The ultimate goal of speech and language therapy is to help your child speak and socialize better.
One of the best opportunities for socialization is at your neighborhood playground. If you have a child going to speech therapy, here are a few ideas on how to use the playground to your advantage.
Does My Child Need Speech And Language Therapy?
If you feel that your child is not speaking at their current age level, or if they have trouble with certain sounds, then you will want to schedule a speech evaluation. It is typical for children that have trouble speaking to have problems with specific sounds such as the “k”, “r”, and “ch” sounds. If you notice your child struggling with these sounds, then speech therapy may be necessary. Social isolation can also be an effect of poor language skills. That is why the playground is an excellent place to develop your child’s speech skills.
Social Scripts
For children, meeting new kids at the playground can be as easy as asking a question. Unfortunately, children with speech issues will have a harder time overcoming their social anxiety. That is why it is important to develop simple social scripts before going to the playground. “Hi my name is (blank), can I play with you?” is a very simple social script that can build your child’s socialization skills. Because your child has to be more forward with their conversations, they might get a negative response. Don’t overreact, you can’t expect every child to become friends with yours.
Vocabulary Building
If you are with your child at the playground you can lead by example by describing things around them. Take your time talking about what you and your child see. For example, you can describe things you pass by; “that is a really nice blue slide”. Remember to be as descriptive as possible so you can introduce your child to new words and sounds. You can even ask your child to repeat after you.
About LA Speech Therapy Solutions
The team at LA Speech Therapy Solutions is committed to helping children socialize better with their peers. By developing an in-depth speech and language therapy plan for your child, our team members can effectively target your child’s problem areas. For updates on our speech therapy clinic be sure to follow us on our Facebook page.
