A set of breathing exercises for children 5–6 years old

Breathing is the energetic basis of spoken speech. The development of speech breathing largely determines the child’s formation of coherent speech, namely correct sound pronunciation, the ability to maintain normal speech volume, its smoothness and intonation expressiveness. By paying attention to establishing the correct speech breathing of the baby in early childhood, you can avoid many speech disorders in the future. In this article we will tell you about the features of speech breathing and ways of its development in preschool children.

Features of speech breathing in preschoolers

Speech breathing in preschool children differs from the breathing of adults and has its own characteristics:

• Insufficient development of the respiratory apparatus. If the inhalation and exhalation are weak, then the child’s speech will sound quiet and unintelligible. Sometimes, due to lack of air, children do not finish sentences. There are times when the baby tries to pronounce the entire phrase while inhaling, so he speaks quickly and does not observe logical pauses. Poor development of the respiratory system may be associated with the presence of chronic respiratory diseases in the child, such as sinusitis and sinusitis, as well as a sedentary lifestyle.
• Irrational distribution of exhaled air. Children who have recently learned to speak often run out of air on the first syllable, so they pronounce the end of a word or phrase much more quietly or even “swallow” it.
• Inability to distribute breathing according to words. To replenish the smell of the air, the child has to take a break, during which he may forget what he wanted to say.
• Speech sounds may be distorted due to improperly exhaled air.

Speech breathing in most preschool children is imperfect. But it is often difficult for parents to notice this due to the fact that they communicate with the baby constantly.

There are approximate norms for the number of words pronounced on exhalation, which can be used as a guide when assessing a baby’s speech breathing:

How to breathe correctly?

When diagnosing speech development, speech therapists always pay attention to how the child breathes during a conversation, the strength and duration of his inhalations and exhalations, and how he places pauses. Formation of speech breathing is one of the first stages of correctional work with a child who has any speech disorders. Correct speech breathing has the following signs:

• Short breath through the nose;
• Exhale smoothly, the air comes out through the mouth;
• Exhalation is carried out to the end;
• After each exhalation there should be a short pause (2-3 seconds).

The development of speech breathing is closely related to the functioning of physiological breathing.

Only by learning to breathe correctly (deep short inhalation and smooth long exhalation) will a child be able to fully master his voice. The most effective methods of working with preschoolers are breathing exercises. Conventionally, they can be divided into two large groups, depending on their purpose:

1. Formation of correct exhalation;
2. Breathing training using various speech materials (practicing the pronunciation of sounds and their combinations, learning poetry).

The development of speech breathing in preschoolers allows:

• Speed ​​up the process of staging and automating speech sounds;
• Increase the number of words that the baby pronounces in one exhalation;
• Form intelligible, coherent speech;
• Coordinate the processes of speech, breathing and movements.

Diaphragmatic breathing.

The most correct, expedient and convenient for speech is diaphragmatic breathing.

Diaphragmatic breathing is breathing in which inhalation and exhalation are performed with the participation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. The lower, most capacious part of the lungs is active. The upper parts of the chest, as well as the shoulders, remain practically motionless.

At this stage, we develop the sensation of movement of the respiratory organs, mainly the diaphragm and the anterior wall of the abdomen. The exercises are performed first in a lying position, then sitting and standing.

From a lying position:

"Fish" . Place the child on his back and place a light soft toy fish on his stomach. When you inhale through your nose, your stomach protrudes, which means that the toy standing on it rises. When exhaling through the mouth, the stomach retracts and the toy lowers.

Swinging a fish on the wave

Then up (inhale),

Then down (exhale)

She floats on me.

“Hippopotamus” - We say to the child: “Put your palm on your stomach and feel how your stomach rises when you inhale and falls when you exhale. Can be accompanied by a rhyme:

The hippos were lying

The hippos were breathing.

Then the tummy rises (inhale),

Then the tummy drops (exhale).

From a sitting position.

The child sits in front of a large mirror, places his palm on the diaphragm area and controls himself visually and tactilely.

"Hippos"

The hippos sat down,

We touched our bellies.

Then the tummy rises,

Then the tummy drops.

From a standing position.

Observation of children shows that some of them, when changing position, switch to the usual upper clavicular or upper costal type of breathing; their hand placed on the diaphragm area does not make movements. In this case, we place the child’s palm on the area of ​​the diaphragm and invite him to “feel with his hand”, and also see how the “stomach” moves during the breathing process. Inhale calmly, shoulders do not rise.

