“Uh uh uh!” your child says as she reaches toward the counter.<\/p>\n
Instantly, you know what she wants. You reply with…<\/p>\n
“Banana!”<\/p>\n
Your little girl smiles in confirmation and moves her little hand toward you as you hold the banana and begin to peel.<\/p>\n
Again you say, “Banana!”<\/p>\n
She begins to bounce in anticipation.<\/p>\n
You respond… “I… want…. the…. (longer pause to build anticipation) banana.”<\/p>\n
She copies you…<\/p>\n
“Nuh nuh.”<\/p>\n
Her first attempt for the word banana<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I love this strategy!<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It’s a powerful tool for parents of children who are just beginning to talk and imitate single words.<\/p>\n It’s even more powerful when you pair it with the messages your child is trying to send with his gestures or facial expressions.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Sometimes, in our effort to help a child who’s not talking yet, we talk waaaaay more than we should.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n But instead of leaving a space for that child to fill, I’d jump in when I should have simplified and paused.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So today, try this.<\/p>\n Give your child words.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When he’s frustrated because he can’t operate a toy, say, “Help! Help me! Help Momma. Help.”<\/p>\n If she’s holding up her arms for you to pick her up, say, “Up!” or “Pick me up!”<\/p>\n When she’s lunging for your water bottle for the fourth time, say, “Water! More water!”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Say what a child would say if they could talk and then just wait.<\/p>\n Wait for a child to begin to imitate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In case you’re wondering, you should go ahead and give them what they want, even if they don’t say the word.<\/p>\n 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<\/em> want to be mean-spirited! Give them the item as you continue to model the word.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Over time, a toddler who is developmentally ready to talk will begin to respond to this technique.<\/p>\n You’ll begin to hear more word attempts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So start today.<\/p>\n Anytime you see your late talker doing something to let you know he’s trying to communicate with you, give him the words.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Don’t forget about using thei strategy beyond requesting. Give a child words whenever he’s dysregulated and doesn’t know how to respond.<\/p>\n For example:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If he’s throwing his food on the floor, model “All done!”<\/p>\n When he’s crying because his older brother is trying to take his toy, say, “Mine!”<\/p>\n As he points toward the neighbor’s barking dog, say, “Look! The dog!” or even “Woof Woof!”<\/p>\n 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.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Give late talkers the words they need.<\/p>\n Pretty soon, they should start giving them back!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n