Language Learning Through Play
—— Tips for Facilitating  Language Skills (1)

Did you know that speech therapy sessions often seem like "just playing" but can effectively facilitate language learning? A play-based speech-language therapy session will implement engaging activities that provide abundant personalized language stimulation. Let's start by discussing one method within Hybrid Approaches: Focused Stimulation. 

Introduction to Focused Stimulation

Focused Stimulation is a technique where the speech-language therapist carefully arranges interaction contexts, allowing the child to naturally practice new target words in meaningful situations. The therapist provides numerous models of the target words during natural interactions, usually through play, for the child to learn and mimic.

In this method, the child is not forced to produce the target words but is instead tempted to try. If the child is not yet imitating the target, the therapist continues to provide more examples until the child feels ready to attempt. Focused Stimulation is highly effective in enhancing comprehension and use of various language skills for both monolingual and bilingual children (Weismer & Robertson, 2006; Paul, Norbury, & Gosse, 2018).

Context and Goals

For example, if our goal is to teach the child the use of the present progressive from "-ing", the therapist can design a fun block-building activity that repeatedly uses sentences containing "ing," allowing the child to learn while playing.

While playing with blocks, the following may be modelled: "What are you doing?" "Wow, you are building a castle!" "I am looking for the red block." "Mario is looking for the tunnel." Through this approach, the child hears and mimics the use of the targeted verb form during play, gradually mastering the use of this new grammar skill.

References

Paul, R., Norbury, C. F., & Gosse, C. (2018). Language disorders from infancy through adolescence: Listening, speaking, reading, writing, and communicating. Elsevier Health Sciences.


Weismer, S. E., & Robertson, S. (2006). Focused stimulation approach to language intervention. In R. McCauley & M. Fey (Eds.), Treatment of language disorders in children (pp. 175-202). Brookes.