Lift the Pressure and Let Your Child Speak Freely
In my 15 years of practice, I often hear parents express frustration:
“Why does my child speak better during speech therapy sessions but not at home?”
One of the main reasons could be the pressure placed on verbal communication during home interactions.
The Impact of Pressure on Communication
When we place too much emphasis on verbal communication or talking without valuing or acknowledging what the child is already capable of, it can create a stressful environment. This pressure can make speaking feel more like a task than a natural expression.
How Pressure Shows Up at Home
Parents may unknowingly add pressure in these ways:
- Not waiting for the child to speak: Interrupting or finishing sentences for them may discourage the child from trying.
- Asking too many questions: Rapid-fire questions like “What is this? What colour is it?” can feel overwhelming.
- Not providing sufficient opportunities to speak: Talking too much or giving instructions without pauses leaves little room for the child to respond.
- Talking too much: Dominating the conversation or giving too many instructions without pauses leaves little opportunity for the child to join in.
- Lack of enthusiasm: If a child doesn’t see excitement or interest in their attempts, they may feel discouraged.
- Not acknowledging the child’s efforts: Ignoring nonverbal attempts (gestures, sounds) can send the message that only words are valued.
Be Mindful to Encourage Communication
By being conscious of these behaviours, you can create an environment where your child feels more comfortable and motivated to speak. Here are some tips:
- Wait and Pause: Give your child time to process and respond. Count to 10 in your head before stepping in.
- Reduce questions: Instead of constant quizzing, make comments like, “Oh, you’re holding the car! It’s so shiny.”
- Acknowledge all communication: Celebrate gestures, sounds, and words equally to encourage progress.
- Show enthusiasm: Smile, clap, or repeat what they say to show you’re listening and proud of their effort.
- Provide opportunities: Pause while reading a book or playing to let your child fill the silence.
The Power of a Pressure-Free Environment
When the immense pressure for verbal communication is lifted, children often feel more confident and willing to express themselves. Speech therapy creates such an atmosphere, and the same approach can work wonders at home.
Let your child know that their voice matters—whether it’s a word, a sound, or a gesture. Over time, you’ll notice that as the pressure fades, their desire to communicate grows.
Have you noticed how your child communicates differently at home versus in therapy? Share your experiences with us! 😊
Kruythoff-Broekman, A., Wiefferink, C., Rieffe, C., & Uilenburg, N. (2019). Parent-implemented early language intervention programme for late talkers: parental communicative behaviour change and child language outcomes at 3 and 4 years of age. International journal of language & communication disorders, 54(3), 451–464. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12451
