When modeling communication for a child with a language delay, you may have been given the advice to “speak from the child’s perspective.” This means putting yourself in their shoes and modeling language that fits with the nonverbal language they’re giving you. If they push their snack away, you might say, “I’m not hungry” or “yucky”, If you’re pushing them in the swing and they’re laughing, you might model, “Higher, mommy,” or if they’re reaching for a ball, modeling, “my turn.”
But why is this important? Some quick reasons:
You are modeling language that is ready to go! They don’t have to worry about changing the pronouns from “your turn” to “my turn”. They don’t have to edit the structure to make it more meaningful like when a well meaning adult says, “Say my turn” or asks, “do you want a cookie?” Then the child has to do an extra step to get to “my turn” and “want a cookie.
It can be highly motivating for your child to imitate child friendly language and intonation. Modeling “yucky” might be more interesting than “I don’t want it”.
It can keep the engagement going. When you interpret the intent of their nonverbal communication, you are putting the verbal language icing on the communication cupcake. When you give words to their communication intent, you are providing the building blocks for them to use more communication.
