Even from a young age, children love routines! Verbal routines are repetitive phrases or words you say with your child while doing a common daily activity (think snack time, reading, and bathing). Using the same vocabulary repeatedly within the same context will build an understanding of word meaning and give your child ideas of words to say during the activity- our ultimate goal.
Using a Book: Select a book that is repetitive, such as 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear'. After reading the book many times, see if your child can begin to fill in a word. If not, you fill in the word after pausing. Target word: cat
"I see a purple (pause) CAT looking at me"
Help your child point to the picture of the cat in the book.
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When Singing: Choose a kid-friendly and repetitive song (Old MacDonald, Twinkle Twinkle, Five Little Monkeys) that you will sing many times together. See if your child can fill-in your pause with a sound, gesture, or word.
Example: "twinkle, twinkle little (pause) STAR".
Increase the learning experience by using hand gestures while singing.
While Playing: Be a sports caster by giving your child a play by play of what you and they are doing. If the activity is blocks, some words you could target are - 'block', 'up', 'give me', and 'down'.
Example: "The blocks are up, up, up - lets knock the blocks (pause) DOWN! " Cue your excitement over blocks toppling down.
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* Give your child ample time to fill in with a word. Wait a full 2-3 seconds for your child to process, then speak. Waiting this long may feel unnatural, but it brings about great results.
You can see other language development ideas and milestones at www.rothspeechtherapy.com or call for a free screening at (224) 360-0959.