Speech Development

Published on June 20, 2014

Children start practicing their speech sounds by babbling when they are very young and this process will continue for the next few years of their lives! It is quite normal for children’s speech intelligibility to be limited when they are very young but as they grow older their intelligibility increases even if sometimes their sounds are not all correct.

In fact, it is expected that children make some speech errors at different stages of their development. These errors are called ‘age appropriate’ and should resolve as they get to practice more of their language and speech sounds.

You can help your children by developing their awareness of sounds through listening games. Here are some ideas for games and strategies you can use at home:

  • Reduce distractions where possible: Keep environmental noises down
  • Draw the child’s attention to noises in the environment and comment on what they are, e.g. water running, aeroplane overhead, fire engine.
  • Encourage the recognition and use of animal noises.
  • Encourage the recognition of rhyme and rhythm by saying nursery rhymes. Give the child the opportunity to finish the lines of a familiar rhyme. Action rhymes are particularly good where you have to do something to the words, e.g. incey wincey spider and twinkle twinkle.
  • Further encourage rhythmic skills by clapping out words and phrases according to the syllables, e.g.I want bu-bbles.
  • Give certain toys a particular sound, e.g. a ball says ‘b-b-b’ as you bounce it and a train goes ‘ch-ch-ch.’
  • Encourage the child to look at you so you know they are listening and they can see the shape of your mouth when you say the sound.
  • If the child pronounces a word wrong, praise what they have said and then remodel it, e.g. “Yes, you are right it is a dog.”
  • Emphasis the target sound of the word you are modeling, e.g. ssssand.
  • Take every opportunity during the day to use words with the target sound, e.g. “here are your socks; teddy is sitting on the seat.”

Speech, language, and communication are essential in day-to-day life.

Dynamics can help children achieve effective communication with teachers in school, family members, friends or other individuals in school setting.

Perhaps you suspect your child is experiencing some speech or communication problems ?  

Often communication difficulties include:

  • Not speaking or very limited speech
  • Loss of words the child was previously able to say
  • Difficulty expressing basic wants and needs
  • Poor vocabulary development
  • Problems following directions or finding objects that are named
  • Repeating what is said (echolalia)
  • Problems answering questions
  • Speech that sounds different (e.g., “robotic” speech or speech that is high-pitched)

Dynamics can help you with any speech and language related enquires.  Reach out today to receive the answers you deserve from a leading expert.

Tel: (+65) 6100 9235  
Vist our website: speech@dynamics.com.sg.
 

  
Copyright © 2014 Dynamics Speech Pte Ltd. 

Dynamics Therapy Centre for Kids Pte Ltd is affiliated with Dynamics Speech Pte Ltd, Dynamics Success Centre Pte Ltd, Dynamics Psychological Practices Pte Ltd, Dynamics EIP (Early Intervention Program) and Edunamics Pte Ltd.


Category(s):Academic Issues, Child and/or Adolescent Issues, Child Development

Written by:

Dynamics Speech Pte Ltd

Dynamics Speech Pte Ltd is affiliated with Dynamics Success Centre Pte Ltd, Dynamics Psychological Practices Pte Ltd, Dynamics EIP (Early Intervention Program) and Edunamics Pte Ltd, Dynamics Therapy Centre for Kids Pte Ltd.

Dynamics and its affiliated companies comprise of the biggest Therapy Centre in Singapore with over 30 professional staff including of: Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist, Physiotherapist, Counsellors, Social Skill Therapists, Educational Therapists, Early Intervention Teachers, Orthophonistes