Now that you know what Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) is, how do you best support your child who learns this way? Here are a few tips:
Listen and Acknowledge ALL Their Communication
Sometimes your child might say something that seems out of context. Instead of ignoring it, correcting it or questioning your child about it, try to see it as a meaningful and valid form of communication. You can show your child that you are listening and acknowledging their communication by repeating it or nodding your head.
Do Some “Detective Work”
After you’ve acknowledged what they said, try to figure out where it came from or what it might mean.
For example, if your child says “Put on your snow pants” when you are trying to feed them, think of when they might have heard that and what they felt at that moment. In this example, when this child was told to put on their snow pants they were very upset and did not want to. They then used this phrase during meal time to tell their parent they did not want to have the food.
Model Useful Phrases
In daily routines and games, you might be saying only 1 or 2 words at a time (e.g., play, car go, uh oh, good) or very specific phrases (e.g., That car is so spiky, Yuck that apple isn’t good). Instead, try saying useful general phrases like “Let’s play!, It’s all done, That’s wrong, I like it”, with the same intonation and wording each time. These are phrases your child can hear over and over again and that they can use in a variety of situations. In the above example, after you have acknowledged and repeated your child saying “Put on your snow pants” you can model the phrase “I don’t want that!”. It’s okay if your child doesn’t repeat it right away, but they are hearing your example and may use that phrase (gestalt) in the future.
Don’t forget to model phrases (gestalts) for a variety of needs and situations. Here are a few more examples:
- I’m hurt
- Let’s stop
- Get out of here
- Wanna do more
- I feel sick
- Don’t touch me
If you have concerns about your child’s language development, contact us today for more information or to book an appointment!