Give a Child Words
“Uh uh uh!” your child says as she reaches toward the counter.
Instantly, you know what she wants. You reply with…
“Banana!”
Your little girl smiles in confirmation and moves her little hand toward you as you hold the banana and begin to peel.
Again you say, “Banana!”
She begins to bounce in anticipation.
You respond… “I… want…. the…. (longer pause to build anticipation) banana.”
She copies you…
“Nuh nuh.”
Her first attempt for the word banana.
I love this strategy!
The official terminology is linguistic mapping, but most of us speech-language pathologists who work with late talking toddlers and their parents call it “Giving a child words” or “Modeling” which means that you’ll say what you think a late talking child wants to say, but can’t.
It’s a powerful tool for parents of children who are just beginning to talk and imitate single words.
It’s even more powerful when you pair it with the messages your child is trying to send with his gestures or facial expressions.
Watch for your child’s cues. When a child grunts, reaches, tugs, leads, grimaces, or does anything to communicate a message nonverbally, provide the words.
In my practice, I’ve found that it’s most effective for parents (and therapists!) who are over-talkers. Confession time… just so you know, overtalking continues to be the #1 issue I STILL need to change about myself during therapy.
Sometimes, in our effort to help a child who’s not talking yet, we talk waaaaay more than we should.
When I was a younger therapist, I’d do it to fill the air with something besides s..i..l..e..n..c..e as I worked with a little one who barely made a sound during an hour-long visit. I felt the eyes of a momma who so eagerly wanted her baby to talk and I became anxious as I too waited for those words.
But instead of leaving a space for that child to fill, I’d jump in when I should have simplified and paused.
Many times, just giving a child words and then waiting works better than any other thing we could try to help a child begin to talk.
So today, try this.
Give your child words.
When he’s frustrated because he can’t operate a toy, say, “Help! Help me! Help Momma. Help.”
If she’s holding up her arms for you to pick her up, say, “Up!” or “Pick me up!”
When she’s lunging for your water bottle for the fourth time, say, “Water! More water!”
Say what a child would say if they could talk and then just wait.
Wait for a child to begin to imitate.
In case you’re wondering, you should go ahead and give them what they want, even if they don’t say the word.
Model the word they should say at least a few times. My guideline is saying the target word 3 to 5 times, but if a child is super frustrated after just two times, don’t continue to withhold what they want and risk losing a child’s pleasant participation. Beyond that, I think it’s just plain mean to provoke a child who can’t talk to tears or tantrums, and we never want to be mean-spirited! Give them the item as you continue to model the word.
Over time, a toddler who is developmentally ready to talk will begin to respond to this technique.
You’ll begin to hear more word attempts.
So start today.
Anytime you see your late talker doing something to let you know he’s trying to communicate with you, give him the words.
Don’t forget about using thei strategy beyond requesting. Give a child words whenever he’s dysregulated and doesn’t know how to respond.
For example:
If he’s throwing his food on the floor, model “All done!”
When he’s crying because his older brother is trying to take his toy, say, “Mine!”
As he points toward the neighbor’s barking dog, say, “Look! The dog!” or even “Woof Woof!”
If he’s holding up his hand or turning away when you’re offering her a toy or food she doesn’t want, say, “No momma.”
Give late talkers the words they need.
Pretty soon, they should start giving them back!
If this strategy is not effective after a few weeks, then you’ll need to work on helping a child learn to imitate easier vocalizations first, or perhaps, learn how to imitate body movements and actions with toys and objects. You can read more about that treatment strategy here.
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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."
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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
