Posted on August 7th, 2024.  

Transitioning back to school involves not just new academic tasks but also navigating social settings that require robust communication skills. 

Children who face expressive challenges often find themselves struggling to articulate their thoughts clearly or participating in conversations, which can lead to feelings of frustration, isolation, or even low self-esteem. 

Their hesitance to join conversations can sometimes be misunderstood as shyness or defiance, but with the right and consistent support, they can learn to engage more confidently. 

The good news is that there are various approaches educators and parents can take to make this transition smoother and more inclusive. 

Let's delve into some practical tips and strategies designed to help children with expressive communication challenges as they head back to school. 

Understanding Expressive Communication Challenges 

Expressive communication challenges encompass a variety of issues that impact a child's ability to express thoughts, wants, and needs clearly. 

Children with expressive communication challenges might struggle to form coherent sentences, have a limited vocabulary, or find it difficult to utilize grammatical rules. These issues can lead to frustration, as their ability to share experiences, provide details, or ask for help is compromised. 

Often, kids with these challenges may appear shy or reluctant to engage in conversations. This level of reservation can affect their social interactions, academic performance, and overall confidence, particularly during the important transition back to school. Understanding these struggles is the first step in providing the support they need. 

Common Types of Communication Disorders  

Common types of communication disorders seen in children include expressive language disorder, speech sound disorder (also know as articulation disorders), and pragmatic or social communication disorder, among others.  

• Expressive language disorder manifests as difficulty in putting words together to form clear and meaningful sentences. 
• Speech sound disorder, on the other hand, involves problems with making speech sounds correctly, which impacts speech clarity/pronunciation and makes it harder for others to understand. 
• Social communication disorder impacts a child’s ability to use verbal and nonverbal communication in social settings, including social interactions with both peers and adults. 

These disorders can individually or collectively affect a child's ability to participate fully in classroom discussions, interact with peers, or ask the teacher for help and clarification. 

The Role of the Speech-Language Pathologist 

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play an essential role in diagnosing and treating these conditions. Through comprehensive assessments, SLPs can identify specific areas where a child is struggling and develop tailored intervention plans to address those needs. They work closely with parents, teachers, and other professionals to ensure a consistent and supportive environment both at home and in school. 

By employing a variety of therapeutic techniques, such as modeling, interactive play, and structured exercises, SLPs help children improve their expressive skills over time. Encouragingly, with early and appropriate intervention, children can make significant progress. 

In the next section, we will explore some essential speech therapy techniques parents and teachers can use to help kids overcome expressive language challenges. 

Essential Speech Therapy Techniques to Reinforce Communication at Home 

Implementing speech therapy techniques at home plays a vital role in facilitating language development during the back-to-school season. For parents, integrating these techniques into daily routines can create multiple opportunities for practicing speech and language skills in a naturalistic context. 

Modeling 

One effective strategy is modeling, where parents consciously use clear and correct speech, expand on their child’s sentences, and introduce new vocabulary during conversations. For example, if a child says, "Dog run," the parent might respond with, "Yes, the dog is running fast." 

Additionally, interactive play with toys, masks, or puppets can encourage storytelling or role-playing. Dramatization is a great way for children to practice forming sentences and use language creatively.  

Activities like reading together, taking turns telling parts of a story, or describing pictures in a book are not only enjoyable but also beneficial for language development. 

Close Collaboration With Your Kid's Language-Speech Pathologist 

Lastly, maintaining a close collaboration with your child's speech therapist is essential in ensuring consistency and effectiveness in your child's speech and language development. Regular updates and communication between you and the therapist can help you stay informed about the specific strategies being used in therapy. 

Speech therapists can provide targeted advice on expressive language activities and exercises that can be practiced at home, reinforcing the skills being developed in therapy sessions. Additionally, setting aside a few minutes each day for these targeted exercises can be highly beneficial. You could integrate these practices into your child's homework routine or bedtime schedule. Just 5 minutes a day of focused language stimulation is better than no practice at all!

Creating a Supportive School Environment 

Visual Support 

In the classroom, teachers can create a supportive environment for children with expressive communication challenges by employing various speech therapy techniques. Visual supports, such as picture schedules, charts, and flashcards, can aid comprehension and help students organize their thoughts before speaking. 

Asking Open-Ended Questions 

Moreover, teachers can use prompting techniques that encourage students to expand on their answers. Asking open-ended questions, like "Tell me more about your weekend," instead of yes/no questions, prompts the child to construct more complex sentences. 

Peer Modeling Activities 

Teachers can also implement peer modeling activities, where students with strong language skills work alongside those with expressive language challenges to foster social interaction and language use in a real-world context. Mixed-ability group activities and games help children practice language in a social setting, enhancing their confidence and expressive abilities. 

Regular Parent-Teacher Communication 

Of course, consistency between home and school environments is crucial. Parents and teachers can establish ongoing communication to share strategies, techniques, and progress updates. Creating a communication notebook where teachers note daily achievements or specific challenges can keep parents informed and engaged. This notebook can also include activities that children can practice at home. 

For instance, if a child is working on describing events using sequential words (first, next, last), a teacher might suggest a related activity for the family to try. 

Final Thoughts 

As you navigate the school year, remember that consistency, patience, and creative strategies can make a significant impact. From home activities such as reading together and expanding everyday conversations, to classroom techniques like visual supports and peer modeling, every interaction is a stepping stone towards better communication. Speech-language pathologists are here to guide this journey, offering tailored support that addresses your child's unique needs. 

At Tryumph Speech Therapy, we understand the importance of individualized care and provide comprehensive services to help children with articulation, fluency, receptive and expressive language, pragmatic language, cognitive communication, and sensory feeding. 

Our team collaborates closely with parents and educators to create a cohesive support network. This collaboration ensures that the strategies we implement are consistently reinforced across all settings, promoting a smoother transition back to school and beyond. Your involvement is crucial to this process; together, we can help your child overcome their expressive challenges. 

If you have any concerns about your child's communication skills or if you're seeking tailored strategies to support their development, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Schedule a Free Discovery Call 

Alternatively, contact us directly at (512) 898-9858. You can also email us at [email protected]. Together, we can transform "try" into TRYUMPH, ensuring your child's expressive language success.