With school almost back in swing, it is important to recognize and implement essential speech and language skills to ensure your child’s success in the classroom. Speech and language skills encompass pragmatic, expressive, and receptive communication skills.
Pragmatic skills refer to social communication. The ability to appropriately participate in greetings and farewells is vital. This skill allows your child to introduce themselves and initiate conversations with peers in all settings. Reciprocity, or turn taking, during a conversation is crucial for your child to maintain and contribute to a conversation.
After this skill has developed, it will allow your child to move towards expressing thoughts, feelings, and needs. This will encourage your child to practice self-advocacy within the classroom and school setting. Your child can also use gestures to help supplement while conversing.
Honing receptive language skills, which includes listening during a conversation, following directions, and responding accurately to wh- questions is a key component of success as well.
Facilitating these skills are imperative to promote success during the school year and beyond.