Teaching pronunciation to children under the age of two is important, as children at this age begin to learn many new words. We offer you educational cards in Arabic, in addition to basic tips and steps, and effective methods for teaching pronunciation to children with delayed speech. Although delayed speech or unclear speech may indicate a developmental delay or a physical problem, it may also be the result of psychological problems or the need for specialist help to overcome this stage smoothly. In this article from Dalili Medical, we will review how to teach pronunciation to delayed children.

Effective tips for teaching a child to speak quickly

 

Talk to your child and participate in discussions even during the breastfeeding stage. When he cries, talk to him with phrases such as: "I am coming", this will help him understand that speech is a way to express feelings, and you will notice that he feels calm when he hears your voice, even if he has not spoken yet.

Communicate with your child in a natural and understandable language, without changing your style or reducing the speed of your speech. Speaking slowly or very clearly does not contribute to enhancing his pronunciation skills.

Give your baby the opportunity to spend time with you and his older siblings, so that they can play and talk to him, which helps him gradually acquire skills. As your child gets older, allocate time to talk to him, and if you are a working mother, you can make up for that in the evening. It is also better for the grandmother to take care of him when he is young, while making sure to talk to him even if he does not understand everything that is said.

Point to things by their names and colors to your child, and repeat this before and after the end of the first year.

Teach your child to focus on your mouth and the way you pronounce them when teaching him new words or correcting certain words.

Introduce your child to the names of his body parts such as the face, hands, nose and lips, preferably in colloquial and classical Arabic.

You can teach your child to pronounce English words after he turns two if you wish, as his vocabulary will be greater in Arabic. It is better to teach him to pronounce words in both languages, but after the second year or perhaps the third if he does not respond quickly.

As for games, they are one of the best ways for your child to interact. Communication experts advise choosing games that require the use of simple words and repeating them. For example, you can use the traffic light game, where you have your child ride his bike and start moving, then use words such as "walk" or "stop", repeat the words and take turns with your child until he tries to pronounce the words himself.

Regulate your child's relationship with the TV, and avoid leaving him in front of the screen for long periods. It is preferable not to allow him to watch it before he reaches the age of two, and after that you can allow him to watch TV for no more than two hours a day, making sure that the programs are intended for children. You should realize that spending a long time in front of the screen may lead to his withdrawal and lack of interaction with others, which may negatively affect the development of his language skills.

Be a good listener to him when he starts talking, and be patient even if he has difficulty pronouncing. If he is content with repeating the first syllables of words, do not stop there, but help him complete the word gradually.

Communicating through music: Some children learn to sing before they master speaking, and often the rhythm of music is more attractive to them than the rhythm of speech. Some children may respond to song lyrics and repeat them unconsciously, while they may not respond to your attempts to repeat the words. So, you can create some songs about everything surrounding the child with the addition of rhythm, to encourage him to speak in a fun way.
**Psychotherapy:** This type of therapy aims to treat the psychological problems that the child suffers from, such as shyness, anxiety and fear, in addition to unconscious conflicts. Psychotherapy seeks to reduce the emotional effects and psychological stress in the child, enhance his personality, and reduce his feelings of shyness and deficiency. It also includes training the child in give-and-take skills to relieve his confusion.

**Speech therapy:** This treatment is considered necessary and complementary to psychotherapy, and is often used together. Speech therapy focuses on training the patient through speech relaxation techniques, rhythmic exercises, and pronunciation exercises. This is done gradually, starting from easy words and situations to more complex ones, with the use of audio recorders to train the speech and hearing system. The speech muscles and the speech system in general are also strengthened.

**Orthodontic therapy:** This treatment relies on the use of special means that include machines and devices placed under the tongue.

**Social therapy:** It aims to correct the wrong ideas that the patient holds about his problem, including his orientations towards his parents, friends, and the surrounding environment, in addition to meeting his special needs.

**Physical therapy:** This type of treatment aims to ensure that there are no organic causes affecting the patient, especially in the structural and physical aspects of the nervous system, in addition to the hearing and speech devices. It also includes treating any defects or diseases that may be present, whether through medical or surgical treatment.

**Environmental therapy:** It refers to gradually integrating the sick child into social activities, which helps him learn the skills of giving and taking, and gives him the opportunity for social interaction, which contributes to the healthy development of his personality. This treatment also contributes to treating his shyness and isolation. One of the ways to enhance a child's social development is through play therapy and participation in sports and artistic activities. In addition, environmental therapy includes providing guidance to anxious parents on how to deal with the child properly, to avoid pressuring him to talk in situations that may cause him anxiety.

**Naming things:** Name things to your child, then add descriptions to them instead of just names, such as "big" or "beautiful" and other descriptions.

**Listening:** Listen to your child carefully, as this encourages him to talk. Talk to him in a quiet placeAway from the noise of the TV or other, look into his eyes while you talk, give him the opportunity to respond, and ask him questions.

