In Quebec, thousands of children live with language disorders that make every school day a challenge. Fortunately, by intervening early and using a few smart strategies, it’s possible to help children speak, understand, and read better.
It may sound overly simplistic, but talking is a very effective way to improve language and comprehension skills. In fact, when you talk with your child, tell them stories, or ask them to make up their own, you help them do the following:
You can also use conversation to help your child in other ways:
To help your child better understand homework instructions or explanations, use short, simple sentences and try to do the following:
Everyday activities such as bath time, dinner time, and car rides are great opportunities to play with speech sounds and stimulate your child’s language skills. For example, you could do the following:
Kids love to imitate adults! You can use this to your advantage to help your little one improve their memory and pronunciation. Recite tongue twisters or nonsense words and ask your child to repeat them without stumbling. No need to correct them if they make a mistake—just have fun!
Language disorders can make it harder for your child to understand certain concepts and instructions, and even to stay organized. Here are some strategies that may help:
If your child is having language difficulties that seem to be interfering with their daily life, you should consult a specialist. A good place to start is with a speech-language pathologist. As a communication specialist, they’ll be able to not only make an accurate diagnosis, but also suggest ways to help your child develop their language skills. They can also give you and your child tips on overcoming the challenges of a learning disorder:
Writing : Marie-Claude Ouellet
Scientific review : Mathieu Labine-Daigneault, M. Éd., learning specialist,
Executive Director of ADOQ
Rewriting : The Alloprof Parents' team