Strategies for eliciting single words/short phrases/gestures  

Wrong picture names!

Materials:

Set of pictures of everyday objects - these should be cards that the child knows the names of

1. Put the set of picture cards face down in front of you;
2. Turn over the picture cards one by one and name each one to the child;
3. After naming a few, name a picture card incorrectly - e.g. "rabbit" instead of "ball";
4. See if the child notices or corrects you;
5. Continue naming the pictures in this way, occasionally getting the name wrong, and seeing what the child does;

See comments on the right for what to do if the child does not correct you.

If the child does not correct you, you can:

• wait a little bit before continuing when you say the object's name incorrectly;
• look puzzled/confused as if suddenly realising your mistake - see if they then try to say what it reaaly is;
• correct yourself - e.g. "oh no, it's not a rabbit, it's a ball!"

Bubbles

Materials:

Pot of bubbles liquid with "wand" that you unscrew to blow the bubbles

• Show the bubbles container to the child, go step by step through getting from the closed container to having bubbles, e.g.:
  • open the lid;
  • take it out;
  • blow (the stick);
• Say "let's do it again", and then look confused as if you can't remember what to do - see if the child can tell you;
• Respond to whatever they say or indicate - e.g. if they indicate blow -try blowing even though the lid is still on.

Note, the child should be interested in bubbles for this activity to work.