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Expert Q&A

 

By Mindy Hudon
Speech and Language Pathologist

A friend of mine told me I need to add words to my child's sentences. Why, and how do you do this?

It is important to model language by "expanding." Expanding language refers to adding words to your child's sentences. By expanding your child's sentences, you're modeling advanced grammar and encouraging new vocabulary. For example, your child says, "See the train," you expand this sentence by saying, "Yes, I see the big, black train driving on the tracks." Expanding keeps the conversation going, clarifies a topic, and adds new information.

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