Car Games for Late Talkers…Great Ways to Maximize Your Commute with Your Late Talker
Moms of late talkers frequently email me some version of this question…
“We spend lots of time in the car, especially waiting for my older children to be released from school and other activities. Do you have any ideas I can use during that time with my toddler who is not talking?”
Yes I do! Here’s my list of…
Car Games for Late Talkers
My BEST strategies for targeting language in the car with late talking toddlers are EASY. Start with this one…
1. Listen, listen, listen!!
Some late talkers are more vocal in the car than anywhere else. Maybe it’s the movement of the vehicle, maybe it’s the chaos of the older kids that provoke a toddler’s attempts to talk, or maybe it’s the one time of the day that a child who is always on the go is still enough for you to notice that he is beginning to try to talk!
No matter what the reason, listen!
What’s he trying to say?
If it’s a word you can make out, repeat it! Recognize and reinforce those early attempts. For example, if he says, “bu” when you’re parked beside the bus, say, “BUS! There’s the bus! You like that song about the bus. Wanna sing about the bus?” The launch into your best version of “Wheels on the Bus.”
If you can’t make out what he’s trying to say, but you think you know his intent, go with it! Give him the words he needs. For instance, if he sees his brother coming and starts to jabber, say “Hi! There’s (brother’s name). Here he comes! Hi (name)! Hi!!!”
If you don’t have a clue what he’s trying to say, that’s alright too. Many times late talkers are doing what other toddlers did at younger ages… practicing! They’re not really saying any true words yet, but they’re getting ready by vocalizing and practicing sounds and sound combinations. When this happens, say whatever it is that you think she might want to say, or use the next idea which can be super successful…
2. Imitate and Wait!
This strategy can be very powerful for toddlers who are usually quiet.
Whenever she makes a sound, copy her. Try to match her in every way you can – the same sound, same volume, and same intonation – as closely as possible.
Imitate her and then…
Wait.
And wait.
And then wait some more.
Experts say that you should allow at least 10 seconds before offering a new sound with a late talker. Here’s why… late talkers often need more time to hear a sound, plan to say it, and then finally, to say it. Think about it this way… if imitating sounds were easy for them, they would already be talking. For whatever reason, it’s not. So we have to give them extra time. If we move ahead too soon, we cut them off before they’re ready.
Ten seconds can feel like an eternity for chatty-patty moms — and especially for super chatty SLPs! I, Laura Mize, a speech-language pathologist with almost 25 years experience, also have a problem waiting.
Sometimes I have to press my lips together as a reminder to keep my mouth shut while I wait. When it’s really hard, I count silently… 1 Mississippi…2 Mississippi…3 Mississippi… (an ode to my childhood home…)
No matter how hard it is, waiting for her next sound is exactly what you need to do to entice a late talker to make another sound.
Let me add that waiting here is much different from waiting when a toddler has said nothing. (More about that difference in another post…)
If, after about 10 full seconds, she doesn’t try again, then repeat the sound she made or another one she can do and then…(you guessed it) wait some more.
Don’t just wait. Wait expectantly. Lean forward, widen your eyes, raise your eyebrows, and maybe even let out a little gasp. Act like you know your child is going to say something. Granted, this is not as effective when a toddler can’t see you, but if you make this a habit when you are face-to-face, it will work, even when a child can’t see your face!)
You will be surprised at how these simple changes can make a big difference. It may take a little while to get going, but imitating and then expectantly waiting, will help many late talkers begin these fun little vocal duos with you.
3. Begin a Turn Taking Game of Your Own
A similar strategy is initiating a turn taking exchange, but not with words unless the child is already talking pretty well. Here, you’ll begin the routine with something you know the child can say. The cool part is, it doesn’t have to be a word.
Can your child fake cough? Try that! Here’s how…
Cough.
Briefly check to see if your child is listening and watching, then cough again.
Wait…
Cough again. Maybe this time, clear your throat too. Or cough bigger.
Try it several times before moving on to a new sound.
BUT… if he imitates the cough, keep it going! See how many rounds you can get in before one of you drops out.
Then try a new sound… like an animal noise she can already do. Or a whine. Or a loud grunt. Fake cry. Pant. Pretend to sneeze. Click your tongue. Make kissy noises. Or even let out a little scream.
The key here is to get a toddler to be NOISY and TAKE TURNS.
Both of those foundational skills are extremely important for late talkers, and now you’ve given yourself a new way and a new time to work on them!
I’ve got some other car games for late talkers who are just beyond this phase. Here’s part 2:
Laura
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Can’t wait until then for ideas? My first DVD Teach Me To Talk will teach you how to get started!
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Thank you so much for all your hard work and publishing books! Our 17-month-old toddler suddenly exploded into speaking and imitating everybody's gestures and sounds, just a week or two after we 'completed' all activities that are listed under 11 pre-linguistic skills! Your method really works!"
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I absolutely LOVE all of your workbooks, especially your Autism Workbook. Starting with Social Games has been a game changer for many of my littles with ASD and their families. It's been the best way for them to finally connect and sustain shared attention and engagement, leading to longer social interactions, through play!"
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Thank you so much for the videos you have posted on your youtube channel. They are so direct, informative, and helpful. Thank you for being a resource for me to become a better therapist."
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I love your work! I am a professor of early childhood special education and a speech language pathologist! I have worked to help children learn to communicate and I know how valuable the information you share is for both early interventionists and pediatric speech language pathologists!
Thank you for systematically organizing and explaining essential steps for young children to learn and develop. You are having a great impact on our profession, the ECE profession and families!"
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If this is Laura herself reading this email let me take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have put forth for us professionals. I own every manual (except the autism manual) and have watched every course on DVD. I have listened to countless podcasts. All of what I’ve come to be as an Early Intervention speech therapist was absolutely to your credit. With your resources at my side I have never needed to scramble for answers and strategies and above all the clear language I use when communicating with parents. My fun, animated affect and key phrases I use have been learned through watching your example. So….thank you! May you be blessed."
Chaya
"I just wanted to thank you so much for your incredible help! You are so kind and lovely and every time I implement something you've taught in your manuals or videos it is always a success, I cannot thank you enough. I really appreciate how specific you are in giving us examples of wording to use and how to use a toy in therapy with your videos, it is exactly what I need to properly help my little students. I also really appreciate your list of books of list of toys. I have seen my little students make significant progress thanks to you. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos, taking more of your CEU's, and reading more of your materials. From the bottom of my heart: thank you so much again!!"
Lauren
Laura thank you so much. Btw, you have transformed my therapy- I have become such a competent and strong therapist after watching probably like 350 of your videos and podcasts over the past few years. And I am a seasoned therapist with almost 25 years experience. (Yes prob 350 episodes ha!) But there was still a lot I learned from you. I have such a thorough understanding of birth to 3 development and how to properly incorporate appropriate therapeutic goals, techniques and strategies now, thanks to you. Kelly
