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Think about the milestones in your child’s life. There’s a pretty good chance that there’s one that springs to mind more than any other: their first word. Of all of the different firsts in a child’s life, the first word by far the most significant for many parents. This is because it begins a lifelong journey of communication for your child that you will support them in for the next several years. After the first word, many parents become fixated on helping their child communicate as effectively as possible. Which can make it incredibly difficult for many parents if they find that their child is unable or unwilling to communicate for any reason. If can bring about a lot of fears about their child’s development as well as calling their own abilities as a parent into question. However, it’s important to understand that all children develop differently and that there’s likely nothing to worry about. But if you’re truly worried about your child’s communication skills, here are a few things that you should think about when supporting them.
Other languages
Even if your child can speak fluently in their native language, learning a new one can be difficult. It’s often much easier for young children to learn languages but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t pose challenges for them. If you have moved to an English speaking country and your child has no experience with the language, then t can be a very frightening and discouraging experience for them. You should check out this guide for advice on how you can support your child’s learning and help them break through the language barrier so that they can get back to living their life happily and communicating with people effectively.
Engage their interests
Of course, sometimes the issue is not that your child can’t communicate, but rather that they don’t. Perhaps they are incredibly shy or simply don’t like to speak to people. This can be incredibly worrying for a lot of parents because it brings up a lot of fears about how well their child will succeed in the future. The best way to get these kinds of kids to communicate more is to engage with their interests in some way. If you can find something that they really enjoy or are excited about, then you’re going to be much more likely to get them to talk to you openly. Once they are used to talking about things passionately and openly, they’re probably going to end up feeling more confident when it comes to communication in general.
Be patient
Dealing with a child who is unable to communicate can be incredibly frustrating. However, it’s important to remember that they are probably just as frustrated as you are, if not more. Try to be as patient as possible with them. If you’re getting angry or annoyed with them, then that’s just going to make them even less likely to want to communicate. Have patience and be willing to working with them at their own pace, never pushing them beyond what they’re comfortable with.