
What can be done to improve receptive language?
- Eye-contact: Obtain the child’s eye contact before giving them an instruction.
- Minimal instructions: Refrain from giving too many instructions at once.
- Simplify the language you use with the child so it is at a level that they can understand (i.e. usually just above their expressive language level or how much they are saying).
- Chunk verbal instructions into parts. ...
- Make and maintain eye-contact when giving instructions.
- Break down instructions into simple steps.
- Provide one step at a time, waiting for the child to complete each step before you give the next instruction (e.g. get your shoes… ...
- Avoid using complex language; keep instructions simple!
How can I improve my child's receptive language skills?
7 Activities to Improve Receptive Language: Read Books: Reading with your child provides an opportunity to address many skills. To target receptive language, encourage your child to find and point to pictures on the pages. Draw their attention to pictures by labeling and pointing to them in order to expand vocabulary.
What is receptive language?
Receptive language is the ability to understand words and language. It involves gaining information and meaning from routine (e.g. we have finished our breakfast so next it is time to get dressed), visual information within the environment (e.g. mum holding her keys means that we are going to get the car, a green light means go), ...
How do I know if my child has receptive language problems?
If your child has a problem with receptive language, they could have some or all of these symptoms: 1 Trouble understanding what people say to them 2 Difficulty following spoken directions 3 A hard time organizing their thoughts, either spoken or written More ...
What is a barrier in receptive language therapy?
Barrier activities are receptive language therapy activities where a barrier such as a manila folder is placed between the therapist and student. Each person has the same materials such as 5 blocks or the same color crayons. The listener follows directions to build, draw, or arrange objects.

How can you support receptive language in the classroom?
Definition. Visual supports are an effective strategy that includes: concrete items, pictures, symbols or printed words and/or a combination of these. These supports may assist children in their ability to maintain attention, understand spoken language, and sequence and organize their environment (Hodgdon, 1995).
How do you practice receptive language?
Below are activities that target receptive language skills.WH Questions. This is one of my favorite pages! ... Following Directions Games. Foster listening skills through play. ... Following Directions Worksheets. Worksheets to target each concept area.Working Memory. ... Games with Household Objects. ... Membership.
How do children develop receptive language?
Even new babies are aware of the sounds in their environment. They listen to the speech of those close to them, and startle or cry if there is an unexpected noise. Loud noises wake them, and they become still in response to new sounds. Babies learn to turn to you when you speak, and smile when they hear your voice.
How do you develop receptive skills?
strategies: identify the topic; predict and guess; • read for general understanding; • read for specific information; • read for details; • interpret or make inferences. Activating the students' prior knowledge of the topic.
How can we improve receptive and expressive language?
For both receptive and expressive language, allow your child to play frequently. ... To help your child develop expressive language, when you speak to them, speak directly to their face, so they can watch you mouthing the words.Whenever you can, try to expand your child's vocabulary with simple phrases.More items...•
What are examples of receptive language?
What are Receptive Language Skills?Following simple to multistep directions (ex., “Give Daddy the ball,” “Pick up your toy and put it on the table,” “Stand up, push in your chair, and go to the door.”)Answering comprehension questions (who/what/where/why) based on a picture or story.
How can I help my child with receptive language delay?
How you can help with receptive language disorderRead picture books together and label the items you see. ... Play games with simple, predictable directions, like Simon Says.Play together, with toys your child chooses. ... Practice looking at the speaker and resisting interrupting.More items...
How do you help a child with receptive expressive language disorder?
The best option for children with a mixed receptive-expressive language disorder is to begin treating it as soon as possible. This treatment will include educating all adults in frequent contact with the child about how to handle their disorder and how to encourage positive change.
What is a receptive language skill?
Receptive language refers to how your child understands language. Expressive language refers to how your child uses words to express himself/herself. Young children with language difficulties may have: Poor eye contact. Difficulty interacting with other children.
What are the 3 receptive skills?
Reading and listening involve receiving information and so they are called the receptive skills. Speaking and writing are known as the productive skills because they involve producing words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs.
Why is receptive skills important?
Why do we need receptive skills? As mentioned above, receptive skills are necessary for the many sources of information that are made with a direct purpose, such as manuals and research articles. Without the ability to read, one would not know how to use the information that is present in these materials.
