Most parents can’t wait to hear their child’s first words. It is so exciting to finally get a peek into what they are thinking, isn’t it? For parents of late talkers, anxiety can start to build when the words don’t seem to be coming when they should. Creating verbal routines is one tool that Speech-Language Pathologists use to encourage speech in the late talker. Verbal routines are made up of words that are repeated at a predictable time during an activity. A verbal routine occurs any time a person says the same words, in the same way, for the same things, every time a specific activity occurs.
One common verbal routine is saying “ready, set, go.” For example, when pushing your child on a swing or when they go down a slide. We can also find verbal routines in books that have a repetitive nature such as “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See,” or in your child’s favorite songs, such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or The Wheels on the Bus. You can even create your own verbal routines with your child that fit into your everyday routine. The key is to invest the time to create these routines with your child and make them fun! As your child learns the routines, pause at key points to see if they will fill in the blanks. I have included a link to a great website with some fun songs and printables to help you establish verbal routines in your home. These printables are great because they help to link the vocabulary in the song with the picture. If you are concerned about your child’s language development call Team 4 Kids to schedule a speech therapy evaluation with one of our wonderful Speech Language Pathologists.
Link for songs and printables to help you establish verbal routines in your home:
http://www.aromaofhim.com/2013/10/encouraging-speech-with-songs-rhymes.html
