Ways to Encourage Vocal Play

EYE CONTACT

Eye contact is a foundational skill that supports vocal play. Enhancing eye contact promotes nonverbal interaction and improves attention.

GIVE THEM UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

• Phones away, TV & music off.

• Provide an environment that is conducive to focus. This will help reduce distraction and increase engagement!

POSITIONING WITH A PURPOSE

• Hold your child in front of you

• Lay them on a boppy

• Be directly above or in line with their face for most effective facial positioning.

• The close proximity helps maintain their attention and support eye contact

TECHNIQUES

• Be a COPY CAT, imitate the sound they make

• Produce a sound and WAIT for them to try and imitate, if they don’t model the sound again.

• ADD a sound to their sound (ooo->oo-ahh or m-> mah

POSITIVE PRAISE FOR TRYING

• Provide lots of clapping, high fives, or affection for any vocalizations

• It may not be perfect at first, but an attempt to imitate is a START

SOUND PROGRESSION

• Vowel sounds -ahh, oo, ee, uh

• Lip sounds- lip smacks, blowing of raspberries

• Constant sounds - near the front of the mouth -mmm, “buh”, “puh”,

• Simple syllables- first words mama, dada, baba

• Varying the babbles- mama---->mamadada baba-> mamababa