When A Child Says a Word Without Knowing the Meaning: Help Teaching Words in Context Speech Therapy

Kelli Meyer M.Ed, CCC-SLP Licensed and Certified Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist
Find me on Instagram! @SpeedySpeech and on FB @ SpeedySpeechPath
Download FREE resources at SpeedySLP.com and sign up for our exclusive email list for FREE PDFs every month!
What do you do when a child says one word but does not know what it means
1ST! Ensure your child has met and mastered ALL age-appropriate speech/language developmental milestones (pre-linguistic skills) that come BEFORE talking! Listed below!
----Many times children are MISSING a skills or have developed SPLINTER skills (able to do it SOME times with prompting - this is NOT a mastery level! Help your child GET READY to talk by implementing treatment / therapy ideas for each skills below, because just like you can't learn long division before you can add, subtract and multiply numbers... we can't help make our child talk before they are developmentally READY to talk and have reached pre-linguistic milestones!)
Also, working on easier skills help MOTIVATE your child to participate in FUN and ENGAGING therapy activities with you! See ideas below and check out these skills!
*Skills listed are from Laura Mize's Teach Me To Talk Chart
Skill #1… Reacts to events in the environment
Skill #2… Responds to people when they talk to or play with him or her
Skill #3… Takes turns with you during interactions ( • TODDLER SPEECH THERAPY... ) Eye Contact ( • HOW TO HELP A NONVERBA... )
Skill #4… Develops a longer attention span ( • HOW TO GET A CHILD TO ... )
Skill #5… Shifts and shares joint attention with others ( • HOW TO INCREASE A CHIL... )
Skill #6… Plays with a variety of toys appropriately ( • HOW TO PLAY WITH A CHI... )
Skill #7… Understands early words and follows simple directions ( • HOW TO GET A CHILD TO ... )
Skill #8… Vocalizes or makes sounds purposefully ( • HOW TO GET A CHILD TO ... )
Skill #9… Imitates actions, gestures, sounds, and words ( • HOW TO GET A CHILD TO ... )
Skill #10… Uses early gestures like waving and pointing ( • TEACHING FUNCTIONAL WO... ) ( • HOW TO TEACH A CHILD T... )
Skill #11… Initiates interaction with others to get needs met or to play ( • TODDLER SPEECH THERAPY... )
Help with Verbal Routines (Fill in the blank to encourage motor planning!)
• HELP A CHILD TALK BY U...
When a child uses words without meaning/context:
TIPS FROM THIS VIDEO:
#1: Take a step BACK! Check out the 11 pre-linguistic skills above and make sure that they are READY to be using words! Fill in the blanks if you child has not mastered each skill!
#2: Teach GESTURES/SIGNS (for FUNCTIONAL language • TEACHING FUNCTIONAL WO... ) and model the word at the same time! Use games to facilitate (peek-a-boo; ring around the rosey; happy and you know it)
#2+: Give opportunities for you child to use the word FUNCTIONALLY and APPROPRIATELY in CONTEXT (example: "no" during "yes/no" opportunities) **DRAW ATTENTION to it's meaning by FOLLOWING THROUGH with what the child SAYS (if they say NO, throw it away/eat the goldfish/ give it to the dog, etc - when asked, "WANT GOLDFISH?!") THEN model the CORRECT word and let them nod their head or use sign to demonstrate understanding!
Raise motivation during these trials by using your child's favorite toy/snack/stuffed animal/character, etc!
#3: BACK UP to ONOMATOPEAS ( • HOW TO GET A CHILD TO ... , USE hand cues and a verbal routine ( • HELP A CHILD TALK BY U... ) to help with ORAL MOTOR PLANNING of the articulators and to offer more time for your child to plan out/attempt the vowel, sound and/or word that you are MODELING and prompting using hand cues!
Need a FREE speech hand cues resource? Check out: speedyslp.com/speech-resources/
After watching this video, If you are concerned about Echolalia, here is a video that further explains echolalic tendencies ( • HOW TO TREAT ECHOLALIA... )
Thanks for liking & subscribing!! :)
NEW VIDEOS COMING SOON! Put your requests in the comments section below!
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🔸LANGUAGE PLAYLIST: • Early Language Develop...
Need more help on different sounds?!
🔷Check out this ARTICULATION PLAYLIST: • Speech Articulation Vi...
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[@ladycapricorn3]

I just found your channel and struggle in many different areas with my 3.5 yo, ranging from language delay to behavioral problems. We've been on lockdowns since she turned 1 and I feel like it's had a huge impact on her learning skills. I would like to start practicing your techniques! I feel like I have hope now. Thanks so much for taking the time to share all your advice and knowledge!

[@sm-zs3sf]

no other speech therapist is like you, in the entire world❤👑.God bless you! you are God send, to help and encourage parents🙏🙏 thank you, thank you, thank you! 🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@TheSpeechScoop]

Thank you so much for this kind comment!

