Receptive language is your ability to understand words and language.
Children with receptive language difficulties can find it hard to:
- learn new words
- follow instructions
- understand questions
- listen to and follow stories
- process and remember spoken information
Help your child to understand
There are things you can do to help improve your child’s receptive language skills.
Do
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get your child's full attention before you give them an instruction or information
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speak in simple language
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break information and instructions down into 1 step at a time
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use visuals to support what you say - for example, gestures, objects, pictures or writing
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give your child time to process and respond to what you say
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check your child’s understanding of what you said and repeat or rephrase it, if necessary.
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encourage your child to ask you to repeat or clarify what you said, if necessary
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tell your child what to say if they need clarification - for example, “could you say that again” and “what do you mean”
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encourage your child to repeat information back to themselves to help them remember it
Useful resources
Helping my child to talk: Story-time magic (video)
Learning to talk (video series)
Get support
Ask a speech and language therapist (SLT) for advice on supporting your child’s receptive language skills.
Content adapted from information provided by Enable ireland.