Parent Resources

Play for Speech, Language, and Communication

Using Games - Copy Cat – This video from Walkie-Talkie Speech Therapy shows how to play "Copy Cat" to encourage imitation.

Using Games – Rolling a Ball - This video from Walkie-Talkie Speech Therapy shows how to use a ball to encourage imitation and create joint attention.

Speech Therapy Techniques in Play – "Adding Language to Interactions" video from Help Me Talk

 

Strategies to Encourage Communication

Helping Your Child Learn to Communicate - This video by SLP Heather Hayworth describes a simple way to encourage communication.

Wait Time/Fill in the Blank - This video by SLP Heather Hayworth describes a simple way to encourage communication by simply pausing and waiting.

Self/Parallel/Toy Talk - This video by SLP Heather Hayworth describes a simple way to encourage communication by modeling communication as you play and complete tasks.

Expanding/Recasting - This video by SLP Heather Hayworth describes a simple way to encourage communication by taking what your child has communicated and progressing it one step further.

 

Phonemic and Phonological Awareness

Peekaboo - Teaching Toddlers to Talk Using Games - by Walkie-Talkie

Beyond Requesting a Snack, Age 4 - AAC modeling and use by TwoTechie Mamas

 

Communication Temptations

Communicative Temptations- Encouraging your child to initiate communication

Play is Really Learning- Why play is important to child development

Intent to Communicate- How do our responses and interactions during play promote learning

Aided Language Stimulation Explained - This short video explains to adults and children how aided language stimulation gives a voice to a non-verbal person.

Giving Choices - This video by SLP Heather Hayworth describes a simple way to tempt your child to communicate by offering choices to which they must respond.

Communication Temptations by Wetherby & Prizant (1989) - This document is a list of ways to tempt your child to communicate.  Many of them will fit in with your normal daily routines.  No extra work is required.  

 

Activities and "How To" Videos

Encourage Your Child to Communicate:  Delaying Actions - This video from "Talk To Me With AAC" demonstrates how wait time can be used to encourage communication by delaying actions.

Language Develops Through Play - This video from Boston Children’s Museum shares good information on how important play is in speech and language development.

Ready, Steady, Go - This video by Bryony Rust shows how to play a game of anticipation to develop speech and language skills.

Stacking Cups - This video by Bryony Rust shows how to use this simple toy to develop speech and language skills.