Speech Therapy Tips for 4 year olds

We are going to explore speech therapy tips for 4 old, at the age of four, many children are already skilled communicators, speaking fluently in complex and lengthy sentences. However, if you are concerned that your child needs help with their language skills, or you want to give them a head start before they begin school, here are some tips to help them develop strong communication abilities.

By the age of four, a child should be able to:

• Understand and use a diverse range of vocabulary.
• Construct sentences using connecting words like “and,” “then,” “so,” “but,” and “because.”
• Use correct grammar for the most part.
• Engage in conversation and communicate with others.
• Play cooperatively in groups with other children.
• Describe past events or experiences.
• Retell a familiar story from a book.
• Explain how to perform a familiar task with several steps.
• Follow instructions that involve multiple steps.
• Ask and answer questions that begin with “who,” “why,” and “how.”
• Pronounce most words correctly.

Understanding of Language

To help your four-year-old child develop their understanding of language, try speaking to them using slightly more advanced vocabulary than they typically use. Introduce new words and concepts during conversations, and repeat them multiple times to help them learn and remember. Use new words in different contexts so that your child can develop a deeper understanding of their meaning.

Use of Language

To improve your child’s use of language, repeat their sentences back to them occasionally, correcting any mistakes they might make. For example, if your child says “I’ve got cold foots,” you might say “Cold feet! Oh no, let’s get some warm socks.” This can help your child gradually learn proper grammar and pronunciation. Emphasize your changes gently, while also sounding interested and positive. Additionally, add extra words and ideas to what your child is saying to help expand their vocabulary. For example, if your child says “I found a sock,” you might respond with “You found a long, striped sock. Let’s find another one to match! Let’s find another long, striped sock.” Above all, make talking with your child a positive and enjoyable experience for both of you by listening attentively to what they have to say.

How can I help my 4 year old child with speech?

To support your child’s language development, here are some tips:

1. Play word games such as: “I went to the shop and I bought …….” Each person must repeat what has
   previously been bought before adding their own to the list. If your child finds it difficult to remember
   what is said cut pictures from junk mail to make cards and turn over the cards in turn and name them as
   you play. Try variations such as I went to the zoo, jungle, park, beach etc.
   Go for a walk and talk about the things you see. Collect things to bring home and keep such as:
   feathers, stones, leaves. Look at them closely maybe with a magnifying glass and talk about the colour,
   shape, texture, size and weight of each thing.
2. Play hide and seek with toy animals or dolls. Once they are found talk about who was found where i.e.:
   “The horse was under the big, blue chair”. Use lots of describing and position words.
   Make some sequence cards. Use a digital camera to take a series of photos of your child doing familiar
   activities such as brushing their teeth or making toast. Print them out, cut them up and see if your child
   can put them in order and tell you what they are doing. Once familiar activities are easy for your child
   use more complex activities and take more pictures, such as craft and cooking activities.
3. Make your own books. Take your camera along on an outing and take a series of photos through the day. When you come home print them out and slip into a mini photo album. With your child write a sentence or two for each picture. Use a story beginning structure of “when, who and where” e.g. One day Max went to the beach” and an ending structure with a feeling word or two “at night-time Max went home feeling happy and tired”. Write your story in past tense and use some feeling words, describing words and direct speech “Max said “Wow”. These will help your child understand how stories are structured, an important pre-literacy skill.