Speech development is an important part of every child’s growth. Some children may take more time to start speaking clearly and that’s completely okay. With the right support at home, parents can play role in improving their child’s speech and communication skills.
Why home speech therapy is important: –
Parents spend most of time with their children. This makes home the best place for speech therapy practice. Regular practice in a comfortable environment helps children feel confident and learn faster.
Home – based speech therapy helps in:
- Improving pronunciation
- Building vocabulary
- Increasing confidence in speaking
- Strengthening parent – child bonding
Simple speech therapy tips for parents at home: –
- Talk more with your child:
Talk to your child through the day. Describe what you are doing:
- “I am washing the dishes”.
- “You are wearing your shoes”.
- Use simple and clear words:
Use short and easy sentence so your child can understand and copy:
- Drink water
- Open the door.
Avoid using very complicated words at early stage.
- Encourage imitation:
Ask your child to repeat sound or words:
- Simple sound: – ‘ma’, ‘ba’, ‘pa’.
- Easy words: – ‘mama’, ‘ball’, ‘dog’.
Make it fun by clapping or smiling when they try.
- Play- based speech activities:
- Sing song and rhymes
Nursery rhymes help children learn rhythm and pronunciation faster. Songs likes:
- “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”
- “Wheels on the Bus”.
Encourage action with the songs.
- Read picture books together:
Choose books with colorful picture. Ask simple questions:
- “What is this”.
- “What color is this”.
Let your child point and name things
- Use daily routine as learning time:
Use normal daily activities to teach speech:
- Bath time: – “Water”, “Soap”, “Towel”.
- Mealtime: – “Eat”, “Milk”, “Spoon”.
Repeat these words often.
When should parents see a speech therapist?
- You should consult a professional if:
- Your child is not speaking any words by 18 months.
- Your child’s words are difficult to understand by age 3.
- Your child does not respond to his/her name.
- Your child avoids eye contacts or communication.
Early therapy gives the best results.
Speech therapy at home is not difficult. With love, patience, and daily practice, parents can help their child speak clearly and confidently. Every small effort makes a big difference.
If you are worried about your child’s speech, don’t hesitate to consult a certified speech therapist.
Role of parents after consulting speech professional: –
Parents need to follow instructions given by speech therapist on serious note. Child spends maximum time with parents, so parents need to help them at home to develop speech.
