Your child is now going to school. Little by little, they are starting to work on their own, spending more time outside the home, that is, at school, with their friends. Maybe you think, "Oh, now he's older, he'll be on his own." But, to strengthen the bond between you and your child, it's still very important to exchange ideas, opinions, and information, isn't it? It is through this conversation that the child builds trust that he can share everything that is on his mind, his happiness, sadness, and problems with you.
How can you improve communication with your child?
So, there are a few small things we can do to make conversations with a school-age child more successful. Let's see what they are.
- Make time to ask about your child's day: This is the most important thing. When your child comes home from school, or at dinner, ask, "How was your day?" Don't just ask and look away. Your child needs to feel like you're really interested and listening. Nodding your head to what they're saying, or responding with small questions like, "Oh, right?" or "What happened next?" can be very helpful.
- Talk to your child, don't preach to your child: This is something that many parents do. We are going to give our child a bag of advice saying "don't do this", "do that". But, instead, talk to the child on an equal footing. Allow him to have his opinions. Imagine, when Nimal comes home from school, his son Amal asks a series of questions like, 'What did the math teacher say today? Did you write all your homework? Didn't you go out to play?' Amal answers 'yes', 'no' and goes to his room. But, if Nimal asks in a slightly different way, 'Son, how was your day today? Did anything special happen at school?' with a smile, Amal also feels like sharing his things with his father. That's how we should talk to our children.
- Ask questions that go beyond "yes/no": Simply asking, "Was school good today?" will only get a "yes" or "no" answer. Instead, ask questions that make your child want to elaborate a bit more. For example:
- "What was the most special thing that happened at school today?"
- "What lesson did you like the most today? Tell me why."
- "Did you meet a new friend today?"
- "Did you help anyone today?"
When you ask questions like this, the child is tempted to give more details, right?
- Take advantage of even the smallest moments: You may think, "Oh, I don't have time to talk to my child." But don't think like that. You can talk to your child while driving to school, waiting in line at the store, or even while cleaning vegetables. Those small moments are worth their weight in gold.
- Work and play together: Go to your child's school sports events and concerts. At home, play a game together, draw, or cook a meal. When you do these things, conversation naturally ensues. You can talk about what's going on in the world, even about something you saw in the newspaper.
- Encourage your child to read books that are just a little more difficult than their age: Allowing them to read books and stories that are just a little more difficult than their level of understanding will help develop their vocabulary and language skills. But don't force them. Encourage them to read with enthusiasm.
How do the word use and communication patterns of children at this age change?
As children start school, their ability to understand and use language gradually improves. More specifically, their speech becomes more complex and logical.
Typically, children at this age understand more words and concepts than they can express verbally. Your child should now be able to tell a story in a narrative manner , that is, describe an event in a sequence from beginning to end. They should also be able to express their thoughts and opinions clearly and in a way that others can understand. The number of words they use is also increasing, and their sentences are getting a little longer.
When should we seek help? How do we recognize that there is a problem?
Not all children are the same. Some children are good at speaking and expressing themselves quickly. Others take a little longer. However, there are some things we need to be a little careful about.
The most important thing is to talk to your child's school teacher regularly about their language skills, that is, the way they speak and understand things. Because children who have problems understanding and using language are more likely to have academic problems .
Stay in touch with the teacher.
The school teacher is the one who sees the most how your child behaves in class, how they interact with other children, and how they understand lessons. Therefore, talk to the teacher regularly about your child's language skills and progress. If there is a problem, it will help to identify it early.
Do you need help from a Speech-Language Pathologist?
Sometimes, if your child has a specific speech difficulty, such as stuttering , or a difference in the pronunciation of certain letters, for example, the letter 's' sounds like 'th', or the letter 'r' has difficulty pronouncing (lisp) , you should refer them to a Speech-Language Pathologist at school. These are specialists who assess and treat speech and language disorders. They can find out exactly what the child's problem is and prescribe appropriate treatment and exercises.
If so, talk to the therapist regularly about the goals of the treatment, what language activities to practice at home, and how your child is progressing. Your support is very important to your child.
Situations where comprehensive testing may be required
If your child's teacher suspects that they have a language-based learning disability , they may need to conduct a series of extensive tests to investigate the issue. These can help identify your child's strengths and weaknesses. These typically include:
- Hearing test: Sometimes, a child may have difficulty speaking or understanding because they cannot hear properly. That's why this test is important.
- Psychoeducational assessment: This involves examining the child's learning style and intellectual processes through standardized tests. This can provide a clear picture of the child's strengths and weaknesses.
- Speech-language evaluation: A speech-language therapist tests the child's language abilities in various ways.
It is based on the information obtained from these tests that decisions are made about what special help the child needs.
What are some problems that can be seen in communication?
Now let's look at some of the problems a child may have when it comes to speaking. If you notice that your child has one or two of these, it's a good idea to be a little concerned and talk to a teacher or a doctor.
- Hearing problems.
- Difficulty paying attention and following instructions in the classroom (e.g., doesn't seem to be listening to what the teacher is saying).
- Weaknesses in remembering things heard and said.
- Vocabulary development is very poor, and there is no interest in learning new words.
- Problems with grammar and syntax . That is, difficulty speaking with correct sentences.
- Difficulty expressing ideas or telling a story in an orderly manner (Narrative discourse) . When telling a story, it is told here and there without any order.
- Problems with learning, especially reading and writing.
- The story is unclear, making it difficult for others to understand.
- Persistent stuttering or lisp .
If one or more of these symptoms persist, it is best to seek expert advice.
Do we need to be concerned about vocal-quality problems?
Sometimes you may notice changes in your child's voice. For example, the voice may become hoarse (Hoarseness) , sound breathy (Breathiness) , or the voice may crack or become rough (Raspiness) . These are common symptoms of a cold or flu. However, if these changes persist, it is best to see an otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose, and Throat) for medical advice. This could be a sign of a problem with the vocal cords.
So, what is the most important thing we need to remember? (Take-Home Message)
Look, if you notice that your child is having some difficulty speaking, don't panic. It's not the end of the world. Speech-language pathologists , other therapists, and your family doctor are ready to help you and your child overcome these problems.
The most important thing is to recognize a problem quickly and refer it to the right person. Also, always talking to your child with love, interest, and patience is very important not only for their language development, but also for their entire personality development. Your words, your listening can make a child's world more beautiful. So, starting today, let's talk to our children a little more?
Communication, children, conversation, language development, school age, speech therapy, learning difficulties
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න