Car Games for Late Talkers…Great Ways to Maximize Your Commute with Your Late Talker
Moms of late talkers frequently email me some version of this question…
“We spend lots of time in the car, especially waiting for my older children to be released from school and other activities. Do you have any ideas I can use during that time with my toddler who is not talking?”
Yes I do! Here’s my list of…
Car Games for Late Talkers
My BEST strategies for targeting language in the car with late talking toddlers are EASY. Start with this one…
1. Listen, listen, listen!!
Some late talkers are more vocal in the car than anywhere else. Maybe it’s the movement of the vehicle, maybe it’s the chaos of the older kids that provoke a toddler’s attempts to talk, or maybe it’s the one time of the day that a child who is always on the go is still enough for you to notice that he is beginning to try to talk!
No matter what the reason, listen!
What’s he trying to say?
If it’s a word you can make out, repeat it! Recognize and reinforce those early attempts. For example, if he says, “bu” when you’re parked beside the bus, say, “BUS! There’s the bus! You like that song about the bus. Wanna sing about the bus?” The launch into your best version of “Wheels on the Bus.”
If you can’t make out what he’s trying to say, but you think you know his intent, go with it! Give him the words he needs. For instance, if he sees his brother coming and starts to jabber, say “Hi! There’s (brother’s name). Here he comes! Hi (name)! Hi!!!”
If you don’t have a clue what he’s trying to say, that’s alright too. Many times late talkers are doing what other toddlers did at younger ages… practicing! They’re not really saying any true words yet, but they’re getting ready by vocalizing and practicing sounds and sound combinations. When this happens, say whatever it is that you think she might want to say, or use the next idea which can be super successful…
2. Imitate and Wait!
This strategy can be very powerful for toddlers who are usually quiet.
Whenever she makes a sound, copy her. Try to match her in every way you can – the same sound, same volume, and same intonation – as closely as possible.
Imitate her and then…
Wait.
And wait.
And then wait some more.
Experts say that you should allow at least 10 seconds before offering a new sound with a late talker. Here’s why… late talkers often need more time to hear a sound, plan to say it, and then finally, to say it. Think about it this way… if imitating sounds were easy for them, they would already be talking. For whatever reason, it’s not. So we have to give them extra time. If we move ahead too soon, we cut them off before they’re ready.
Ten seconds can feel like an eternity for chatty-patty moms — and especially for super chatty SLPs! I, Laura Mize, a speech-language pathologist with almost 25 years experience, also have a problem waiting.
Sometimes I have to press my lips together as a reminder to keep my mouth shut while I wait. When it’s really hard, I count silently… 1 Mississippi…2 Mississippi…3 Mississippi… (an ode to my childhood home…)
No matter how hard it is, waiting for her next sound is exactly what you need to do to entice a late talker to make another sound.
Let me add that waiting here is much different from waiting when a toddler has said nothing. (More about that difference in another post…)
If, after about 10 full seconds, she doesn’t try again, then repeat the sound she made or another one she can do and then…(you guessed it) wait some more.
Don’t just wait. Wait expectantly. Lean forward, widen your eyes, raise your eyebrows, and maybe even let out a little gasp. Act like you know your child is going to say something. Granted, this is not as effective when a toddler can’t see you, but if you make this a habit when you are face-to-face, it will work, even when a child can’t see your face!)
You will be surprised at how these simple changes can make a big difference. It may take a little while to get going, but imitating and then expectantly waiting, will help many late talkers begin these fun little vocal duos with you.
3. Begin a Turn Taking Game of Your Own
A similar strategy is initiating a turn taking exchange, but not with words unless the child is already talking pretty well. Here, you’ll begin the routine with something you know the child can say. The cool part is, it doesn’t have to be a word.
Can your child fake cough? Try that! Here’s how…
Cough.
Briefly check to see if your child is listening and watching, then cough again.
