Welcome back to a new school year! Summer is drawing to a close, and now that SJI-I is in full session, we will be sharing monthly LSL Strategies to try with your students at home or in the classroom! This month’s strategy is shared with us today by Speech-Language Pathologist Kristin N. Schaaf, M.A., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT.
Stop and Wait!
What is Wait Time?
Wait time is when we stop and wait to provide more auditory input. This allows the child to process the information and give a response. Wait time is hard for everyone, but you can make it part of your daily routine with these few tips.
Wait time can either be used when you ask your child a question or when you both notice something in your environment together. When this happens, stop and wait for your child to respond or comment.
A great time to practice this strategy is while reading books together. While looking at a book, you can ask, “What do you think is happening?” or “what do you think will happen next?” and then wait for your child’s response. Using this strategy will strengthen your child’s confidence and increase their interest in books. They will feel like they are helping you read the book!
Here are 3 tips to practice using Wait Time at home:
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Count to 8 (silently or in your head)
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Lean in and look at your child or the activity
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Practice with other adults
When you stop and wait, it gives your child a chance to provide their own responses. This helps your child build their confidence to be active participants in conversations.
