Your AIM: Word Play! 

This week, your focus is to strike the balance between expecting more language and longer phrases from your child, while keeping communication with them light and effortless.

Find new ways to turn saying words and speaking into play. Give yourself permission to be a little more silly with communication to entice your child to want to share more of it with you!

As your child continues to develop their language, their spontaneous speech can be exciting! In order to help them take the next steps to even longer sentences and more vocabulary, it may be useful to keep these ideas in mind:

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Don’t talk FOR them.

• Pause long enough to allow them time to formulate their own words.

• Expect that they are learning new language skills every day, and be on the lookout for new sounds, new vocabulary, and new conversations that your child initiates with you so you can be sure to give them positive reinforcement for it!

• Keep it playful!

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Most importantly, AVOID making language a struggle.

If your child feels that language is work, too much effort, or that speech is an exchange of control between you, them, and the thing they want, they may be less motivated to try.

Instead, strike the balance: expect more in a light-hearted way. WORD PLAY!

Have an excellent week!

Jonathan Alderson

Autism Expert

Founder, ThriveGuide

Author, Challenging the Myths of Autism

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