How To Improve Your Child’s Communication Skills
Today let’s talk about communication.
Communication is the key to connection. The best way to have this communication is to put down the pamphlets, put down the cell phones, turn off the computers, and just talk to each other. That’s the best kind of communication, one to the other.
When we adults do this with each other, first of all, it teaches our children what real communication looks like! Right now we’re living in the era of technology. And technology is so important and beneficial—but it’s also a little detrimental to our social skills.
We want you to be able to put everything down and designate a time where everyone just has a little bit of face to face time. You and your child, Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters, all talking to one another. That is how we make our biggest connections.
Here are some things to consider when you’re communicating and teaching your children how to communicate:
1. Be mindful of language and speech disorders.
Some of us are a little slower in speaking or have a little bit of a language or speech disorder. We may need a little bit more time. But all humans want to make that social connection. When you speak to someone and that person doesn’t understand, we have rituals that we do—we slow down, or rephrase.
2. Use visual cues.
Another ritual we do when someone is having trouble understanding is using visual cues to help get the point across. For instance, if you ask someone what they want to drink, and you realize they don’t understand you, what do you do? You raise your hand and model someone drinking out of a cup.
3. Slow down.
Along with the visual cues, talk a little bit slower. You don’t have to exaggerate this. Just take a breath, take a pause, and say it slowly and naturally.
When you slow down and use these techniques with kids with disordered speech, they really understand so much better. The visual cues are very helpful.
4. Model how to communicate with everyone.
Parents, we need to train our kids in how to speak to people who speak a different language and need a little bit more time, or who may have some disability. It’s very important that we know how to address all the rest of the human beings in the world!
Parents, also remember that intervention is crucial. If you suspect your child has any kind of disorder, talk to your pediatrician. Get it done! Early intervention is one of the biggest, most positive, things that you can do for your kiddo because it gives you a very good outcome in the long run.
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