Lesson 204
Lesson 204
Imitating 2-3 Word Phrases and Sentences
Objectives
To teach your child to
a) accurately imitate a variety of 2-3 word phrases or sentences
b) understand longer 4-5 word sentences
a) accurately imitate a variety of 2-3 word phrases or sentences
b) understand longer 4-5 word sentences
Points To Remember
1. Children need practice imitating what they hear in the initial stages of learning to talk
2. In the beginning, use phrases that are functional for the child and can be used to get what he wants
3. Always have the child imitate during a meaningful activity as part of a conversation
4. Use acoustic highlighting to emphasize the 2-3 word phrase
5. Just because a child can imitate a phrase, it doesn’t mean he understands it!
2. In the beginning, use phrases that are functional for the child and can be used to get what he wants
3. Always have the child imitate during a meaningful activity as part of a conversation
4. Use acoustic highlighting to emphasize the 2-3 word phrase
5. Just because a child can imitate a phrase, it doesn’t mean he understands it!
Method
This is a structured activity. Choose several different types of phrases for your child to begin imitating. Remember that modeling in conversation is a good technique to use to develop these 2-3 word imitative phrases. Accurate imitation will help your child to learn and say new vocabulary words and phrases as he hears them around him.
We will use the phrases : "I want _________" and "That’s a _______ __________" as examples. The blank spaces are words the child can fill in to vary the phrase.
Watch both the videoclips now.
1. When doing this activity, position yourself beside your child so that your child is listening. If your activity requires moving around, make sure you use the hand cue as needed.
2. Hide the first object , and have the third person ( or a stuffed toy) ask you to see the object using the phrase “I want to see”
3. Show the object and talk about it -- giving some characteristics of the object is a good way to talk about it. Take the opportunity to acoustically highlight additional 2-3 word phrases.
4. Then hold the next item in your hand and wait for your child to try and ask to see the object. Once he attempts the phrase, model and get him to imitate you. When he imitates, make sure that he uses the best speech production possible. At this stage, his imitation for the 2-3 word phrase should be intelligible but not necessarily perfect.
5. If your child missed some of the words in the phrase the first time he imitated you -- repeat the phrase again, this time emphasizing the word he missed. If he still misses some words it is alright. Don’t repeat again, but move on with the activity.
6. Repeat with at least 5-6 objects.
7. Some ideas for activities to practice this are
doing a puzzle that has at least 5-6 pieces
craft activity that requires at least 5 items, or several of the same pieces to make something
dressing a paper doll, or making a vehicle with shapes. The child asks for the different shapes
8. Always give your child the opportunity to use the phrase by himself before modeling and having him imitate. This will tell you if he is able to use it spontaneously. If he can, then you can choose a different phrase to work on.
9. Always use a complete sentence while talking to your child. Your child will imitate the key words accurately at this stage, , but the other words may not be intelligible. The overall length of the phrase or sentence and the intonation pattern should be correct.
We will use the phrases : "I want _________" and "That’s a _______ __________" as examples. The blank spaces are words the child can fill in to vary the phrase.
Watch both the videoclips now.
1. When doing this activity, position yourself beside your child so that your child is listening. If your activity requires moving around, make sure you use the hand cue as needed.
2. Hide the first object , and have the third person ( or a stuffed toy) ask you to see the object using the phrase “I want to see”
3. Show the object and talk about it -- giving some characteristics of the object is a good way to talk about it. Take the opportunity to acoustically highlight additional 2-3 word phrases.
4. Then hold the next item in your hand and wait for your child to try and ask to see the object. Once he attempts the phrase, model and get him to imitate you. When he imitates, make sure that he uses the best speech production possible. At this stage, his imitation for the 2-3 word phrase should be intelligible but not necessarily perfect.
5. If your child missed some of the words in the phrase the first time he imitated you -- repeat the phrase again, this time emphasizing the word he missed. If he still misses some words it is alright. Don’t repeat again, but move on with the activity.
6. Repeat with at least 5-6 objects.
7. Some ideas for activities to practice this are
doing a puzzle that has at least 5-6 pieces
craft activity that requires at least 5 items, or several of the same pieces to make something
dressing a paper doll, or making a vehicle with shapes. The child asks for the different shapes
8. Always give your child the opportunity to use the phrase by himself before modeling and having him imitate. This will tell you if he is able to use it spontaneously. If he can, then you can choose a different phrase to work on.
9. Always use a complete sentence while talking to your child. Your child will imitate the key words accurately at this stage, , but the other words may not be intelligible. The overall length of the phrase or sentence and the intonation pattern should be correct.
Video Clips
CLIP 1
CLIP 2
Modifications
For children under two years of age, you should do lots of modeling, but do not worry if your child doesn’t imitate everything. Often, children of this age will imitate something they hear a little later, or directly begin using the phrase spontaneously.
Imitation of phrases containing pronouns such as ‘my and your’, me and you, should always be practiced with a third person. This way, you can model the phrase and the child imitates in order to ‘tell’ the third person.
Imitation of phrases containing pronouns such as ‘my and your’, me and you, should always be practiced with a third person. This way, you can model the phrase and the child imitates in order to ‘tell’ the third person.
What Next
1. Once your child is using the beginning target phrases consistently, you will need to expand the 2-3 word phrases to include words in all grammatical categories. A variety of example phrases are given below. These should be used as part of a complete sentence while talking to the child.
eating the apple; under the tree, in the box, over the house; a purple boat, a happy girl, a rough tree; too many ______; one more ______ ; I need _______; I have ________; where’s the ________?;
2. When your child can imitate at least five different types of 2-3 word phrases move on to Lessons 205 and 206 which should be done together.
3. Continue with Lesson 204 while doing Lessons 205 and 206, until your child can imitate 3 word phrases effortlessly with you modeling the phrase just once.
eating the apple; under the tree, in the box, over the house; a purple boat, a happy girl, a rough tree; too many ______; one more ______ ; I need _______; I have ________; where’s the ________?;
2. When your child can imitate at least five different types of 2-3 word phrases move on to Lessons 205 and 206 which should be done together.
3. Continue with Lesson 204 while doing Lessons 205 and 206, until your child can imitate 3 word phrases effortlessly with you modeling the phrase just once.
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