Four Spaces for Building Speech & Language Skills

With the rise of technology and "busy" in our lives today, we have to be even more intentional about the time we're spending with them.  We have to focus on the amount of quality time and the impact we have on our kids.  Let me clarify too that when I use the word "we" I'm referring to the entire village too, not just parents.

As far as speech and language development goes, many little ones are missing out on facetime and rich conversation, which is crucial for expressive language.  The replacement of facetime and social play with screen time is proving to be a problem for language development.  According to new research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco reported findings that for every 30 minutes of daily screen use, the risk for an expressive language delay in its participants increased by 49%.

So what can we do to make sure we're being intentional about holding conversations with our children?  Luckily it starts with making small changes.  Sometimes it takes setting an intention for specific times throughout the week that you will eliminate distractions and focus your energy on playing and building communication skills.  Finding specific times and locations during your schedule is a good place to start.  I've shared four spaces below that I believe are often overlooked and offer some of the richest environments for speech and language development.

1.  The Library
This may seem very obvious and many families with young children do go to the library, but not many continue to visit as kids get older.  Libraries offer not only a wide array of books filled with vocabulary and interests that will inspire children to learn, but they typically offer amazing programs too.

An example of one of these programs would be the collaborative effort that Iosco-Arenac District Library puts forth to bring summer reading program.  They also offer other community events, workshops, or speakers.  Visiting the library can open up conversations about many things including (but never limited to):

• The walk or ride over
• How the library is set up (rows, titles, authors, etc.)
• Different genres of books (children's, mystery, self-development, history, etc.)
• Different roles within the library (librarian, volunteers, presenters, etc.)
• Describe the steps taken to check out a book, encourage them to go through the process with more independence
• Recall what you or they did at the library that day, practicing retention of past events and story retell

2.  Outdoor Spaces
Being outdoors is not only a natural relaxant for our minds, it's the perfect place to learn.  Think about everything you can discover and explore when you walk through the woods or down the sidewalk.  There are colors, categories, textures, bugs, sounds, and so much more to talk about.  Even sitting outside, waiting for someone to meet you can be the perfect setting for rich conversation.  Here are a few topics you can enjoy talking about outside:

• Categories to discuss: things that move, animals, plants, flowers, colors, etc.
• Similarities vs. differences:  maple leaf vs. pine needle, pond vs. river, road vs. sidewalk, etc.
• Textures:  soft, hard, sticky, rough, poky, and many more!
• Describe:  colors, what you see, movement, make predictions, and have fun building stories using animals or people as characters.

3.  The Grocery Store
Yes, absolutely the most chaotic place to be sometimes and not always conducive to conversation.  BUT, there are huge advantages to being in this space and receiving the vocabulary that is literally at your fingertips.  If the grocery store is really too much, then using the time while creating a grocery list, unpacking groceries and/or prepping and cooking your meals is great too.

• Ask questions
• Work on concepts such as, "under, over, top, bottom, middle, etc."  These are REALLY important for children to know before they can follow directions.
• Sequencing using your grocery list
• Synonyms and Antonyms:  big vs. small, top vs. bottom, front, vs. back.
• Read the names of things and labels
• Categorize: fruit, dairy, meat, etc.

4.  Car Rides
I may be wrong, but I think this could be the most overlooked space for conversation.  I have to admit, even without kids it's sometimes the only time I feel I have to make calls or just sit in silence, but car rides are perfect for conversation.  While you're driving you can:

• Ask questions
• Describe cars, buildings and scenery
• Comment on the seasons
• Predict where people are going or where you are going
• Talk about what you'll do when you get to where you're headed
• Share what you did after you've left (share your experience too!!)
• Let your child read to you

Of course there are always challenges during daily routines and there is surely a balance between interacting with children and giving them freedom to play by themselves or with their peers.  Enrichment and space are equally important.  Despite the chaos, our intention should be very clear:  creating opportunities and leaving space for good conversations with our children daily.  Increasing our awareness of the time we're spending with them and how it's used is key.

Our children are the future and it's up to us as communities to ensure they've been equipped with the tools needed to navigate this crazy thing called life.

If you have questions or topics you'd like me to cover on the blog, please do not hesitate to message me at mstaubin.slp@gmail.com or through the Michelle Lynn Therapy Facebook page.  Your thoughts are welcome freely and very much appreciated!