What is “Narration”?
Narration is a language strategy used by speech-language pathologists. It is exactly as the word means. You are narrating the things that are happening in your child’s life, environment, and routine. This strategy is used to encourage language use and to increase knowledge and use of vocabulary. It is a beneficial strategy for children of any age and developmental stage.
This strategy can be taught and used by parents, other family members, teachers, babysitters, and anyone else who regularly interacts with the child. The best part of this strategy is the flexibility - there are no true “rules,” simply labeling and commenting on what is happening in the child’s life at any given moment.
Examples Based on Activity:
Bathtime: wash, splash, clean
Eating: bite, chew, lick, yum, eat
Driving: go, stop, look, beep, bus, car, “I see ___”
Playtime: up/down, in/out, hi/bye, my turn/your turn
Getting dressed: on/off, shoes, shirt, ready
The more your child hears a word, they will be able to understand what the word means and how they can use it in a variety of contexts. Parents may feel overwhelmed by learning and using the strategy, but with a little practice, they will realize it begins to come naturally.
To begin using narration as a tool, set a goal for yourself to use this strategy within one routine per day, such as when getting dressed, during eating, or at bathtime.
Additional Tips:
For younger children, try to use 1-2 words at a time, and pause to give them time to process the words you are saying. As their vocabulary grows and they begin using words, increase your short phrases to sentences (ex: “take bite” increases to “mommy takes bite” or “take bite of food”)
Use words repetitively across activities and routines
“Dog” - labeling a dog in a book, when you see one walking, etc.
“On” - on the table, clothes on, light on
“Eat” - while baby eats, mommy/daddy eat, pretend to play with toys “eating”
Is “narration” a new concept for you? Have you done this without realizing it was a tool for increasing language? Narration is just ONE of the many things we can help you with at Helping Hands Therapy, in both individual and group settings!
If you're interested in receiving Speech Therapy or learning more, give us a call: 757.698.4681
Check out our upcoming Language Enrichment Classes for January 2023!
Click Here: Preschool Language Enrichment: 3 to 5 years
Click Here: Toddler Language Enrichment: 16 months to 3 years
About the Author: Alexis Snyder is a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist with over 2 years of experience working with children. She has experience with in-home parent coaching and speech-language therapy for children ages 0-3. Alexis has also worked in outpatient clinics, acute care hospitals, and home health settings with both the geriatric and pediatric populations.