Recommendations for performing breathing exercises

• Classes must be carried out in a well-ventilated area;
• All exercises should be performed before meals;
• Clothing should not hinder the baby's movements;
• The muscles of the child’s neck, shoulders, arms, chest and abdomen should be relaxed;
• Inhalation should occur through the nose;
• The exhalation should be long and smooth;
• Make sure that when performing breathing exercises, the child does not puff out his cheeks. At first, you can hold them with your palms;
• 3-5 repetitions of each exercise are enough, between which you should take a 2-3 second pause. The total duration of breathing exercises should not exceed 5 minutes.

It is very important to measure the amount of breathing exercises and perform them at a moderate pace to avoid hyperventilation.

Card file of exercises for the development of speech breathing in children card file on speech therapy on the topic

Take two transparent plastic cups. Pour a lot of water into one, almost to the brim, and pour a little into the other. Invite your child to play “bulbulki” using cocktail straws. To do this, you need to blow weakly through a straw into a glass with a lot of water, and you can blow strongly into a glass with little water. The child’s task is to play “bulbulki” in such a way as not to spill water. Be sure to draw your child’s attention to the words: weak, strong, much, little. This game can also be used to reinforce color knowledge. To do this, take multi-colored cups and tubes and invite the child to blow into a green cup through a green tube, etc.

"Magic Bubbles"

Invite your child to play with soap bubbles. He can blow soap bubbles himself, but if he can’t blow or doesn’t want to practice, then you blow the bubbles, directing them at the child. This encourages the baby to blow on the bubbles to prevent them from hitting him.

"Pipe".

Invite your child to stick out his narrow tongue forward, lightly touching the glass vial with the tip of his tongue. Blow air onto the tip of your tongue so that the bubble whistles like a pipe.

"Fly, butterfly."

Goal: development of long continuous oral exhalation; activation of the labial muscles. Equipment: 4 bright paper butterflies (yellow, orange, crimson, gold)

Progress of the game: Before starting the lesson, tie a thread 20-40 cm long to each butterfly, attach the threads to the cord at some distance from each other. Pull the cord so that the butterflies hang at the level of the standing child’s face.

The teacher shows the child butterflies and invites them to play with them. Look how beautiful the colorful butterflies are! Let's see if they can fly. The child stands near the butterflies and blows on them. It is necessary to ensure that the child stands straight, does not raise his shoulders when exhaling, blows on one exhalation without taking in air, does not puff out his cheeks, and slightly pushes his lips forward. You can blow for no more than 10 seconds with pauses to avoid dizziness.

"Balloon"

Goal: development of strong smooth oral exhalation; activation of the labial muscles.

Equipment: a regular balloon on a string.

How to play: Hang the balloon at the level of the child's face. Blow on the balloon so that it flies high, then offer to blow on the child. A more complex version of the game is possible. Throw the balloon up. Invite your child to blow on the ball several times so that it does not fall to the floor longer. Let's blow on the ball so it doesn't fall down. Like this! Stronger!

"Spinner"

Goal: development of long, smooth exhalation; activation of the labial muscles.

Equipment: spinning toy.

How to play: Before starting the game, make a pinwheel toy out of paper. We suggest that the child blow on the pinwheel so that it spins. Let's make some wind - let's blow on the turntable. That's how it turned out! Blow even harder and the spinner spins faster. The game can be played individually or in a group of children.

“The Christmas tree was covered.”

Goal: formation of a smooth long exhalation; activation of the labial muscles.

Equipment: Christmas tree, snow (foam), cocktail tube

How to play: The child is asked to blow on the foam through a tube so that the Christmas tree is covered with snow. Look how beautiful our Christmas tree is, but there is no snow on it at all! Let's think about snow so that it covers our Christmas tree.

“Peas versus nuts” GOAL: alternating long, smooth and strong exhalations.

The match is held on a “hockey field” (candy box), “sticks” and cocktail straws. The winner is the one who blows his “players” into the enemy’s goal faster. “Players” (2-3 peas and 2-3 nuts) are pre-scattered throughout the field.

"Mill"

Goal: formation of a smooth, strong, long exhalation; activation of the labial muscles.

Equipment: windmill

Progress of the game: The child is asked to blow on the wind wheel so that it spins. How sunny the weather is today, but unfortunately there is no wind, and in order for our mill to work, we need wind.. Let's depict it with you.

"Race"

Goal: formation of a smooth, long exhalation; activation of the labial muscles.

