Tip #3: Over-Hear / Over-See
- Research shows that the stronger your child’s bond with you, and the richer and fuller her language ability, the better her chances for successful further learning.
- Children who do not hear well are at a disadvantage in not having easy access to the conversations, discussions, and even arguments that children with normal hearing can easily over-hear taking place in their homes.
- These overheard conversations provide many learning opportunities. Children learn vocabulary, grammar, and successful ways of negotiating through listening to the conversations of their families.
- Any time you are in earshot (or “eye-shot” if your child signs) of your child, you should be engaging in conversation that she can overhear (or oversee).
- P.S. Your child should wear her amplification equipment whenever she’s awake and isn’t in the water! This way she won’t miss any important new words or phrases that she might pick up from the conversations going on around her.
Tip #3: The Bottom Line:
Make sure to be talking (with voice, sign, or both) any time you are with your child, or any time your child is near enough to hear or see you.