Parent Speech Strategies:

Quick Guide

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Use this guide to help develop your child’s language
skills at home! These strategies are easy to implement
into your daily routine, and can help your child make
strides in their language and speech development.

Strategies discussed in this booklet:

» +1 Routine » Repeat, repeat, repeat!
» The 3:1 Rule » Modeling 2-Word Phrases
» Self-Talk » Verbal Routines
» Withholding » Giving Choices
» Communication Temptation

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 +1 Routine
Examples:
» Child: “Cat”
» Parent: “Soft cat”
To expose your child to language
above their current level, it’s » Child: “Snack”
helpful to add 1-2 words onto the » Parent: “Want snack”
words that they say. This will
provide them a direct model of » Child: “Up”
how to expand their vocabulary, » Parent: “Pick me up”
and the appropriate contexts in
which to use it. Tip: Try to vary » Child: “Shoes”
the words you use with your » Parent: “Your shoes”
child! Adding “please” onto the
end of every sentence will no t
have the same effect.

Some word
combinations include:
• noun+verb,
• adjective+noun,
• pronoun+verb,
• pronoun+object,
• action+object,
• and action+location

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 The 3:1 Rule
Example:
While getting
The basic concept of the 3:1 Rule ready for bed:
is that for every question you ask Comments:
your child, you make three » We’re putting
statements. It can be stressful for on your pajamas.
your child to feel as though they » Now you’re
are constantly being tested, and it brushing
also decreases their use of your teeth.
spontaneous language. By » Time to snuggle
providing comments in place of into bed!
questions, you provide your child » What book do you
with more language models and want to read?
exposure to new vocabulary.

This rule can be

implemented into
daily routines (getting
. ready for the day/bed,
. bath time, reading
.
? books), as well as
during play time.

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 Self-Talk
Example:
While making breakfast:
» I need to pour milk
Self-talk is the act of narrating into this bowl of
what you’re doing throughout the cereal!
day. This exposes your child to a Where’s the milk?
variety of vocabulary during the The milk is in the
day, and helps them to fridge!
understand the correct context to I will take the milk
use them. It’s helpful to use an out of the fridge.
upbeat and animated voice to Now I’m pouring the
keep your child engaged with milk into the bowl.
what you’re saying. Now the cereal is
ready to eat!

!
You may also narrate
what your child is
doing as well. This is
called parallel-talk.

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Withholding
Examples:
» Requesting a
Withholding is a strategy that you snack or drink.
can implement in order to
encourage your child to vocalize » Requesting a toy
in a repetitive game.
their needs. It’s easy for a parent
to be able to anticipate the needs
» Requesting an
of their child, but this can
object that is out
sometimes discourage their of their reach.
children from verbal
communication. When your child » Requesting
wants something, have them assistance at the
vocalize what it is that they want playground (being
before giving it to them. pushed on the
swing, to have help
on the slide, etc.).

Be sure to use this

strategy for words
and phrases that you
know your child has
in their vocabulary.

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Communication
Temptation
Examples:
» Keeping favorite
By placing motivating and high- snack in a jar
ly-desired objects out of reach, it
encourages your child to commu- » Placing their
nicate with you in order to receive favorite toy
them. When your child sees the out of reach
object, wait for them to ask for
the item instead of anticipating » Wind-up toys
their request. The positive out-
» Bubble containers
come of receiving the object will
with a tight lid
encourage them to continue to
communicate requests.

Do not overuse this

strategy - it’s important
to keep this a positive
experience for your
child. If they begin to
get frustrated, try
taking a break from this.

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Repeat, Repeat,
Repeat!
Examples:
» “Hello/Goodbye
(mom/dad, sibling,
Sometimes feeling like a broken pet, friend)!”
record can be a good thing! It’s
good for your child to hear » “More please!”
certain phrases repeated to them,
as it increases their familiarity » “All done!”
with the language and
vocabulary. Think of some » “Time to clean up!”
phrases you can incorporate into
your daily routine, and encourage » “Want
your child to repeat them to you (object/noun child
as well! uses frequently)”

» “Thank you!”

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 Verbal
Routines
Examples:
» “Scrub, scrub,
scrub your hands,
By creating verbal routines, you
keep them nice
will expose your child to and… clean!”
predictable language throughout
the day, and eventually » “One sock, two
encourage them to participate in socks, time to put
it. A verbal routine is a phrase on your… shoes!”
that you say consistently during
certain routines. Keep them short, » “Ready, set, go!”
and once your child becomes
familiar with them, encourage » “1, 2, 3, lights off!”
them to complete the phrase
while doing the routine.

Have fun with the

phrases you use!
Incorporate nursery
rhymes or songs, and
be sure to personalize
phrases for your child
and their own interests
and specific routines.

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 Giving
Choices
Examples:
» “Do you want the
This is a great strategy to expand blue shirt or the
your child’s vocabulary, yellow shirt?”
encourage communication, and
give agency to your child and » “Do you want
their schedule throughout their grapes or
day. Give your child two clear apple slices?”
choices throughout the day
(while grocery shopping, play » “Do you want
time, getting dressed, etc.), and the truck or the
have them tell you the choice superhero?”
that they prefer.

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