Highlight a variety of word types when talking to your child, not just the names of things. It is important for your child to learn a variety of word types in order to talk in short sentences that serve a communicative purpose.
It is hard to understand intent or meaning if one speaks using only nouns. Therefore, emphasize action words (sleep, eat, run, push, squeeze, break), descriptive words (soft, hot, big, sticky, funny, tired), location words (up, down, in, on, under), words about belonging (my, your, his, Mommy’s), and feeling words (sad, sick, happy, angry), as well nouns or names of things (dog, book, bed, cup). Repeat these words often and have them stand out from other words you speak by exaggerating your intonation and slowing down your speech rate. For example, “Mommy is very…TIRED (yawn). I must go to bed to rest. Then I won’t be so tired.”
By Daniella Riani, MS, CCC-SLP
