Communicating with a child is one of the most
pleasurable and rewarding experiences for both parent and child. Children learn
by absorbing information through daily interactions and experiences with other
children, adults, and the world.
How Should I Communicate With My
Child? As children enter their
school years, they become increasingly independent, spending much of their days
outside the home in school and with peers. Talking with your child is essential
to bonding with him, so share ideas, opinions, and information. Here are a few
suggestions to aid communication with your child:
- Make time during the day or evening to hear
about your child's activities; be sure he knows that you are actively
interested and listening carefully.
- Remember to talk with your child, not
at him.
- Ask questions that go beyond "yes" or "no"
answers to prompt more developed conversation.
- Take advantage of time during car trips or
standing in line at the supermarket to talk with your child.
- Provide activities that offer opportunities to
improve communication skills, such as attending or engaging in sporting and
school events, talking about current events, and reading stories to your child
that are slightly above his competency level.
Typical Vocabulary and
Communication Patterns As
your child progresses in school, both his comprehension and usage of language
will become more sophisticated. Usually, children will understand more
vocabulary words and concepts than they may be able to express. Your child
should be able to engage in narrative discourse and share ideas and opinions in
clear speech.
What Should I Do if I Suspect a
Problem? You should have ongoing
communication with your child's teacher about overall language skills and
progress. Children with language comprehension and usage problems are at risk
for increased academic difficulties.
If your child has a specific communication
difficulty, such as persistent stuttering or a lisp,
he should be referred to the school speech-language pathologist (an expert who
evaluates and treats speech and language disorders). You should routinely
communicate with the therapist regarding the therapy goals, language activities
to practice at home, and your child's progress.
If your child's teacher suspects a language-based
learning disability, comprehensive testing will be necessary. This can include a
hearing test, psychoeducational assessment (standardized testing to evaluate
your child's learning style as well as cognitive processes), and speech-language
evaluation.
Typical Communication
Problems Problems in communication skills may
include:
- hearing difficulties
- difficulty with attention or following complex
directions in the classroom
- difficulty retaining information
- poor vocabulary acquisition
- difficulties with grammar and syntax
- difficulties with organization of expressive
language or with narrative discourse
- difficulties with academic achievement, reading,
and writing
- unclear speech
- persistent stuttering or a lisp
- voice-quality abnormalities, such as a strained,
hoarse quality (may require a medical examination by an otolaryngologist - an
ear, nose, and throat specialist)
Medical professionals, such as speech pathologists,
therapists, or your child's doctor, can help your child overcome these
communication problems.
Reviewed by: Steve Dowshen, MD Date reviewed:
May 2000
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