Parental Involvement
Here are some ways for parents to become more involved in their child’s development.
1. Talk to your children often!
Self talk: Talk about what you are doing, seeing, feeling, hearing or even smelling.
Parallel talk: Talk about what your child is doing, seeing, feeling, hearing, or smelling.
2. Being forgetful
• During mealtime, bath time, getting ready for bed or school, you can pretend to be forgetful. For example, purposely avoid holding a spoon as you would routinely give to your child.
• By pretending to be forgetful, we will give the child a chance to use their own gestures or words to request for what they need.
• It’s important that you wait, look expectantly at your child for the responses. By waiting, you are giving them time to process what you are saying and to respond appropriately.
3. Sing
• Match the actions while you sing!
• After several rounds of repeating the same song, pause for a while at the end of a song line and wait for the child’s response.
4. Play
• It is essential for a child to play with someone, no matter if the child is playing with a toy or playing people games or physical games. Parents need not be pressured to buy pricey toys. Putting some items inside a simple pillowcase can also be a fun game! Any toys at home or cheaper alternatives can be used during play, as long as parents are consistent in playing and interacting with children, they will improve in their language skills.
Adapted from article in 3rd issue of Grace House Magazine, written by Charissa Kueh Sing Yi, Speech-Language Therapist in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.