More Sight Words Apps

by Jacky G. Language Development
Child Learning to Read

Image source: Media.photobucket.com

As your child heads back to school this year, do your own homework to help keep him on the right track. Network with other parents and teachers at the Open House night and at parent-teacher conferences. Talk to his speech therapist about his progress and what you can do to help him at home. Beginning readers benefit from regular reading at home. As you read with your child, make a note of the words that he typically struggles with. Many of them are likely sight words, also called Dolch words. Sight words are the most frequently used words in English texts, but unfortunately, they can also be tricky for beginning readers to master. This is because many of them cannot be sounded out or visually illustrated. Your child must learn them “on sight.” Here are some apps that can help your beginning reader master sight words, accelerate his language development, and enhance his progress in school this year.

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Apps for Beginning Readers

by Jacky G. Language Development
Children Reading at a Nursery

Image source: Guardian.co.uk

Despite technology having taken over the world, books are undoubtedly the foundation of education. Your child can be inspired by a book about a ballet dancer’s hard work to perfect her craft. Or he could broaden his horizons with a book about conservation efforts in the National Park Services. But it takes a lot of hard work and effort for your child to learn how to read in the first place. And children with a speech or language disorder may need a little extra help. So despite books being the gold standard of education, your child’s efforts to learn to read might benefit from a boost from technology. This back-to-school season, help your child get ready for school with some kid-friendly apps for beginning readers. Encouraging reading as a regular habit early in life can not only bolster his speech and language development, but also accelerate his academic progress.

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Language Development Affected by Anesthesia?

by Jacky G. News
Child on Swingset

Image source: Directoutdoorliving.com

Parents like to imagine what their child might grow up to be like, even while they’re still filling out their wedding invitations or decorating the nursery. With a little bit of luck, your child will grow into a healthy, happy adult without ever needing heavy-duty medical treatment for a serious issue. But life doesn’t always work out that way, and sometimes young kids have to undergo surgery. Surgery often requires anesthesia so that the child sleeps during the procedure without feeling any pain. There have always been risks and complications associated with anesthesia, such as stroke, lung infections, mental confusion, and heart attack. Fortunately, those complications are quite rare. And when compared to the potential consequences of not having the surgery, the choice is often a no-brainer. But recent evidence raises a new question: could anesthesia affect speech and language development?

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Apps for Baby Sign Language

by Jacky G. Language Development
Child Using Sign Language

Image source: Blog.syracuse.com

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) agree that maintaining a constant flow of conversation around young children can help encourage the development of speech and language. But what about nonverbal language? If you’re the parent of an infant, it can be frustrating to try to discern what your baby wants when he cries. Using nonverbal communication cues like baby sign language can reduce frustration for both you and your baby. It can also encourage speech and language development. Baby sign language isn’t just for babies, either. If you have an older child who is nonverbal or who has limited speech, sign language can help him express his needs and wants. As a bonus, it’s inexpensive to learn how to sign. Even as your other household bills are soaring, you can learn sign language for the low cost of an instructional app.

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Dispelling Speech and Language Therapy Myths

by Jacky G. Language Development Speech Disorders
Baby Talking on Headset

Image source: accuracy2010.org

When you first begin to research speech therapy and speech disorders, chances are you will come across some misguided information. You might hear that your child will likely grow out of his speech disorder, that you should never use “baby talk” with an infant, or that living in a bilingual household is detrimental to your child’s language development. When in doubt, never hesitate to ask your child’s speech therapist about these issues.

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