Open Source Content Management

Your average three year old has at least 200-300 words.  If you would like to boost your kiddo's vocabulary, there are many easy ways to work vocabulary-building strategies into your day.

1) Categorizing What group does it belong in?  Have your child help you put things in their place.  This game works well in the grocery store.  Fruits, veggies, bread, meats, drinks--which things go together?  PS:  Your child does not need to know the names of each category, just which things go into each group.  Your job is to be a helper and keep it fun.

2) Describing  "I spy" is a good starter describing game.  It helps kids pay attention to what makes the things around them "same" or "different".  Size, shape, color and use (function) are good describers to start.  Your job is to make it easy to guess, especially at first.  Not being able to spy the item=not fun.

3) Phonemic Awareness Phonemes are the pieces of words that add or change meaning.  The word bat, for example, has three phonemes b-a-t.  If you change one phoneme, /b/ to /p/ the word becomes "pat". Use rhyming and singing to highlight the patterns in words.  Tap or clap out sounds and syllables.  Try thinking of all of the words that rhyme with your word.  Once again, teamwork is fun.  Testing is not.  You and your child should explore this together.

I hope this gives you a few ideas that you can work into your day with your child.

What games do you play that help your child talk about the world around them?  Visit Circle Speech Services at facebook.com/CircleSpeech  to share.

Strong Words to Teach Kids

Names of their favorite things-spaghetti, Mutant Ninja Turtles, chalk, snow boots, trash trucks

Words to gain attention- look, uh oh, wow, stop

Words to gain personal space-go away, me, move

No!

Describing words-ow, dirty, wet, tired, done

Weak Words to Teach Kids

Manners words-please, thank you, excuse me

more 

I want (before they have a strong single word vocabulary)

Kids with only a few words need those words to be meaningful and powerful.  Teach the good stuff first.

Does your child know enough strong words?  Even children who speak in sentences sometimes lack the words that matter.  Contact Circle Speech Services for a free 15 minute phone conversation if you have concerns about your child's expressive vocabulary. We can help.

 

I attend IEP meetings on a regular basis, as both a parent and a professional. I have the utmost respect for the vast majority of the other professionals at the table. Teachers, therapists and administrators are working hard to balance the needs of the group with the needs of the individual. Sometimes, I feel heard and respected at the table. But, I sometimes notice a disconnect on the team. The family and the school personnel are adversaries rather than partners. Misunderstandings and defensive postures are common with rivals.

As someone who deals in language and semantics every day, I think we can go a long way toward understanding  by choosing our words carefully in conversation. I have cringed to hear quite a few words in IEP meetings--docile, unimaginative, waste. By far the most common cringe-worthy word, however, is compliance. When I sit at a meeting representing a child, particularly a child with behavior issues, the words "compliant" or "non compliant" are often used to describe the child.

"He is compliant in therapy."  "She is non compliant with using her iPad use."   "She is so compliant in gym class."

I do understand this is academic jargon. But, think for a minute about the parents sitting on the other side of the table.

Is your dearest wish, as a parent, for your child to grow up to be "compliant"?  When you imagine your young child's future, do you smile to think of them mindlessly completing tasks assigned by others?  Or do you wish other things: independence, curiosity, passion, friendship, accountability, creativity, options?

Please consider that the family of the special needs child in front of you may hold those same dreams for their child. Your choice of words can close minds or open dialogue.

What words have made you cringe in IEP meetings? What words would you like to hear instead? Share your thoughts at Facebook.com/CircleSpeech

Stick out your tongue.  Move it from side-to-side.  Can you touch your nose with your tongue?  Congratulations!

Mouth aerobics as part of a speech therapy plan was very popular for a very long time.  I sometimes still meet children who were given mouth exercises to do as part of a therapy treatment plan.  It seems like a good idea on the face of it.  However, research shows that oral motor exercises do not translate to improved speech clarity.

Why not?

The muscles of the mouth and face are small and many are intrinsic to, or inside of, the surface of the mouth, cheeks and tongue.  The precise, quick and sequenced movements of your muscles when you speak are not at all similar to muscle movement employed for "mouth aerobics".

The best practice for speaking is speaking.  The best support for speaking muscles is specific, individualized touch and visual cues for specific speech sound errors.  Find someone who can teach you, and your child, what you need to know.

Visit Circle Speech Services to find out more about PROMPT therapy.  It's one option for improved speech clarity.

Music is communication


Music and communication are a natural combination.  Songs and music create meaning for people and become part of memories and tradition.

The properties of music also help children with communication challenges to be successful speakers.  I use music and instrument play with children because it helps pave the way for speech.

1) Music is largely "right-brain".  The areas of the brain that control and interpret rhythm, melody and pacing are activated when we hear music.  language is usually a "left-brain" activity.  The areas of the brain that store, retrieve and hear words are on the left side in most people.  When a person combines that right and left brain together, like in a song, the two halves can "help" each other.  Children who find speaking difficult often find that singing can be a helpful tool.

2)Musical mechanics can help make speech sounds more clear.  Singing, by it's nature, allows a person to exaggerate mouth movements, stretch out vowel sounds and highlight sounds, syllables and sentences.  Precise mouth movement, slowed rate, pacing and drawing out syllables are all strategies for improved speech clarity.

3)Music is repetitive.  Not only do songs repeat the same chorus throughout, the song does not change from day-to-day like conversation can.  You can create routines or traditions with songs.  You can sing a bedtime song or a bath time song.  Songs are used to celebrate special occasions or holidays.  Once your child knows a song, she will be more likely to join in and sing, too.  When she is comfortable, you can "back out" of the song and let her finish.

4)Music is Social.  In school, play or family activities, music can be a great way for a new communicator or a shy child to join in the fun.  If everyone is singing, your child might feel less pressure to get all of the sounds and words correct.  He will have a model in the other singers.  If your child learns songs in school, he can come home and teach you. It builds confidence to be the  "expert".