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Communication
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At home
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At home
How to Work on Basic Sign Language at Home
Start with 5–6 high-value everyday signs like 'more', 'eat' and 'all done', always saying the word as you sign it, used consistently at meals and play. Signing supports speech, never replaces it, and helps your child communicate before words arrive.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Basic Sign with my child at home?
Teach Basic Sign at home by choosing 3–5 motivating signs your child wants — like more, eat, milk and all done — and showing them in everyday moments while always saying the word aloud. Honour every attempt immediately so your child learns their hands make things happen.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Basic Verbal Interaction with my child at home?
Grow basic verbal interaction at home through joyful, face-to-face turn-taking: follow your child's lead, use the Observe-Wait-Listen rhythm, keep words short and paired with actions, and play to-and-fro games. Connection comes before words. Seek a friendly developmental check if back-and-forth isn't building by around 18 months.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Basic Verbal with my child at home?
Grow your child's basic verbal skills at home by turning play, meals and routines into talking time: follow their lead, name what they see, pause to let them take a turn, and celebrate every attempt. Little and often beats formal lessons. Seek a check if words are very delayed or lost.
Read the answer AnswerHow to Work on Basic Vocabulary at Home
Build your child's basic vocabulary through everyday naming, short playful repetition, building on their words, and pausing to let them respond. Little and often, woven into bath-time, mealtimes and play, works best — no formal lessons needed.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Basic Word Request with my child at home?
Build Basic Word Request at home by using your child's favourite things and creating short, friendly waits — hold an item out of reach, pause, then model the word. Honour every attempt, keep it playful, and check in with a professional if single-word requests aren't emerging by around 18 months.
Read the answer AnswerHow to Work on Basic Words With Your Child at Home
Build basic words at home by naming the things your child loves throughout the day — clearly, repeatedly and through play. Five short bursts beat one long drill, and rewarding every attempt keeps your child trying. A clinician can tailor activities if the word gap isn't closing.
Read the answer AnswerHow to Work on Basic Words Treasure at Home
Basic Words Treasure is the everyday building of your child's first core vocabulary. Grow it by naming things during daily routines, pausing for your child to respond, playing treasure-hunt and picture-label games, singing repeated rhymes, and rewarding every attempt — little and often, following your child's interests.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Basic Words with my child at home?
Build first words at home by naming what your child loves, repeating words in daily routines, pausing to give a turn, and celebrating every attempt. Short, joyful bursts beat long sessions. If words are very few by around 18 months, seek a gentle developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerHow to Build Basic and Complex Language at Home
Build language at home by narrating daily routines, following your child's lead, pausing to invite a response, and adding one word more than your child says. For complex language, use open questions, joining words like 'because' and 'before', retelling the day, and pretend play.
Read the answer AnswerHow to Build Receptive Language at Home
Build receptive language at home by narrating your day, giving simple one-step instructions and pausing to wait, offering choices, and sharing books and songs. Keep it short, light and led by your child's interests. If understanding seems delayed for their age, a hearing check and developmental chat are worth booking.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Building Sentences with my child at home?
Build your child's sentences at home by expanding what they say — when they offer one word, give two or three back warmly. Narrate daily routines, pause to let them respond, follow their interest, and model the fuller phrase rather than correcting. These small, consistent habits in play and routine grow sentences naturally.
Read the answer AnswerBuilding Simple Question Asking at Home
Build simple question asking at home by modelling questions out loud, creating playful reasons to ask (hidden toys, sealed jars), using picture books with inviting pauses, and warmly answering every attempt so your child learns that asking works.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Building Two-Word phrases with my child at home?
Build two-word phrases by expanding the words your child already says — turn "milk" into "more milk" — and weave short, clear phrases through play and daily routines. Offer choices, pause to give a turn, and celebrate every try. Little and often works best.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Building Vocabulary with my child at home?
Build vocabulary at home by talking with your child through daily routines: narrate what you both do, add one new word onto whatever they say, read and re-read together with pointing and questions, and keep words playful through songs, games and pretend play. Use your home language, give time and choices, and keep it little and often.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on cause-and-effect stories with my child at home?
A cause-and-effect story means narrating what happens and why during play, books and daily routines — using linking words like because and so. Build it at home through topple-and-roll play, button toys, pausing mid-book to ask why, and everyday moments. It strengthens reasoning, sequencing and conversational language.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Cause-and-Effect Storytelling with my child at home?
Cause-and-effect storytelling means narrating the 'because' and 'so then' of everyday moments to build your child's logic, sequencing and sentence-making. Use real-life moments, simple connecting words, tiny three-step story arcs and cause-and-effect play — five warm minutes a day. Book a developmental check if your child rarely links actions to outcomes.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on a Choice Board with my child at home?
A choice board lets your child show what they want by pointing to pictures or objects. Start with two clear, motivating choices at eye level, honour every choice instantly, then build up to more. It grows communication and reduces frustration — and a speech therapist can personalise it for your child.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Choice-Based Communication with my child at home?
Choice-based communication means offering your child two clear options and honouring any response — a look, reach, point or word — as a real message. Practise it in everyday moments like snacks, dressing and play: offer two genuine choices, wait, and respond instantly so your child learns that communicating works.
Read the answer AnswerCollaborative Story at Home
Build a story together by taking turns — you say a line, your child adds the next. Follow their ideas, expand their words gently, use props for younger children, and keep it to a fun five to ten minutes. It grows vocabulary, sentence-building, turn-taking and imagination through play.
Read the answer AnswerHow to Do Collaborative Storytelling at Home
Collaborative storytelling means making up a story together by taking turns adding what happens next. Start with one line and ask 'what happened next?', use picture books, toys in a bag or 'and then…' prompts, and accept words, sounds or pointing as turns. Keep it short and playful — it builds vocabulary, listening, turn-taking and narrative skills through everyday fun.
Read the answer AnswerHow to Work on Combining Words at Home
Children usually combine words into two-word phrases between 18 and 30 months, once they have around 50 single words. At home, model short phrases, expand on what your child says by adding one word, and weave language into play and daily routines — repetition and following your child's lead matter most.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Combining Words with my child at home?
Help your child combine words at home by expanding their single words into short phrases, offering simple choices, narrating daily routines, pausing to give them space, and modelling two-word phrases during play and books. Little and often works best, and most children begin joining two words between 18 and 30 months.
Read the answer AnswerHow can I work on Command Following with my child at home?
Build command following at home with short, clear one-step instructions paired with gestures, plenty of warm praise, and playful games like Simon Says woven into daily routines. Grow toward two-step commands as your child succeeds, keep sessions tiny and frequent, and seek a friendly speech review if simple commands aren't followed by around 18-24 months.
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