[@cheriefunkhouser7819]

Jw who disliked this video because Ive been watching you since my baby was 6 months My now 9 month old understands most of my hand gestures and even copies some of them I know you’re for older kids but I feel you’ve really helped me a first time mom Make learning to communicate less stressful and way more fun 10/10 recommend

[@TheSpeechScoop]

That’s sooo nice, thank you. Yes, unfortunately I usually get a lot of negative feedback vs positive & im definitely just trying to help so I really appreciate you taking time to write a kind comment & im sooo happy your little one is making progress! Keep up the great work!

[@snowdriftwood]

So helpful! Thank you 🙏

[@gigimezoui5184]

Thank you so much , your videos are very helpful , bless your heart !

[@TheSpeechScoop]

Thank you for watching!

[@Lidia1312]

Thank you!💕💕💕 this is very helpful!

[@TheSpeechScoop]

Thank you for watching!

[@tiffany9584]

the new intro is so helping before i do my speech

[@sm-zs3sf]

the intro is amazing ❤❤

[@imikimimimi3400]

Your videos are very helpfull! Thank you sooo much! I would like to see video about teaching prepositions. ❤️

[@TheSpeechScoop]

GREAT idea! Will do! I target prepositions in my teaching phrases video and how to play with magnets video but I think a stand alone video with a bunch of ideas on this topic would be great! Thanks for the comment & video suggestion!

[@christinasinatra1511]

I love the new intro!

[@TheSpeechScoop]

Thank you! I think it's much better (and shorter too!) :)

[@wayps2638]

Thankyou this is very hepful 🤍

[@TheSpeechScoop]

So glad!

[@sulemanmalik541]

my cellphone was ✖ totHappy International 👸women's day dear lady teacher . My Apologize 🙏🙏🙏 my cellphone was dead yesterday round the clock⏰ . Imma so so sorry for that but i appreciate you from bottom of my heart Be happy and healthy forever Keep it up. 💝🤗

[@janninaguillen7592]

Could you put videos about kids in early years at school. 5 years old , comprehension reading skills thanks

[@whittneywarren]

Looking forward to the hand cue video

[@TheSpeechScoop]

Should be the next video out! I was working on updating the hand cues PDF so that they can go together as a free resource!

[@walterazbill463]

Hello, could you please source the study that says it takes 50 repetitions to learn a target utterance? Also, in your experience, with an average 6 year old, how many repetitions do you typically attempt during one session; how many individual utterances do you attempt to stack during one session; and how many sessions does it take you to achieve 50 quality repetitions for one utterance, assuming the target is only one phoneme?

[@pogoclown9607]

How to help them acknowledge them mama

[@malalmosem796]

Hi my 10 month old is not babbling he is making long aaaa sound as a communication and copies when we say aaaaaah and only occasional agh akh but no any other sounds. What advice will you give x

[@TheSpeechScoop]

Look for my video called “HOW TO HELP A CHILD MAKE MEW SPEECH SOUNDS” & use those vowel hand cues & exaggeration! Try this!

[@malalmosem796]

@@TheSpeechScoop thank u

[@debbiemcwilliams8289]

How do I help my 5yr old son and 6 yr old daughter, both their speech is unclear🤔🙏

[@TheSpeechScoop]

Which sounds are you noticing they need a little help with?

[@sun-um4zm]

How to encourage kid to play with siblings or other kids ? My daughter just turned 3 years.

[@TheSpeechScoop]

Start with just one toss with a ball or something simple like that! Give direct instruction like “okay! Throw ball to sissy!” & then go OVER THE TOP with excitement like “YAAAYYY!!! GOOD JOB THROW BALL TO SISSY!” & then ask for Ooooonnneee more! So then count out loud OOOOOONNEEE. toss to siss! Yayyyy! (Sis tosses back) TWOOOOO!!! WOOOOWWW!! 2 THROW BALL TO SISSY! & keep building just one at a time but when they want to stop (maybe after 3 turns, etc) let them stop & then pick it back up later! you could also do a first then behavioral technique like FIRST throw ball/ THEN cookie! (Model throwing the ball to sissy being super excited & then getting a bite of a cookie!) 5 throws gets the WHOLE cookie! (This is the do a little, get a little- do a lot, get a lot model!) Hope these ideas help! The idea is to start super easy, fast, & fun & then build from there once the turn taking is in place & the positive correlation of playing with sis is there!

[@sun-um4zm]

@@TheSpeechScoop thank you 😊 So much 💖

[@TheSpeechScoop]

Just wanted you to be the first to know that I am filming this video today so be on the lookout for it by Friday! 😊@beautifulFlower

[@sun-um4zm]

@@TheSpeechScoop thank you so much 💖