Office of Special Education
Parent Information

How can parents help with speech and language problems?
Articulation (Speech):

  • Child blowing bubbleDiscourage use of "baby talk"
  • Praise your child for clear/ correct sound production ("I really like the way you said that!").
  • In your own speech, stress sounds that your child has difficulty making clearly.
  • Engage in activities which "exercise" the tongue and lips, such as blowing bubbles and making "silly" faces.
  • Have your child try to imitate different sounds while looking in a mirror

Receptive Language:

  • Grandparent reading bookRead frequently to your child. Name and point to pictures in books.
  • Encourage your child to follow directions. Start off with short directions, and then start to make them longer.
  • Ask your child longer and more complex "Yes or No" questions.
  • Have your child name objects from verbal descriptions.

Expressive Language:

  • Encourage your child to expand his or her vocabulary by naming and labeling things around them.
  • Encourage your child to put words together. If your child is capable of making phrases or short sentences, praise him or her for longer responses.
  • When your child makes a sentence with errors in it, repeat it back to the child correctly (Child: "I seed him". Parent: "Oh, you saw him.").

Voice:

  • Discourage vocal abuse behaviors, such as screaming, "funny voices", growling, etc.
  • Encourage your child to drink water.
  • Praise your child for appropriate use of voice.

Fluency:

  • Avoid phrases such as, "Slow down", "Stop and think about what you're going to say", etc. These types of cues can actually increase dysfluency.
  • Give your child as much time as needed to respond.
  • Reduce the "stress" placed on the child when he or she is speaking.
  • Slow your own speaking rate.