While spending a lot of time at home, as many have the past two years, the most frequently requested question during many people’s speech therapy sessions was, “If we’re not going anywhere, how do I continue to assist my child with their language skills at home?” Parents’ concerns increased when preschools and daycares closed, playdates were canceled, and parents were left to balance working from home, virtual schooling, and a variety of other duties.

Improving Language Skills at Home Can Be Difficult

Even as the veil on recent events begins to clear, this remains a significant concern for parents, since many are just not prepared to return to group lessons and playdates. And that is acceptable! The secret to improving your child’s language skills while remaining at home is straightforward: limit electronics, model language, and get messy. Children learn best through play-based interactions, and numerous possibilities for language development can be generated using items already in your home.

Here are some different techniques and tactics that parents can utilize to assist their children in developing their language skills.

#1. Model

Numerous experts advise parents to vocally model everything! When you’re playing with your youngster, explaining their behavior enables them to comprehend their surroundings. It is critical to use direct, concise phrases that they can quickly comprehend, such as “go car,” “blue car,” and “car up.” Simple and succinct statements, even if they are occasionally grammatically incorrect, will aid your youngster in grasping the principles of language.

The finer points of language can be learned later, provided the youngster has a firm grasp on communicating their desires. Avoid the phrase “Say [insert any word here]” and instead mimic the specific phrase or word you want them to generate. It’s acceptable if your child does not immediately imitate you; they’re taking up all the rich language you’re supplying.

#2. Put Technology Aside

Spending two hours or more a day on screens has been shown to have a significant influence on a toddler’s brain, perhaps delaying language acquisition. Technology is an excellent educational tool when used appropriately. Allow time for electronics each day but also encourage parent-child interaction with actual toys and things throughout the day. Additionally, be present with your child as they use technology by interacting with them, asking questions, and modeling language.

#3. Not Everything Should Be Accessible

When parents discuss how their child communicates their desires and needs at home, some believe that “they just get it.” Allowing your child to have access to everything throughout the day limits your child’s opportunity for deliberate conversation with you. Placing your child’s favorite toy on a shelf out of reach or providing them with a cup devoid of juice promotes these deliberate interactions. If your child is still in the pointing phase and does not yet have words, verbally model what they are pointing to.

#4. Include Children In Daily Routines

Children adore participating in “grown-up” things. Assisting your child with household duties such as laundry and cooking are excellent activities for developing language skills. Provide easy commands for your youngster to follow, such as “flour in” or “give me sock.” Throughout these activities, continue to label your child’s actions with phrases such as “you are mixing” and “we are folding.”

Breakups are never easy, no matter your age. The first breakup, however, is possibly the hardest of them all — as everything is new and you have no prior experience to draw from. As your kids are growing up, they will undoubtedly go through the emotional whirlwind of breakups and heartache. So, how can you help them through these hardships? Teenagers have the answer!

Be Supportive and Available Throughout the Breakup

Every teen is different when it comes to their first breakup. Some would need you to be proactive and offer advice, while others would like you to give them space. Regardless of the approach, however, it’s crucial to let your teen know you are there for them. If they need a shoulder to cry on, you will be there. When they just want to talk or share the silence with you, you will be there. Make sure they know that.

Help Them Validate Their Feelings

One of the hardest parts about dealing with a breakup is knowing that you’re not alone in it. By sharing stories of your own heartbreaks with your teen, you can help them feel validated in their feelings. What this does is it solidifies for them that it’s okay to feel upset, sad, hurt, agitated, and all those other emotions that are going through them.

Being open about your own experience may feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s a key element in making your kid feel safe to reciprocate that openness and let you in. It will make you more relatable, and it can really help strengthen your bond. Even if you don’t have a similar experience to share with your teen, just being there to listen, nod along, and offer a warm hug is enough.

Check-In and Listen

Going through a breakup, no matter if it’s the first or tenth, is a process. The first few weeks are the hardest and it’s important to often check in with your teen and focus on listening as opposed to giving advice. They might repeat the same things over and over again, but that’s just part of the healing process. Your persistent support is the best thing you can offer to anyone going through heartbreak, and that is especially true when it comes to your kids. You are their stronghold and seemingly small things like being there to listen will eventually amount to the big thing — a heart that is healing.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to breakups, it’s your job as a parent to reassure your kids that you love and support them, and they will never be truly alone because they have you. While your teen will probably prefer to confide in their friends — showing that you’re always there for them is a major step to helping them heal and learn from this experience.