Social Language

Here are some tips for parents from King's Speech and Learning Center http://kingsspeechandlearning.com/wp/2010/09/25/10-tips-for-parents-of-tweens-and-teens-with-pragmatic-language-problems/

1. Use movies and sitcoms as a means to discuss social problem solving and empathy.

2. Play “Apples to Apples” for practice with perspective taking and figurative language.

3. Spend some time alone with your child with no agendas, obligations or lecturing. Talk about the activity on hand to avoid pushing any buttons.

4. Start using as much abstract language as possible through idioms (as strong as an ox), proverbs (“While the cat is away the mice will play.”) and slang (“My bad.”). Discuss in literal terms as needed for comprehension.

5. Divide cleaning, organization and homework tasks into smaller units and put in a check list format.

6. Use facial expression without talking to convey emotions to increase use of social cues (e.g tighten lips to convey anger).

7. Use calm and slow speech if you want your child to speak slower and/or more fluent.

8. Play “Charades” to increase attention to nonverbal detail.

9. Help your child initiate social plans by problem solving on who to invite, the best way to invite (text, face book, call, ask in school), nature of the plan and when.

10. Try to increase the number of back and forth conversational turns per topic.