Everyday Ways to Help Low Oracy Kids

It's so easy to help our tamariki understand and use more words. See below for 10 fun tips to encourage word play - to improve our kids ability with words. It's crucial we get our tamariki talking!

  • 1. Talk about the names of things and what they do

    e.g. "This is a knife; we use it to cut, this is an electric jug / kettle - we use it to boil water, this is a watch; it tells the time, this is a fishing rod; we use it to catch fish, this is a helmet; it protects our head." etc.

  • 2. Describe things; their size, colour, where they live, what they feel like

    e.g. "Your blanket feels soft. It has big black dots on it. There’s some pukeko. They live in swamps. They have long legs, so they can wade in the water. The baby has curly black hair. Her Mum is wearing a red coat with black buttons."

  • 3. Talk about the order of events to help with sequencing

    e.g. "The first thing we do in the morning is wake up. In the middle of the day, we have lunch. The last think we do is go to sleep. When I get dressed, I put my ______ on first. Then I put on my _________. I put my _________ on last."

  • 4. Talk about everyday tasks and routines

    e.g. Washing the dishes: "We put the plug in the sink to keep the water in. We turn the taps on and run some warm water into the sink. Let’s squirt a little bit of dish washing liquid in to help clean the dishes. We use a dish cloth to wipe the plates clean. I'm putting the plate on the dish rack to drain. I use a tea towel to dry the plate and then I put it in the cupboard."

  • 5. Expand what your child says and encourage them to tell you more

    e.g. If your child says “Digger” say “Yes it’s a big orange digger doing roadworks. The driver is sitting in the cab. Tell me about what he’s wearing on his head."

  • 6. Make a point of where things are

    e.g. "She’s holding the umbrella above her head. He’s walking in front of his brother. The dog is running between the boys’ legs. The girl is hiding behind the fence."

  • 7. Encourage turn taking, greetings and farewells

    e.g. Help kids practice turn taking e.g. cards, snap and other games that rely on turns. Practice different greetings and farewells e.g. "Āta mārie, good morning, kia ora, mōrena, ka kite, bye, see you later" etc and make sure the child responds.

  • 8. Telling your stories helps your tamariki tell theirs.

    e.g. "On the way home from our walk, we went to the supermarket. I remembered to get some bananas for your breakfast. Nan got some dog biscuits and cat food."

  • 9. Songs and rhymes help kids develop their communication skills

    e.g. Singing songs in the car, making up silly rhymes is fun and helps develop rhythm.

  • 10. Try not to ask lots of questions

    Talk about your day, before you ask your kids about their day. 
Best questions are open questions e.g. "Where did you eat your lunch today?" Is better than "Did you eat your lunch?" If your child is finding it hard to answer a question help them out with a choice e.g. "Did you eat your lunch on the deck or in the sandpit?"

Sharing Books With Your Tamariki – How to Add Value

Try and find books that reflect your child’s experience e.g. about animals they know and see regularly, going to the beach, playing with friends, riding their scooter or bike, visiting the marae, activities with grandparents etc.

  • Interesting pictures that span two pages are ideal and 8-10 double pages is a good length.

  • Picture books with a story that has a clear beginning, middle and end will be most helpful for helping your child develop their oracy skills.

  • Cue your child into the book with a short intro e.g. “This is a story about a boy who goes fishing with his grandad”.

  • Books with humour are popular with most kids.

  • Use lots of expression to keep your child engaged with the story. Pop up books may be helpful if your child struggles to concentrate.​