Parents talk less to their children

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 245, 8 June 1988, Page 7

Parents talk less to their children

By

Teresa

O'connor

The number of children seeking treatment at the Ohakune Primary School speech clinic is rising. Speech - language therapist Mrs Alison Anderson, who has been based at the clinic for nine years, says the number of children she treats increases each year. The pressure of modern-day living means parents are not spending as much time

talking ^to their children as they should, she says. As a result, more children are behind in their language skills - some can't name simple household objects, some don't use full sentences and others miss out words altogether. "The first five years of a child's life are the most important learning years for them and the parent is their most important teacher," Mrs Anderson says.

"Parents have to be taught how vital it is to communicate with their children, instead of issuing commands at them or pandering to their childlike ways." She says if parents communicate effectively with their children, speech problems can be caught early and will be easier to fix because speech patterns are not yet set. Mrs Anderson works as part of a team with

the child's family and school. She uses group situations to help children work together to overcome language problems and to help those who suffer from shyness. The children think that her therapy is fun because she works with toys, pictures, books, puzzles, card games, photos and puppets to help them. "As they play they learn," Mrs Anderson says. Other children with

specific problems need individual attention and for these she uses a tape recorder to identify and remove the problems. Children with extreme speech impediments are referred to a specialist paediatrician. Speech and language difficulties are not the only field she works in. Her time is also spent developing children's listening skills. "Children can sit and watch telly hour after hour but they h'&n't listen in class for five minutes," she says. All children who enter the clinic have their ears checked for hearing problems and any who seem emotionally upset are seen by a psychologist. Although Mrs Anderson is based in Ohakune, she serves the whole Waimarino area, spending three days a week at Raetihi and Taihape. Her work is concentrated on pre-school and primary children, but she also provides

therapy for secondary students and for adults recovering from strokes. It's apparently a busy life. "The fact is they could double the number of therapists in New Zealand and there would still be a shortage." She says this is unfortunate because it means children with

major speech problems get priority treatment and that others with less serious problems do not get the attention they need. Mrs Anderson stresses that it is a free service and that parents and children are welcome to contact her on Mondays or Fridays with any queries.