Strong communication skills are key for a number of reasons, from simply being able to speak clearly to social and emotional development.
On top of that, they enable children to follow basic instructions and structured programs like a school syllabus. They also help them to be creative, confident and to build self-esteem.
That is why you must do all you can to help strengthen your child’s communication skills, especially if they’re struggling with speech, reading, writing, socialising or any other key aspects you may be worried about.
Keeping that in mind, here are several strategies you can use to help improve your child’s communication skills.
Encourage (and demonstrate) active listening
It’s so important to model good listening yourself and to encourage active listening at home.
By giving your child your full attention when they speak, including making eye contact, nodding, and responding appropriately, they will build a deeper understanding of both listening and speaking.
You should also encourage them to ask questions and express their thoughts when they are listening to you. This will help them understand the importance of listening to others and responding thoughtfully.
Engage them in conversations
Although it might seem like something that happens naturally, you’d be surprised how often strong conversations go by the wayside in a busy household.
You probably give your child instructions and ask them quick questions, but it’s important to make time for genuinely meaningful conversation.
Talk to your child about topics like their day, their interests or current events in their life. This helps them to practice articulating their thoughts.
You should also use open-ended questions that require more than a yes or no answer. For example, ask them, ‘What was your favourite part of today?’ rather than just, ‘Did you have fun?’
Reading and storytelling
Storytelling can also be a powerful way to strengthen a child’s communication skills. Reading books aloud together exposes your child to new vocabulary, sentence structures and ideas. It also helps their imagination and creativity to flow.
You can discuss the story afterwards to reinforce comprehension and encourage them to express their thoughts and ideas.
Of course, it doesn’t just have to be books, you should also encourage your child to retell stories or create their own versions of stories they’ve enjoyed. This builds their narrative skills and boosts their confidence when speaking out loud and expressing themselves.
Find opportunities to practice social skills
Playdates and group activities give your child the opportunity to interact with their peers. These social interactions help them learn how to communicate in different settings and with different people, for example, older and younger children or adults.
These scenarios also teach them polite ways to start and end conversations and take turns when speaking. This is key to learning manners and etiquette.
Always encourage them to express their feelings in a calm way
Help your child build an emotional vocabulary by naming emotions when you speak to them, such as happy, sad, or angry.
You can carefully encourage them to express their feelings in a controlled way, rather than simply getting frustrated or lashing out.
Use technology wisely
Technology can be a great tool for supporting your child’s development, when used correctly, that is. There are some great educational apps and games available that have been specifically designed to enhance language and other communication skills.
You could also engage them in video calls with relatives or friends. This gives them a chance to practice communication with people outside the immediate family and can be a fun activity for everyone involved.
Just be careful to balance their screen time and don’t use this as a replacement for face-to-face interactions and learning.
Make introducing new vocabulary fun
When your child is learning to speak, no matter how advanced or delayed they may be, it’s important to make this learning fun and not a chore.
You can do this in several ways, for example, by playing word games like Scrabble or Pictionary. Alternatively, you could make and use flashcards to help them learn and get them involved in the creative process.
As this should be a gradual process, consider introducing a ‘word of the day’ and find new and fun ways to use it in conversations and activities throughout the day.
Always be patient and supportive
It’s so important to praise your child’s efforts when they try to communicate effectively and not to simply correct them and move on. Positive reinforcement encourages them to keep trying and improving. So if they do make a mistake, correct them gently without discouraging them.
Say for example they mispronounce a word, repeat it slowly and correctly in your response to them and then incorporate the words they are struggling with into games and reading activities over the next couple of days.
Encourage them to speak out loud and publicly
No, we aren’t suggesting that you make your child give a PowerPoint presentation at your next business meeting, but encouraging them to give short presentations or tell stories to family members is a great way to build confidence and help them organise their thoughts.
The same applies to drama and role-playing activities or games. If they want to sing you a song or put on a performance, encourage them to do so. That way, they become more comfortable speaking in front of others.
Seek professional help if needed
Sometimes, you do all you can to support your child’s communication and development, but there is a bigger underlying issue that you need to tackle.
In these cases, for example, if your child has significant difficulties with speech or language, you may need to seek professional help.
Start by utilising any resources available through your child’s school. This might be speech and language support programs. On top of this, you might need to consult with a speech and language therapist for assessment and professional guidance.
By speaking with professionals in this area and integrating their strategies into your daily routines, you can help your child develop strong communication skills.
