Research has shown that children learn through play. It stimulates their language development, and they can benefit from both free (unstructured) and guided play.

Let us explore a few of these types of play and the benefits that come along with these activities.

High on the list we have Social play. It is crucial for social and personality development. There are various ways in which children can engage in social play. Any game that promotes interaction is effective. Remember playing “follow the leader” or “hide and go seek”, these games are wonderful for encouraging interaction. Children learn social rules as well, such as taking turns, sharing and cooperation. They also need varied opportunities to develop their reasoning, problem solving and communication skills. “Treasure hunt” is a great game in developing these skills.

Next we have the all time favourite Pretend play; also known as imaginative play. Pretend play encourages language development, abstract thought and creative thinking. It is strongly linked to the integration of emotional, social and cognitive skills. Provide your child with a space in your home for imaginative play. Dress ups are irresistible to young children to spark the imagination. Consider creating a props box filled with toys, objects and props to encourage your child’s fantasy world. The activities and games are endless.

Interestingly enough, Albert Einstein once said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge generally. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

Moving along, we now look at Guided play. This type of play, it is in actual fact, child – directed. While we may initiate the play sequence and are responsible for the learning goals, the child still guides their own discovery. We can enhance their exploration and learning, by commenting on their discoveries, co-playing and asking open-ended questions about their findings. Guided play offers several benefits. Their development and learning abilities are enhanced. They learn about teamwork, cooperation and following directions.

Last, but not least there is Free play. Contrary to guided play, free play is child initiated. It is spontaneous, it lets them use their imagination and move at their own pace. Free play provides opportunities for children to discover their interest and skills. Also, it develops social skills and collaborative play skills. It assists children to learn to think independently and teaches them to entertain themselves.

Finally, regardless of the type or form, play optimizes your child’s development in so many areas. It is through play that children at a very early age engage, and interact in the world around them. Play is such a cherished part of childhood, which no child should miss out on.

Till next time.

Many children stutter between the age of 2 years and 5 years. It occurs when children suddenly learn many new words, grammar and sentences. For 75% of children, the stuttering will appear and then disappear. There is a small percentage whose stuttering never disappears. They continue to stutter into adulthood. Those who develop severe stuttering will have to learn Modification techniques in order to compensate for their Stuttering behaviour.

Signs that would indicate a need for a Speech and Language Assessment
1. A family member stutters. Children who have a family member that stutter are at a greater risk to stutter according to research. The cause of the stutter is not clear. 60% of children that have a severe stutter have been identified with a family member that stutters.
2. 3-4 times more boys are likely to stutter than girls
3. Your child stutters often. It is of concern if your child stutters more than 10% of the time. The stuttering behaviour consists of sound, syllable and word repetition, prolonging sounds and when it appears as if they are speaking but no sound is forthcoming.
4. There is visible tension in the head and neck. Occasionally you see the child struggling and having difficulty getting the words out. They may have eye blinking, nose flaring, head shaking, lips quivering and jaw clenching behaviour as they struggle to get words out.
5. The stutter may have difficulty controlling their breath. At times those that stutter appear as if they are “out of breathe,” when speaking. They may be trying to say everything in one breath or they are speaking with so much effort that they feel out of breath.
6. The stuttering behaviour is prevalent for more than 12 months. A stuttering phase usually last for approximately 6-12 months. A child is more likely to become a severe stutter if it last more than 12 months.
7. Your child is fearful and avoids speaking. A child may realize that is it difficult saying certain words and avoid speaking at all.
8. You child started to stutter after the age of 3½ years. Children who starts stuttering later are more likely to become sever stutterers.

Tips for Parents
• Create a relaxed environment. You want to prevent the child from feeling rushed and that he needs to speak quickly in order to be heard.
• As a parent you should speak slowly and calmly.
• Try not to interrupt your child while he is speaking and listen to what he is saying.
• Find time during the day for a one on one session with your child. Focus on what he is saying and not how he is saying it.
• Remain supportive and encouraging. Keep in mind that it is not easy to overcome stuttering. There is no quick fix.
• Keep in contact with the teacher and Speech therapist. Ask for homework, suggestions and strategies that you can apply at home.

For the past 3 months I noticed that my 7 year old was starting to stutter. I spoke to her Pediatrician. He said that if my daughter did not see a Speech Therapist before she was an adult it would affect her self-esteem and she will have difficulty overcoming her stuttering. If she receives therapy as a child the stuttering will not affect her daily life, social relationships and her success at school.

I prayed and cried as we lived in a rural area and did not have a Speech Therapist close by. I would have to spend many hours on the road to the nearest Speech Therapist office. I searched the Internet and found Speech Therapy online by the Gillian Adonis Speech Therapy Practice. It was ideal for my daughter who is home schooled. All therapists at the practice are Professional University graduates with experience in Speech and Language Therapy. The therapist that saw my daughter was professional, friendly and warm during the initial consultation. My daughter received therapy on a weekly basis. Her stuttering has reduced as she is able to control it better.

HOW DOES IT WORK
At the initial consultation we connected via Skype. I spoke to the therapist for the first 30 minutes providing information about her history and the development of her stuttering. I found that my daughter’s stuttering became worse when she was excited. I felt so much better when she told me that she would teach my daughter techniques to help her control her stuttering.

The therapist asked my daughter interesting questions like: Do you have any tricks to get the words out? Does anyone tease you about your speech?

My daughter read her reader to the therapist and had a conversation with her while the therapist took notes. The therapist showed her to slow down her speaking like a snail and to try and stretch out her words. We practiced these exercises at home on a daily basis. My daughter stutter reduced immensely. She became more confident when speaking.

If you would like your child to receive therapy from the comfort of their own home please contact us via email gillian@gillianadonis.com or 072 225 6928.

Many Speech and Language difficulties are associated with low self-esteem and poor confidence. For online Psychologist we would like to recommend Betterhelp psychologist.