Small changes, Big Impact
Why Resolutions for Kids Matter What resolution did you make this New Year? Was it to get healthier, keep your house cleaner, spend less time on your phone, or maybe buy fewer clothes? Regardless of the resolution, we all know the excitement of starting the year with motivation that can quickly fade when life gets busy.
Now, let’s shift focus to our children. What resolutions can we make to help them grow and expand their speech and language skills? And how can we stick with those resolutions all year long? Lucky for you, we’ve got the answers right here!
Setting the Right Goal The first step is deciding on your resolution. You can’t achieve a goal you haven’t set. This will vary for each child. Perhaps you’d like to:
Expand your child’s vocabulary.
Improve speech clarity.
Encourage their first word.
Once you’ve chosen a goal, let’s discuss how to achieve it together.
Small Changes for Big Wins Influencers often say, “The key to keeping resolutions is making a lifestyle change.” But what if you don’t want to overhaul your entire life? Good news: small changes to your daily routines can add up to big progress. An average routine you can consistently complete is better than an ambitious one you can’t maintain. Here are examples tailored to specific goals.
Goal: Encouraging First Words
Label common nouns: Consistently name everyday objects your child interacts with, like “ball,” “car,” or “baby.”
Focus on early sounds: Practice sounds like /b/, /p/, /m/, /t/, /d/, /n/, and /w/. Use animal sounds (e.g., “baa-baa,” “moo-moo”) to make it fun. These sounds are great because they are reduplicated, making them some of the easiest for a child to produce, such as “ba-ba” for a bottle or “wa-wa” for water.
Exaggerate simple words: Overemphasize key sounds in basic words that feature early developing consonants.
Goal: Building Vocabulary for Emerging Communicators
Target core vocabulary: Core vocabulary refers to the functional words between nouns that give them meaning. They are the meat and potatoes of language that allow us to communicate functionally. Use functional words from resources like Mondy’s Mission: Under the Sea to develop language skills.
Narrate play: Describe actions and objects during playtime, introducing age-appropriate words and concepts. Use our free speech and language milestones chart (available on our website).
Read more: Books expose children to new words and scenarios outside everyday routines, providing opportunities to learn and hear vocabulary that they wouldn’t normally encounter due to the repetitive nature of daily routines, fostering language growth.
Goal: Improving Speech Clarity (Articulation) (After consulting with a speech pathologist for guidance)
Use target sound lists: Familiarize yourself with specific words to practice, focusing on words that target the specific sound your child is struggling with.
Practice during car rides: Turn travel time into an opportunity to work on speech sounds with the word list you prepared earlier.
Be patient: When your child speaks quickly or blends words, encourage them to slow down. Remind them that slowing down helps you understand them better, showing care rather than frustration.
Celebrate Progress These small changes require minimal effort, cost nothing, and seamlessly integrate into daily life. Your child won’t even realize you’re “working” on speech and language goals—it’s as subtle as sneaking vegetables into their favorite meals!
We’d love to hear how these strategies are working for your family. Share your progress with us on social media! You can reach us on Facebook HERE and Instagram HERE. Your stories inspire us and help other families on similar journeys.
Let’s make this year one of growth, learning, and connection—one small change at a time.
