Dos and Don’ts when communicating with a child

By Veronica Martins - SLPA at Speak Squad

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Do you ever find yourself unsure of how you should communicate with a child? Well, we’ve got some helpful tips to make you a better communicator with children. These insightful tips will help you communicate in ways that are both effective and beneficial to a child’s language development.

Here are some simple Dos and Don’ts to help enhance oral communication in young children:

Dos

• Ensure you position yourself at the same level as the child

• Use simple language

• Speak slowly and clearly to allow comprehension

• Allow opportunities for the child to comment and ask questions

• Model speech (“This is an apple”)

• Use age-appropriate language

• Repeat back what a child said with corrections

• Use affirmative language to keep the child encouraged when speaking

• Make sure you are listening and giving the child your full attention

Don’ts

• Don’t consistently ask children questions and don’t force an answer

• Don’t use complex language

• Don’t use long sentences without any pauses

• Don’t interrupt a child when they are speaking

• Don’t discourage speech

• Avoid being negative when a child makes an error in their speech

• Don’t talk at a child

• Avoid only asking yes/no questions

Understanding how to effectively communicate with a child is important, and using the right strategies can greatly support a child’s language development.

Don’t worry if you’ve used any of the don’ts listed in the past. By implementing these strategies moving forward, you will be on the right path to fostering a child’s language development