Language strategies: Extending

What is extending?

Language difficulties are nobody’s fault but changing the way you talk can really help your child.

When your child says a word or short phrase, say it back to them but add one more word. For example your child may say “dog!” and you could extend this by adding, “Yes, dog running”.

You can use this strategy:

• when playing together
• looking at a book
• out and about
• in everyday situations

This strategy will be very effective at helping your child move from single words to 2 word phrases, or from 2 word phrases to 3 word sentences, and so on!

You can add different types of words when extending your child’s language.

Action words

‘toes’…”yes washing toes”

‘bird’…”yes bird flying”

Describing words

‘bus’…”yes red bus”

‘socks’…”yes spotty socks”

Places

‘daddy gone?’…”yes daddy gone home”

‘teddy hiding chair’…”yes teddy’s hiding under the chair”

Add all sorts of new words to make a longer sentence but try to keep it simple. The new sentence needs to be just one step harder than the sentence level your child is currently using.

Why use this strategy?

• It is very effective at helping children build up the length of their phrases and sentences.
• It gives a perfect model of the next stage of sentence building. It is not too long or overwhelming and it uses their talking as a starting point, showing them how easy it is to make it longer.

By reinforcing what they are saying, you are:

• showing you are listening
• giving them praise for their talking
• showing you understand and value their comments

It is more likely to result in a little ‘conversation’ between you, as you ‘follow their lead’ of conversation topic, and add a little bit more interesting information.