When A Child Says a Word Without Knowing the Meaning: Help Teaching Words in Context Speech Therapy

Kelli Meyer M.Ed, CCC-SLP Licensed and Certified Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist Find me on Instagram! @SpeedySpeech and on FB @ SpeedySpeechPath Download FREE resources at SpeedySLP.com and sign up for our exclusive email list for FREE PDFs every month! What do you do when a child says one word but does not know what it means 1ST! Ensure your child has met and mastered ALL age-appropriate speech/language developmental milestones (pre-linguistic skills) that come BEFORE talking! Listed below! ----Many times children are MISSING a skills or have developed SPLINTER skills (able to do it SOME times with prompting - this is NOT a mastery level! Help your child GET READY to talk by implementing treatment / therapy ideas for each skills below, because just like you can't learn long division before you can add, subtract and multiply numbers... we can't help make our child talk before they are developmentally READY to talk and have reached pre-linguistic milestones!) Also, working on easier skills help MOTIVATE your child to participate in FUN and ENGAGING therapy activities with you! See ideas below and check out these skills! *Skills listed are from Laura Mize's Teach Me To Talk Chart Skill #1… Reacts to events in the environment Skill #2… Responds to people when they talk to or play with him or her Skill #3… Takes turns with you during interactions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcwgnw6jV6Q&t=2s) Eye Contact (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exUbEgCXEVY) Skill #4… Develops a longer attention span (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tYtDqHJh48&t=62s) Skill #5… Shifts and shares joint attention with others (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9XVzUv4sbo) Skill #6… Plays with a variety of toys appropriately (https://youtu.be/yINmvCIw-YM) Skill #7… Understands early words and follows simple directions (https://youtu.be/gPfuOKXn6rg) Skill #8… Vocalizes or makes sounds purposefully (https://youtu.be/Njp-ebnOPbk) Skill #9… Imitates actions, gestures, sounds, and words (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxqCYzbi_kE) Skill #10… Uses early gestures like waving and pointing (https://youtu.be/4a1wmxuMswU) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC1oJ9XXRG8&t=162s) Skill #11… Initiates interaction with others to get needs met or to play (https://youtu.be/selRTSfnbbg) Help with Verbal Routines (Fill in the blank to encourage motor planning!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CgDvDmSH80 When a child uses words without meaning/context: TIPS FROM THIS VIDEO: #1: Take a step BACK! Check out the 11 pre-linguistic skills above and make sure that they are READY to be using words! Fill in the blanks if you child has not mastered each skill! #2: Teach GESTURES/SIGNS (for FUNCTIONAL language https://youtu.be/4a1wmxuMswU) and model the word at the same time! Use games to facilitate (peek-a-boo; ring around the rosey; happy and you know it) #2+: Give opportunities for you child to use the word FUNCTIONALLY and APPROPRIATELY in CONTEXT (example: "no" during "yes/no" opportunities) **DRAW ATTENTION to it's meaning by FOLLOWING THROUGH with what the child SAYS (if they say NO, throw it away/eat the goldfish/ give it to the dog, etc - when asked, "WANT GOLDFISH?!") THEN model the CORRECT word and let them nod their head or use sign to demonstrate understanding! Raise motivation during these trials by using your child's favorite toy/snack/stuffed animal/character, etc! #3: BACK UP to ONOMATOPEAS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njp-ebnOPbk&t=31s), USE hand cues and a verbal routine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CgDvDmSH80) to help with ORAL MOTOR PLANNING of the articulators and to offer more time for your child to plan out/attempt the vowel, sound and/or word that you are MODELING and prompting using hand cues! Need a FREE speech hand cues resource? Check out: https://speedyslp.com/speech-resources/ After watching this video, If you are concerned about Echolalia, here is a video that further explains echolalic tendencies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WygStzghnEo) Thanks for liking & subscribing!! :) NEW VIDEOS COMING SOON! Put your requests in the comments section below! __ 🔸LANGUAGE PLAYLIST: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNL4Ls5aZkt-F2hsdSZje_QVT2pAA0uOV Need more help on different sounds?! 🔷Check out this ARTICULATION PLAYLIST: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNL4Ls5aZkt91WHMIfL2a9uaAhp62Mpsm 🟢 AUTISM RESOURCE VIDS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNL4Ls5aZkt8jxvcJ7MmkoftCJWlzgUhB 🔺TOP TIPS VIDEOS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNL4Ls5aZkt965fB9jRa8E14w--_VVZtV ______ 💋Interested in CLEAN beauty products?! 🛍 Check out my favorite’s here: https://www.beautycounter.com/kellislemp 🌟Get 20% off your first order! My must haves: Counter+ All Bright C Serum Counter+ Charcoal Facial Mask Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer Counter match Refresh Foaming Cleanser Countersun Daily Sheer Defense - SPF 25 Counter Control Clean Pore Cleanser *Countertime Products! Sheer Genius Lipstick Beyond Gloss