Communication is key to building friendships and sharing ideas, especially for young children. If you want to boost your child’s speech and language skills, try the R.O.C.K. strategy! This easy-to-remember approach can make talking and learning fun for everyone. Let’s break down what R.O.C.K. means and how you can use it every day.

What is R.O.C.K.?

R.O.C.K. stands for:

Respond to your child

Offer choices

Cue your child to take a turn

Keep it fun

Each part of R.O.C.K. helps create engaging moments that support your child’s language development.

Respond to Your Child

When your child says something—like “dog”—show that you’re listening! You might respond, “Yes, that’s a big, fluffy dog! What sound does the dog make?” This shows them their words matter and encourages them to keep talking!

Offer Choices

Kids love making choices! Instead of just asking, “Do you want a snack?” try offering options: “Would you like an apple or a banana?” This helps your child practice using their words to express what they want. Celebrate their choice with excitement: “Yay! An apple! Let’s wash it together!”

Cue Your Child to Take a Turn

Encouraging your child to respond can be done through nonverbal cues and pauses. For example, after you ask a question or make a statement, pause and make eye contact, giving them a chance to think and respond. You might nod or gesture to show it’s their turn to talk. These cues help your child recognise opportunities to join the conversation.

Keep It Fun

Learning is always better when it’s fun! Use games, songs, and stories to make your interactions lively. If you’re reading a book, use silly voices or funny sounds to grab their attention. The more enjoyable the experience, the more your child will want to communicate!

How to Use R.O.C.K. Every Day

You can easily incorporate R.O.C.K. into your daily life:

Playtime: While playing, respond to your child’s ideas, offer choices on what to play, and use pauses and gestures to encourage them to take their turn.

Mealtimes: Use meals as a chance to ask questions and offer choices. Talk about the food and let your child express their preferences.

Outings: Whether at the park or the shops, keep conversations going. Encourage your child to share their thoughts and ask questions about what they see.

The R.O.C.K. strategy is a fun and simple way to help your child develop their language skills. By responding to them, offering choices, using nonverbal cues and pauses to encourage their participation, and keeping things enjoyable, you create a rich environment for communication. So, let’s R.O.C.K. on and watch your child’s talking skills bloom!