​I've just ordered the new CELF;5 for Speech Smart Therapy so we can offer the latest up to date assessment for assessing language skills of school age children.  The new CELF-5 A&NZ is a comprehensive battery of tests that provides a streamlined, flexible approach to language assessment.  This latest version of this gold standard popular language assessment allows therapists to compare a child's language skills to other Australian children of the same age  and allows us to look at a child's strengths and weaknesses in their language skills and pragmatics (social skills).  Assessment results are important to help support parents, teachers and therapists to make informed decisions regarding the areas a student requires support in to help them maximise their learning.  This newest version is due for release in May and will be available at Speech Smart Therapy.  This updated version is reported to offer a more robust assessment of pragmatics (social skills) using observations and interactive activities. Also included are new written language tests for more comprehensive assessment and updated norms.

First, get your child's attention -  get face to face,​ say his/her name, show him/her the bubble jar and suggest you blow some bubbles together ("Let's blow bubbles"). Start blowing bubbles.  Have fun blowing the bubbles.  You can help your child pop the bubbles to gain their interest.  Pop them with your fingers, between your hands or stomp on them with your feet once they land on the ground.  Comment "pop" each time you pop a bubble.  ​

Next, give your child a 'reason to ask you for more bubbles'.  Once your child is really getting into the bubble fun, put the lid back on the bubbles.  Wait for your child to ask for more bubbles.  Your child might ask for more bubbles by:

• ​looking at you and smiling
• pushing the bubble container towards you and making a sound
•  reaching for the container or wand
• pointing to the container or wand and using jargon like talk
• using a sign, sound, word or sentence

Thirdly, give your child a reason to make comments about the bubbles.  If your child is starting to use words or starting to talk in short sentences, you can help him/her to make comments while playing with bubbles.  You can do this by occasionally commenting about the bubbles yourself while you play, saying something like:

• "wow, big bubble"
• ​"pop"
• "That bubbles up high"
• "That one popped on my nose."
• "You popped it!"
• "Lots of bubbles"

​After you have made a few comments, give your child a reason to make a comment by blowing the bubbles, pointing to one of the bubbles, looking expectantly at your child and waiting.  Ensure you point at something interesting, like a really big bubble, one that's landed in a funny spot or the very last bubble and wait expectantly.  If your child doesn't make a comment, you can give a hint like, "Look! That bubble ...... ", then pause and wait to see if your child finishes your comment.

Examples of words and sentences that you can encourage:

Have fun with your bubbles!  If you'd like more ideas on how you can maximise your child's development, sign up to my newsletter.

Written By Sarah Creagh
Speech Pathologist
​Speech Smart Therapy