Wait…
Cough again. Maybe this time, clear your throat too. Or cough bigger.
Try it several times before moving on to a new sound.
BUT… if he imitates the cough, keep it going! See how many rounds you can get in before one of you drops out.
Then try a new sound… like an animal noise she can already do. Or a whine. Or a loud grunt. Fake cry. Pant. Pretend to sneeze. Click your tongue. Make kissy noises. Or even let out a little scream.
The key here is to get a toddler to be NOISY and TAKE TURNS.
Both of those foundational skills are extremely important for late talkers, and now you’ve given yourself a new way and a new time to work on them!
I’ve got some other car games for late talkers who are just beyond this phase. Here’s part 2:
Laura
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Can’t wait until then for ideas? My first DVD Teach Me To Talk will teach you how to get started!
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First, I would like to thank you for all you do for us moms who are lacking support in the autism community, and thank you for providing tons of information and resources to help our bright children. I myself benefited so much from watching your videos and reading your daily emails. I cannot stress enough how much all this information helped my toddler. Of course, getting an autism diagnosis for your child is extremely scary (she was diagnosed at 2 years old) and I was depressed and did not know what autism was, how it affected children, and how to teach children struggling with this condition. However, your videos helped me to find light in my child and now I am your biggest fan! I rewatch your videos over and over again to make sure I didn't miss anything that can help my daughter. I even purchase two books- Autism workbook and Teach me to Play. My toddler was completely non-verbal, she didn't know how to imitate, no eye contact, no pointing.. you name it she didn't have any skills and I didn't know how to teach her! And that is until I discover ed You- my toddlers (Fairy: smiling_face_with_3_hearts:)!
Now she is little sweet 2.5 years old and she says "mama" (I cried when she said that magic word), she waves bye bye or hi, she points, she gives "high 5", her joint attention is great and overall she is doing so much better! And that's all because I have been doing everything you described in your books and videos! I. My mind I always play "repetition, repetition and repetition", teaching her everything through play that she so much enjoys!!! I can write forever explaining how much I taught her through yr videos and books! And the most amazing thing is that her speech therapist is a big fan of yours as well so it worked out perfectly since we understand each other and work based on your teachings! The therapist even owns the same books I own ...I am so grateful that my toddler has such an amazing therapist; especially the one that understands autism and is ready for a real challenge! God bless you for all you do and I cannot wait for my toddler blossom.. you gave me hope and lit the light inside me. And I'm determined to work with my girl :)"
"Dear Laura Mize and Team,
Thank you so much for all your hard work and publishing books! Our 17-month-old toddler suddenly exploded into speaking and imitating everybody's gestures and sounds, just a week or two after we 'completed' all activities that are listed under 11 pre-linguistic skills! Your method really works!"
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I absolutely LOVE all of your workbooks, especially your Autism Workbook. Starting with Social Games has been a game changer for many of my littles with ASD and their families. It's been the best way for them to finally connect and sustain shared attention and engagement, leading to longer social interactions, through play!"
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Thank you so much for the videos you have posted on your youtube channel. They are so direct, informative, and helpful. Thank you for being a resource for me to become a better therapist."
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I love your work! I am a professor of early childhood special education and a speech language pathologist! I have worked to help children learn to communicate and I know how valuable the information you share is for both early interventionists and pediatric speech language pathologists!
Thank you for systematically organizing and explaining essential steps for young children to learn and develop. You are having a great impact on our profession, the ECE profession and families!"
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If this is Laura herself reading this email let me take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have put forth for us professionals. I own every manual (except the autism manual) and have watched every course on DVD. I have listened to countless podcasts. All of what I’ve come to be as an Early Intervention speech therapist was absolutely to your credit. With your resources at my side I have never needed to scramble for answers and strategies and above all the clear language I use when communicating with parents. My fun, animated affect and key phrases I use have been learned through watching your example. So….thank you! May you be blessed."
