Parents play a massive role in their child’s development. Planning activities for parent involvement can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to!
Let’s talk about why caregiver and parent involvement is important. Research backs it up: outcomes improve when parents and caregivers are involved. As SLPs, we spend maybe an hour a week with little ones, but parents and caregivers (including their daycare and preschool teachers) are with them every day. They are the ones who can take little moments, such as eating breakfast, playing, and circle time, and create opportunities for language development.
Here are 6 caregiver and parent involvement activities to improve language development.
1. Empathy and Understanding
Parent involvement begins with meeting parents where they’re at. Not every parent walks in knowing what their role should be—and that’s okay. Some may feel overwhelmed, others unsure, and many simply don’t realize how important they are to the process.
Show them that you’re on their team, and their input is important.
Activity: SLPs: Ask about their concerns, daily routines, and what they hope to achieve through speech therapy.
Parents and caregivers: don’t be afraid to voice your ideas, fears, and expectations!
2. Educate & Empower
Activities for parent involvement are more likely happen when parents and caregivers understand why you are using a strategy. Take the time to explain the goals, the techniques you are using, and how these encourage their language development. You also want to include ideas and different ways to use the strategies in their daily routines.
Activity: SLPs: use simple language and listen to parents/caregivers feedback and input. Provide real life, concrete examples of how they can integrate techniques into daily activities without feeling overwhelmed.
Parents and caregivers: work together with your SLP to come up with strategies and ideas that will easily fit into your daily routine!
3. Make it Manageable
Life with littles is chaotic. Because of the chaos, it’s important to set realistic expectations. Provide caregivers and parents small, manageable tasks that they can easily fit into their routine. Focus on one or two key strategies each week. If a parent seems overwhelmed with an idea you’ve presented, encourage them to voice their concerns and work together to create techniques that fit the needs of their dynamic.
Most importantly, celebrate all wins (big and small)!
Activity: SLPs: work with parents and caregivers to provide tasks that are manageable and effective. “Practice labeling child’s toys this week!” or “Encourage your class to label the toys in center time!”
Parents and caregivers: you don’t have to be perfect! Do your best to implement the strategies in your daily routine. If you find that a task feels overwhelming or isn’t working, talk with your SLP and come up with a new plan.
4. Create a Collaborative Environment
Encourage open communication. Communication can occur in a variety of ways: a weekly text check-in, a quick conversation at the end of a session, or a therapy log.
I’ve included an example of a parent communication log that I use! Using a 3-hole punch, I will attach it in a child’s classroom folder (with teacher permission) or create a speech therapy folder for the child. You can grab your FREE copy by typing your name and email below!
When creating a collaborative environment, it’s important to listen to any praises or concerns and work together to troubleshoot the situation. Remember, the ultimate goal is to encourage functional language development in a way that works best for the child.
5. Provide Resources
Caregivers and parents need support, even when they don’t realize it. We must also provide them with items and techniques they can easily refer to or put to use.
As the therapist, if you assign a task or activity, you should also plan to help them put the necessary elements into place.
For example, if you ask a family or teacher to use a visual communication board- provide the communication board. If you suggest to a parent to create a choice board, help them create the choices! Helping families and caregivers create their resource(s) is another reason it’s important to collaborate and work together with caregivers and families to provide items that work best for their families.
If you need an all-in-one resource, check out my handbook: Communicate & Connect; you’ll find a variety of helpful handouts and printable resources right at your fingertips!
Activity: Everyone should work together to create visuals, schedules, or other support methods you’ve recommended.
6. Celebrate their Efforts
Always recognize the effort parents and caregivers are putting in. A simple acknowledgment can go a long way in encouraging them to stay engaged. Let them know that their involvement is making a difference and that you appreciate their partnership.
Never underestimate the power of a kind word.
You got this, friend!
In early intervention speech and language, our job is to support the child, their families, and their caregivers [including teachers!]. And when we actively invite them into the process, provide the resources and tools, build their confidence, and permit them to be actively involved in their child’s development, progress begins to happen!
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