How do you assess receptive skills?
In order to assess learners' receptive skills, you will need to develop assessment tasks that allow learners to demonstrate real-world listening and reading skills, skills that will be useful in interactions outside of the classroom.
What is a receptive language skill?
Receptive language refers to how your child understands language. Expressive language refers to how your child uses words to express himself/herself. Young children with language difficulties may have: Poor eye contact. Difficulty interacting with other children.
How can I help my child with receptive language delay?
How you can help with receptive language disorderRead picture books together and label the items you see. ... Play games with simple, predictable directions, like Simon Says.Play together, with toys your child chooses. ... Practice looking at the speaker and resisting interrupting.More items...
How do I teach my toddler receptive language?
Face-to-face: Get face to face with the child when talking. Visuals such as signs or pictures can be used to facilitate and support a child's understanding. Books: Look at books which interest the child and talk about the pictures and the story.
Does receptive language improve in autism?
The findings indicated that verbal IQ and receptive language scores had improved significantly more in the Autism group than in the Language group over time. Moreover, although the Language group were less severely impaired in their social use of language, many showed a number of abnormal features in this domain.
What Is Receptive Language (Understanding Words and Language)?
Receptive language is the ability to understand words and language. It involves gaining information and meaning from routine (e.g. we have finished...
Why Is Receptive Language (Understanding Words and Language) Important?
Receptive language is important in order to communicate successfully. Children who have understanding difficulties may find it challenging to follo...
What Are The Building Blocks Necessary to Develop Receptive Language?
1. Attention and concentration: Sustained effort, doing activities without distraction and being able to hold that effort long enough to get the ta...
How Can You Tell If My Child Has Problems With Receptive Language?
If a child has difficulties with receptive language they might: 1. Have difficulty attending and listening to language. 2. Not pay attention within...
What Other Problems Can Occur When A Child Has Receptive Language Difficulties?
When a child has receptive language difficulties, they might also have difficulties with: 1. Attention and concentration: Sustained effort, doing a...
What Can Be Done to Improve Receptive Language?
1. Eye-contact: Obtain the child’s eye contact before giving them an instruction. 2. Minimal instructions: Refrain from giving too many instruction...
What Activities Can Help Improve Receptive Language?
1. Name items together when completing tasks, such as looking at a book, in the car, looking outside, while playing or when shopping. 2. Day to day...
Why Should I Seek Therapy If I Notice Difficulties With Receptive Language in My Child?
Therapeutic intervention to help a child with receptive language difficulties is important to: 1. Strengthen and develop the child’s ability to: 1....
If Left Untreated What Can Difficulties With Receptive Language Lead to?
When children have difficulties with receptive language, they might also have difficulties with: 1. Forming friendships and engaging in positive so...
What Type of Therapy Is Recommended For Receptive Language Difficulties?
If your child has difficulties with understanding words and language, it is recommended they consult a Speech Therapist.If there are multiple areas...
How to help a child with receptive language?
There are many simple things you can do day-to-day to support your child’s receptive language skills, particularly if they’re having difficulties. Make and maintain eye-contact when giving instructions. Break down instructions into simple steps.
Why is it important to have strong receptive language skills?
So, you can imagine how important it is that children have strong receptive language skills, as this allows them to complete class work, participate in group activities, and understand and follow rules in the classroom.
What are Receptive Language skills?
Receptive language skills allow children to gain information, decipher that information correctly and effectively communicate with others.
What is expressive language?
Expressive language is the ability to request objects, make choices, ask and answer questions and describe events, using verbal and non-verbal language, writing and vocalisations.
How does receptive language affect children?
Receptive language difficulties can affect a child’s ability to participate fulling in their learning, can lead to additional attention and listening difficulties, behavioural issues, delays with reading and writing, and challenges with social skills.
How to teach a child to do multi step?
Practice developing your child’s ability to complete more complex, multi-step instructions by gradually increasing the number of steps you give (e.g. if they are able to follow a two-step instruction correctly, try giving them a three-step instruction) or increasing the complexity of language you use (eg. adding in concepts such as before/after, colours and numbers).
