INDIRECT LANGUAGE STIMULATION TECHNIQUES
Compiled and Developed By
Jo R. Tanzer, M. A., CCC-SP
Glenn Weybright, M. S., CCC-SP
Self Talk: Describe out loud to your child what you are seeing, hearing, doing AS YOU DO IT, e.g., "Wash the dish," "Dry the spoon," "I put the plate away." Use short, simple sentences, and let your child know there are words to describe all sorts of activities and feelings. Give him words for what he sees you doing.
Parallel Talk (child centered): Describe out loud to your child what he
is seeing, hearing, thinking, and doing as he does it, e.g. "You're throwing the ball," "In
goes the car," "Johnny has a rock;" "Push the bike;" "You're pushing the
bike." Give him words to describe the action he does or the thing he sees.
Description (object centered): Use labeling or explaining phrases or statements, e.g. "That's a
big ball;" "There's Mommy;" "That dog is a poodle;" "It's hot;" "The
pillow is soft;" "The water is cold;" "There's a fire truck."
Repetition (imitation): Repeat your child's "baby sentences" the way an adult would have said them. For example, if the child says "widdle wed wabbit," you say, "little red rabbit."
Expansion: Repeat your child's "baby sentences" the way an adult would have said them. This shows him you understand and at the same time gives him a good model. You are revising and completing the child's speech. For example, if the child says, "doggy run," you say, "Yes, the doggy is running."
Expansion Plus: Expand the child's response to an adult sentence, as above, then add an additional related comment. For example, the child says "Car go" and you say, "The car is going. It's a red car." The child says "Oh-oh, baby cry," and you say, "The baby is crying. He's hungry."
(Sources used include: Your Child's Speech and Language, Teach Your Child to Talk, Headstart Speech, Language and Hearing Program.)