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Lauren
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What an inspiration!
Thank you for helping me be a better Developmental Therapist. I often listen to your podcasts which help me help families.
Your enthusiasm, professionalism and
the sheer volume of information is so great.
You are part of my team.
I just wanted you to know I appreciate you."
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Thank you for your generosity in sharing so much knowledge in such a clear and enthusiastic way.
As a retired audiologist with a fabulous and language delayed grandson, I used your podcasts and outstanding publication, The Autism Workbook, to inspire and guide me over the past year.
It works!! He went from barely verbal, no gestures, didn't respond to his name etc etc to a verbal, social, curious, ready to imitate anything, fill in the blanks on familiar "set" speech, generate his own totally appropriate and mostly understandable sentences...not just short phrases anymore... full little paragraphs...about imaginary things, what he did during the day, what he wants. True communication!
You make a powerful difference in this world! ❤"
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"I purchased the book on autism and have watched the #400s series podcasts. Laura Mize has been more effective in teaching autistic tendencies, than many professors, shadowing professions, and the 100s of books, articles and classes or videos, or live workshop speakers, have been at teaching effective practices for a child with ASD. Some of the many lessons she has taught, which I will now use, to be a more effective Interventionist, include but are not limited to: red flags, typical behaviors, self-stimulating behaviors, not taking away toys, rather showing child to play with toy appropriately. She gives examples of child's actions, "inappropriate," explains the reason for: why the child is engaging in these behaviors and how they can be replaced with more appropriate, effective fuctional and age-appropriate skills."
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I’m a parent who bought the autism workbook and it’s the only clear resource I found to make a change in my son. I’m really thankful to Ms. Laura for helping out people like us all over the world."
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Girl…my son is 3 years old, and he NEVER asks for something using words. We were playing “Get Your Belly” (from Teach Me to Play WITH You), and after several times, he laughed and screamed "BEWIEEE!!!" It was a hoot. And I can't believe he said it! I have played with him like this before, but this time I took your advice and acted CRAZY!! I will act like a total lunatic if it will get him to talk to me! Now I can give him "the look" from across the room, and he will say it. That manual is so amazingly practical, and it is a GODSEND right now! Thank you SO MUCH!”
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Thank you so much, endlessly."
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SS
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"I was very frustrated with how speech therapy was going for my child. I would take him and drop him off and not hear much of anything from his therapist and teachers other than, "He had a good (or a bad!) day." Your materials were invaluable for us because I learned how to work with him on his speech. I learned how to teach him to talk and play. I learned how to pay attention to his cues and work with him to teach him to communicate. Without it, I have no doubt he still wouldn’t talk."
BRITNEY
"Hi! I just wanted to say (from an SLT perspective) how incredibly useful I am finding absolutely all of your articles, blogs and resources - I only discovered your site last month and have just received all your books which I feel I am learning more than on my entire university training course!! But also the way in which you give specific, realistic, fun, encouraging ideas for working with parents is really just fantastic, I only wish I have your site sooner! Thanks so much from the UK! Kind regards."
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ALLISON
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ANDREA
Laura thank you so much. Btw, you have transformed my therapy- I have become such a competent and strong therapist after watching probably like 350 of your videos and podcasts over the past few years. And I am a seasoned therapist with almost 25 years experience. (Yes prob 350 episodes ha!) But there was still a lot I learned from you. I have such a thorough understanding of birth to 3 development and how to properly incorporate appropriate therapeutic goals, techniques and strategies now, thanks to you. Kelly
Hi Laura,I want to thank you so much for the resources you provide, my daughter has delayed speech and though she qualifies for CDS. Honestly the most progress she has made in her speech/language development has been after I implemented your 5 top strategies for delayed talkers! She is now almost 2.5 and her vocabulary is well over 75 (I haven’t counted recently, could be over 100) words when at 2 she barely had four words. Honestly the last few months have been a transformation for her.
Ann