How to teach a child to have a sense of time?
Finally, if you want to teach your child a sense of time and schedules, develop a picture or word schedule of his day including choices throughout. As each activity is completed have him cross it off or pull off the picture to demonstrate completion. Use language, as well as, visuals simultaneously.
What is visual support?
Definition. Visual supports are an effective strategy that includes: concrete items, pictures, symbols or printed words and/or a combination of these. These supports may assist children in their ability to maintain attention, understand spoken language, and sequence and organize their environment (Hodgdon, 1995).
What is the purpose of single words?
Using single words or simple phrases instead of complex sentences, supporting your language with pictures or objects when appropriate, and/or offering the child choices to control certain situations may alleviate some communication challenges. Definition.
Can a child with receptive language not understand?
Children with receptive language challenges may often hear and process certain words in sentences and not others. Consequently, they may respond accordingly, not understanding an entire directive or comment. This can be frustrating for both child and caretaker.
What are the difficulties of receptive language?
Here are some of the difficulties they can have with understanding and comprehending spoken (verbal) language: Auditory Attention.
What are the difficulties of understanding and comprehending spoken language?
Here are some of the difficulties they can have with understanding and comprehending spoken (verbal) language: Auditory Attention. Auditory Synthesis. Auditory Discrimination. Auditory attention is the ability to pay (and maintain) attention to information that is presented auditorily, as well as shift ing and re-establi shing their attention ...
Why is it important to present visuals in combination with auditory information?
It is important to present visuals in combination with using auditory information to maximize the ability of each person to understand what was said. This also helps the person to learn what each visual means, as they hear the verbal language that goes along with each visual. It is imperative that visuals are not faded as verbal skills improve, however it is a good idea to consider changing their form over time to match the current skill level of each person they are being used with (for example: from pictures to text).
1. WH Questions
Most SLPs, even those just coming out of grad school, effectively use WH questions and following directions to build receptive language skills. We are all pretty good at this. However, some speech pathologists are great at this.
2. Vocabulary Retention
Vocabulary is something that teachers are very, very worried about. General education students are exposed to tons of new vocabulary every week. Thinking in terms of construction, we as speech language pathologists build the structure of a language. We are the framers building a house.
3. Barrier Receptive Language Activities
Barrier activities are a way for us to not spend any money, dig through the recycling bin and have a ton of fun with kids. It also gives us direct access to testing and the ways in which children are working together or alone to produce an activity.
4. Following Directions Activities
SLPs are pretty darn good at implementing following directions activities. Here I want to deep dive a little bit further into what’s actually going on when a child’s developing these receptive language abilities.
5. Silent Therapy
Silent therapy is a receptive activity that is 180 degrees out from barrier activities. The speech session is held with ZERO talking, including you. Students watch you and follow your movements to complete a task. They are able to watch their buddies and even lean over to help them out.
6. Game Making
Lastly, say it with me: “Speech pathologists, just _________ – play games.” You’ve heard that right? Well, it’s time for us to own it.
Why is Receptive Language Important?
Those children who have problems with receptive language may find it challenging to follow a set of instructions or may not respond appropriately to questions , whether at home or school.
What is Receptive Language?
Developing receptive language skills involves the ability to understand language and spoken words.
How do Children Develop Language?
Children develop language in a variety of ways, and it develops over time.
What Causes a Language Delay?
There could be many factors or it could be a symptom of a more significant developmental disorder.
How Can Therapy Help?
Therapy can help your child to develop their language ability further. Therapists know how to help when it comes to language delays. They can strengthen your child’s language so they can communicate effectively with you and their peers [source].
How to teach expressive language to children?
For both receptive and expressive language, allow your child to play frequently. To help your child develop expressive language, when you speak to them, speak directly to their face, so they can watch you mouthing the words. Whenever you can, try to expand your child’s vocabulary with simple phrases. When a child states something that isn’t ...
How to help a child develop a receptive vocabulary?
You can do certain things in your home to help your child with their receptive and expressive vocabulary development. Here are a few receptive and expressive language activities and ideas: To improve their receptive language, make sure to make eye contact with your child when speaking to them. When giving instructions, don’t give them all ...
