therapy activities and speech therapy games that can help you help your child practice their language skills in their daily activities, check out Spokle speech therapy app! We have lots of resources and suggestions for parents on interactive activities to help your child reach their language goals.
