Gestalt language processing is natural language development. Here are helpful ways you can support your Gestalt Language Processor at home:
Acknowledge all communication
Even if you don’t know what they’re saying, acknowledge their communication with a smile, a nod, or by repeating what they say out loud to them.
Don’t try to eliminate their gestalts
Gestalts are meaningful and how your child is communicating. Support your child’s language development through positive interactions to build trust and confidence.
Reduce questions
Before your child can answer your questions, they need the language to respond first! Replace questions with modeling and commenting instead.
Don’t take it literally
Most scripts aren’t literal. They mean something else, so read between the lines to identify a deeper meaning. Gestalts are typically tied to emotions as much as they are to intonation.
Figure out their meanings
Try to determine what their gestalts mean. Does it match something from a video, song, or person they heard? Do you hear them say it at a specific time of day when they feel hungry or happy or during an activity when they want an item or toy? Keep trying and they’ll let you know when you get it right!
Follow your child’s lead
Replace the structure and rigidity of an activity or play and follow your child’s lead instead. Model language naturally during play. If it doesn’t feel natural, try something else. See what they’re interested in and model language around that!
Find a SLP
A SLP who understands GLP, Natural Language Acquisition, and child-led therapy will help identify what stage your child is in, provide effective speech-language therapy, and how you can support them!
See Meaningful Speech for more free GLP resources, parent courses, and more!
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