The Importance of WAITING

One important strategy we use in speech therapy is waiting—giving your child time to process what’s being said and to respond. Here’s why waiting is so important and how you can incorporate this technique at home.

1. Processing Time

Children with communication challenges often need extra time to process spoken language. Waiting helps them:

- Understand Instructions: They need a moment to grasp what’s being asked or said.

- Formulate Responses:With additional time, children can better organise their thoughts and decide how to respond.

2. Encouraging Independence

Waiting helps children become more independent in their communication:

- Initiate Communication: It encourages them to start conversations or responses on their own.

- Problem-Solve: They learn to figure out how to respond, fostering critical thinking and decision-making skills.

3. Building Confidence

Children gain confidence when they are not rushed:

- Success Experiences: With ample time, children are more likely to succeed in their attempts to communicate, which boosts their confidence.

- Reduced Anxiety: Less pressure to respond quickly can lower anxiety, making interactions more comfortable.

4. Enhancing Comprehension

Giving time for comprehension ensures your child fully understands the message:

- Better Learning Outcomes: Understanding the full context leads to better learning and retention.

- Clarification Needs: It allows children to seek clarification if they don’t understand something, promoting deeper understanding.

Practical Tips for Parents

• Pause after speaking: after giving instructions or asking questions, pause to allow processing time.
  

• Using visual aids like pictures and gestures can reinforce verbal messages and provide additional time for understanding.

• Check for Understanding: ask your child to repeat or summarise what you said to ensure comprehension.

• Provide choices: offering choices can simplify decision-making and encourage responses.

Examples of Waiting in Practice

• During Play: If your child is playing with blocks and you ask, "Can you give me the red block?", wait patiently for them to process the request and respond.

• In Daily Routines:While working on a task together, if you ask, "What should we do next?", give your child time to think and respond.
  

• Conversational Turns: In a conversation, after you say something, wait for your child to take their turn to respond, even if it takes a little longer.

By incorporating waiting into your interactions with your child, you support their communication development effectively. Remember, giving them time to understand and listen is a powerful tool in fostering their growth and confidence.