**Language representation:** You can enhance your child's language skills by describing the activities you are doing or what he hears or sees. Talk to yourself and share what you are doing, such as saying that you are going to get milk or describing the cooking steps. Make sure that your language is clear, easy and correct, and avoid using baby talk.

**Encouragement instead of criticism:** Avoid criticizing your child if he pronounces a word incorrectly, as this will not help him progress. Instead, use the correct pronunciation to encourage him as if he said it, such as if he said "labam", you can respond by saying: "Yes, we will bring milk".

**Increasing your child's vocabulary:** Help your child expand his vocabulary and learn the names of things by using his words in useful sentences. If he points to the refrigerator and says the word "laban", you can say a complete sentence such as: "Let's take milk from the refrigerator to drink".

**Language representation:** You can enhance your child’s language skills by describing the activities you are doing or what he hears or sees. Talk to yourself and share what you are doing, such as saying that you are going to get milk or describing the cooking steps. Make sure your language is clear, simple and correct, and avoid using baby talk.

**Encouragement instead of criticism:** Avoid criticizing your child if he pronounces a word incorrectly, as this will not help him progress. Instead, use correct pronunciation to encourage him as if he said it, such as if he said “labam”, you can respond by saying: “Yes, we will get milk”.

**Increasing your child’s vocabulary:** Help your child expand his vocabulary and learn the names of objects by using his words in meaningful sentences. If he points to the refrigerator and says the word “laban”, you can say a complete sentence such as: “Let’s take milk from the refrigerator to drink”.

Create a rich communication environment with your child: Talk to your child frequently and in a clear voice, share stories with him and listen to songs, so that he can pick up and learn words.

Use appropriate language: Try to use simple words and easy sentences when communicating with him, so that they are clear and express what you want to say to him. You can increase the difficulty of the language a little as he grows older.

Talk about topics that interest the child: Discuss with your child the things that interest him, such as the games he likes, and talk about his siblings and the food he eats, so that the topics are related to his life and easy for him to understand.

Follow an appropriate educational method: It is very important to repeat what you say while talking to your child, which helps him pick up words faster.

**Involve the child in the conversation:** It is important to encourage your child to participate in conversations with you. You can ask questions that require yes or no answers, and speak clearly in front of him. Studies have shown that speaking clearly in front of the child helps him learn to speak faster.

**Applications for teaching children correct pronunciation:**

 

- **Learning letters program:** It is an easy-to-use educational program that helps children recognize letters, and learn how to write and pronounce them in a simplified way.

- **I Learn App:** This app helps children learn the correct pronunciation of words in Arabic and English, and links them to similar images to enhance understanding.

- **Abjad App:** This app aims to teach children the Arabic alphabet, and has been designed in an attractive way to attract the child's attention while learning the basics of reading and writing.

**Teaching Letters and Numbers for Children App:** This app aims to teach children letters and numbers in Arabic and English in an easy and simplified way, without the need for a permanent internet connection. It also helps teach children the correct and clear pronunciation of letters and numbers.

**Teaching Children in the Egyptian Dialect:** This app helps children learn about the environment around them, as it contains more than 300 images of fruits, vegetables, animals and body parts. The app is characterized by the ease of navigating between words and the ability to repeat them several times, making it suitable for children who suffer from delayed speech or pronunciation problems, as an adjunct therapy alongside speech sessions.

**Your Child's First Words:** This app helps young children under school age learn everyday language vocabulary by introducing them to a world full of adventures. The app uses colorful letters, simple words, and animal names, which enhances the child's vocabulary to more than a hundred words. The app can also be used in several languages, including Arabic.

**My First Words:** is an easy-to-use interactive app designed for children from six months to four years old, which aims to enhance children's vocabulary in their early stages of pronunciation. The app is based on flashcards containing more than fifty common words, such as animal names and shapes, accompanied by attractive images and the ability to repeat words several times.

**Vitamins and herbs that enhance pronunciation:**

 

Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin that contributes to improving pronunciation. It is found in a variety of foods such as meat, fish, eggs, potatoes, beans, nuts, and grains. It has many benefits, including improving pronunciation and speech in children with autism. Therefore, giving rice water to children is a common and beneficial practice, as rice water is rich in vitamin B6.

Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, is another vitamin that supports pronunciation. It is found in many foods such as yeast, whole wheat grains, beans, nuts and meat, and helps alleviate some problems related to speech.

Omega-3 acids are highly concentrated in the brain, where they are considered essential elements that enhance its functions and may play an effective role in improving thinking skills. For children between the ages of two and eight who suffer from speech problems, studies have shown that taking fish oil as a nutritional supplement can significantly improve their ability to speak, in addition toTo improve their behavior, ability to focus, and maintain eye contact. Although it is not considered a substitute for speech therapy, doctors may recommend combining fish oil supplements with the child’s treatment. As for children’s nutritional supplements, they contain calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. In some cases, a deficiency in these vitamins and minerals is considered a cause of problems with learning, growth, and speech.