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The Power of Waiting: Supporting Speech and Language Development

Updated: Oct 7

Creating opportunities for your child to respond during interactions is key for building their communication skills. Here's why waiting is so important:

 

Allows Time to Process

Children need time to understand what is said and formulate a response. Waiting patiently gives them the space to process the language.

 

Encourages Initiation

When you wait, it signals to your child that it's their turn to speak or communicate. This promotes them taking the lead in the interaction.

 

Facilitates Conversational Turn-Taking

Back-and-forth exchanges, where you wait for your child to respond, teach the give-and-take of natural conversation.

 

Builds Attention and Focus

Waiting keeps your child engaged and attentive, as they anticipate their chance to communicate.

 

Supports Language Development

The more opportunities children have to practice expressing themselves, the faster their speech and language skills will grow.

 

Boosts Confidence

Allowing your child time to respond shows you value their contributions. This builds their confidence to keep communicating.

 

To put this into practice:

 

·         Pause for 5-10 seconds after speaking, maintaining eye contact.

·         Resist the urge to rephrase or interrupt when your child is thinking.

·         Follow your child's lead and wait for them to initiate an interaction.

·         Use waiting strategically during play, routines, and daily activities.

 

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