Having a child with a speech delay can be frustrating for both parent and child. It can be exasperating when communicating with each other becomes difficult. The good news is, there is help available! With the help of speech therapy for children, it’s possible to improve speech and communication issues. The tips listed below are some additional ways that you can work on communication issues at home. 

Read Books Together

Your children might have a hard time reading independently. It’s a challenging task for children with speech issues. Read books together and familiarize them with difficult words. You’re also practicing correct pronunciation in the process. After reading the book, ask some basic questions to test their comprehension. 

Talk About What You See

Learning from home doesn’t need to follow a formal structure. Instead, talk about anything you see. Describe your environment or discuss how you feel at the moment. Your children will listen to you and might even do the same. At first, you will do the heavy lifting, but they will eventually learn to share their thoughts. This process is also more comfortable for them since it doesn’t sound too academic. 

Use Different Words

Sure, they have a hard time pronouncing some words. However, it shouldn’t be a hindrance to learn new words. Try to introduce a few words to boost their vocabulary. Teach them how to use these words in short sentences and integrate the words they already know. 

Sing Songs Together

Some children learn better through music. For example, you can sing different songs together. The rhythm of these songs also helps children learn faster. Start with nursery rhymes and consider more difficult songs afterward.

Always Be Eager

Children deserve acknowledgment if they show improvement. Let them know that you see the progress and you’re happy about it. If you notice issues, keep the frustration to yourself. Your children might notice how you feel and start to blame themselves. They already feel terrible because they can’t pronounce words clearly, and that frustration can turn into a refusal to try again.

Let Others Help

If you have frequent visits from family or friends, let them help. Some children love to show off, and they might feel encouraged when there are other people around. Be sure to give anyone in contact with your child a heads up as to the best way to talk to and communicate with your child, and offer your child encouragement and support if they choose to participate in any conversations.

Allow Them To Interact With Other Children

Let your children play with other children of the same age. They might notice that their speaking ability isn’t as good as the others. It will motivate them to keep learning. While playing, there’s a chance to interact and have small talk. If they can’t do it, they might struggle. Hence, they will try harder to learn new words and express themselves. 

It takes time to see positive results. Don’t put children with communication issues under immense pressure. Allow them to grow and learn at their own pace. 

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