Interesting Reads
The power of turn taking: How back-and-forth interactions help children learn language - While having back-and-forth conversations with your child may not seem like a big deal, a new study has shown this to be a powerful way to develop both language processing and language production skills. This article explains some helpful strategies for interacting with your child, and highlights the skills you can target while simply having a little chat with your wee one!
Relationship between speech-sound disorders and early literacy skills in preschool-age children: Impact of co-morbid language impairment - Children with speech sound disorders may experiences difficulties as they learn to read and write as they may also have poor auditory, phonologic (speech sound), and verbal memory skills.
The impact of screen time on children's oral language development - While there are lots of excellent educational apps out there for little ones, nothing takes the place of interacting with Mom or Dad...especially when it comes to language development.
Science says: eat with your kids - This article certainly confirms what we already know about the value of spending positive time together as a family on a regular basis. While I think many of the benefits listed here are more directly a result of families taking a vested interest in their children and developing strong interpersonal relationships, mealtime is definitely an opportunity to build a number of language and communication skills (e.g., vocabulary development, concept knowledge, relaying stories and events, turn-taking, topic maintenance, and understanding and using humor). It's definitely a process, though...I'm still working on getting my boys to use their utensils instead of their hands and not to pour milk in their chili!
Repeat! Repeat! Repeat! - How many of us have been asked by our kids to read the same story night after night? While the task may seem a little monotonous for us, research suggests that our children are likely acquiring new vocabulary and understanding different aspects about the story with each repeated reading. Anyone up for another round of "Goodnight Moon"?
Some insight from a person who stutters - For many of us, it's a natural instinct to help other people remember words they can't recall, or to finish their sentences if they 'get stuck.' If someone is stuttering, however, it's often best to wait patiently and give them the time they need to complete their message.
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Useful Links
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Autism Society of Newfoundland & Labrador (ASNL)
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (Newfoundland & Labrador)
Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS)
Canadian Stuttering Association (CSA)
Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC)
Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research (ISTAR)
International Stuttering Association (ISA)
Learning Disabilities Association of Newfoundland & Labrador (LDANL)
Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (NL-ASLPA)