Mistakes Were Made
I made a mistake. What? No really. I am (was?) working with a family of a delightful toddler with a genetic disorder, and they were interested in helping their child communicate. This is the information I was given when this family was referred to me. He had maybe two word approximations, and he will be three in a few months.
I got all excited, spoke with the Mom on the phone, and on my visit, came in with a core word board, other visuals, videos on the importance of modeling, etc, etc.
OOPS….what I didn’t do? I didn’t stop, and really listen. This was a family who had a child who was not meeting a milestone, talking. Introducing all of this was a big kick in the gut for them, another reminder that their adorable, sociable little guy was having delays, and would need more support and help than their typically developing child. I went too fast. I did say these tools have been shown to actually improve verbal communication in the vast majority, and left them with research information to explore. But it was too much, too soon.
What should I have done? Listened. Supported. Maybe just leave some information for them to explore. Played more with the toddler. Lesson learned, the hard way.
If this family (who is now ghosting me! ) does respond again to me, I will slow down. I will introduce them to Laura Mize, who runs a wonderful blog, website and YouTube channel called Teach Me to Talk. (https://teachmetotalk.com/ ) I would have helped them explore why their child was not yet verbal, and made suggestions of what they could do to encourage more verbal imitation (what I think the issue may be). I should have reviewed Rachel Madels videos on introducing visuals to little ones and their families (https://www.rachelmadel.com/ )
Mistakes were made, and I have learned. If that family is reading this, please allow me another chance to come in and support you in your journey to help your little one communicate! And, if they aren’t, just know I will be sending an email with the information about Teach Me to Talk in it, for them to further explore if they wish. This won’t happen again as I work with other families. I have learned the value of slowing down, and listening.