Play Now- Save Money on Specialist Therapy Later. Part 1

Play Now

Save Money on Specialist Therapy Later: Part 1

Paying for speech therapy or occupational therapy is very expensive, and finding a specialist in your area can be challenging. However, many families can avoid these costs by investing time in playing with their children from a young age. Setting aside some time each day can save you thousands of dollars in the future.
While some children will always need the expertise of these professionals, many can reach their developmental milestones with a little extra input from parents and family.

Speech Therapy

For a child to develop good speech, they need as much practice as possible. Play and conversations with the adults in their lives are invaluable for this development. Teachers and tutors often recognize students who spend quality time talking with adults, as these students typically have more advanced vocabularies, clearer speech, and higher levels of grammar and general knowledge. These abilities provide lifelong advantages in the classroom.

What can you do? Play with your child and talk about what you are doing.

Imaginary Games

A simple imaginary game where you and the child act out real-life experiences can significantly aid speech development. Let the child take the lead in these interactions, which also helps with planning and problem-solving skills. Although it requires some of your time, the benefits to speech development and your bond with your child are priceless.
As a tutor, I’m often amazed that some children don’t know how to ask for a drink when they need it. For example, instead of asking for a drink, a child might say “I’m thirsty” or even just “Water.” These utterances come from children as old as 6 to 9 years. Imaginary play, where children can rehearse such interactions, can help them learn how to communicate effectively outside the family.

Read to Your Child

When reading to your child, always discuss what’s happening in the book. This practice not only improves speech but also enhances comprehension skills. Discussing characters’ motivations builds empathy.

Explore the Local Environment

Walking together and talking about what you see and hear is an excellent way to extend speech, general knowledge, and a sense of their surroundings. When preparing for a holiday, involve your child in the preparations. Encourage them to ask about the trip and discuss what needs to be done, what to take, what to see, and where to stay. Including them in these activities offers numerous developmental advantages.

Answer Their “Why” Questions

The constant “Why?” can be tiring, but it should be encouraged. Curiosity leads to a love of learning. A curious child engages more in school and enjoys learning. These questions also practice their speech, listening, and thinking skills.

Listen Carefully to Your Child’s Speech

Often, we’re so accustomed to our child’s speech that we don’t realize others may not understand them as well. If their grammar is incorrect, model the correct form back to them. For example, if your child says, “How much lollies can I have?” you can reply, “Do you mean how many lollies can you have?” Pronouncing “yellow” as “lellow” might seem cute, but if not corrected, it could cause problems with spelling and embarrassment later. Practice sounds in fun ways until they can form them correctly without thinking, such as saying the nonsense sentence “Yes, yelling yaks are yellow.” For difficulties with sounds like “th,” use a mirror to show them how to form the sound and let them watch themselves practice.

These are just a few things you can do at home. The games and activities you choose will depend on your child’s age, but the younger you start, the better. If, after extra interaction, your child still struggles with speech, don’t hesitate to contact a professional speech therapist. Early intervention makes improvement easier and quicker.

In the next blog, we’ll explore how to encourage good gross motor and fine motor skills at home.