Equipment: sailboat on wheels, car, ATV

Progress of the game: The teacher shows the child the cars and invites him to play with them. The vehicle is placed on a flat surface, on the starting line. First, the adult shows how hard they need to blow on the machine so that they roll to the opposite end of the table. Then we invite the child to blow on the transport. By organizing a game in a group, you can arrange a competition to see whose car will reach the finish line faster.

"Fragrance boxes"

Goal: training nasal inhalation, smell recognition. Equipment: 3 pairs of boxes with scents (tangerine, tea, cloves)

Progress of the game: The child is given 3 boxes with different smells, which he is asked to smell and find a pair of the corresponding smell.

"Birds (butterflies)"

Objective: strengthen the lip muscles, develop a directed air stream.

Equipment: figurines of birds or butterflies, carved and brightly painted.

Description. “Birds” (“butterflies”) are planted on the edge of the table. Two players compete to see who can move their piece as far as possible along the table surface. Before starting the game, take one deep breath through your nose; you are not allowed to take an additional breath. Instead of the table surface, the figures can “fly” on strings, also with the help of a strong, directed exhalation.

"Hippo"

Goal: improve the function of external respiration, master the primary techniques of breathing exercises.

The child, who is in a supine position, places his palm on the diaphragm area. An adult pronounces a rhyme:

The hippos lay, the hippos breathed.

Then the tummy rises (inhale),

Then the tummy drops (exhale).

The exercise can be performed in a sitting position and accompanied by rhyming:

The hippos sat down and touched their bellies.

Then the tummy rises (inhale),

Then the tummy drops (exhale).

“Grow up, foam!”

Goal: development of strong oral exhalation; activation of the labial muscles.

Equipment: glass of water, cocktail straws of different diameters, dishwashing liquid.

Progress of the game: This game can be offered to the child after he learns to blow well through a straw into a glass of water (does not drink water, does not bend the straw). Add a little dishwashing liquid to the water, then take a straw and blow into the water - with a loud gurgle, a cloud of iridescent bubbles will grow before the child's eyes. Then offer to blow on the child. When there is a lot of foam, you can blow on it.

- Now I'm going to do hocus pocus! I take the dishwashing liquid and drop it into the water... Now I’ll stir it - ary-bar-top-top-top! I take a pipe and blow. Look what happened! This is a foam of small and large bubbles! Now you try to blow.

Hug yourself

Standing, feet shoulder-width apart, arms to the sides at shoulder level, hands turned forward, fingers spread.

1. Take a deep breath.
2. Cross your arms in front of your chest with lightning speed so that your hands hit your shoulder blades.
3. Smoothly and slowly return to the standing position, taking a deep, slow breath.

Exercises to develop the strength and duration of exhalation

• Breeze. Tie several ribbons of serpentine or Christmas tree rain to a thread or lace. Invite your baby to blow on them and create a breeze. You can make the task more difficult by asking them to blow on ribbons of a certain color. The distance between the face and the ribbons should be approximately 10-15 cm.
• Leaf fall. Cut out real autumn leaves from paper or collect them from the street. Together with your child, you can arrange a real leaf fall by blowing them off the table. In the winter season, you can also play with paper snowflakes.
• Fly, feather! Let the baby throw the feather up and blow on it from bottom to top, not letting it fall.
• Pencil athletes. Draw start and finish lines on the table. At the start, put two pencils of different colors. Take turns blowing with your child on his own pencil and arrange a competition to see which of them will “run” to the finish line first.
• Sailors. Make boats out of paper or cork and lower them into a basin of water. There is a strong wind at sea - we blow on the ships, forcing them to move.

• Blow out the candles. You can role-play a birthday situation with your child. Prepare a toy set, cake and real candles. By blowing out the candles, you can make a wish.
• Pinwheel. A fidget toy is great for creating proper exhalation. Children love to watch the rotating blades and are proud of the result of their efforts.
• Whistles with the sounds of various animals and birds will also delight the baby and will be very useful for the development of his speech breathing.
• Another simple way to practice breathing is using soap bubbles.

Make sure that the child makes smooth and long exhalations. Gradually make the exercises more difficult by increasing the distance between your face and the object being deflated.

breathing exercises for children card index

BREATHING GYMNASTICS FOR CHILDREN

Breathing exercises for children are mainly aimed at strengthening the body's respiratory system. During exercise, the respiratory muscles develop, and the habit of inhaling and exhaling correctly and rhythmically is developed.

Since exercises for young children are playful in nature and include pronouncing sounds, the functioning of the speech apparatus also improves. By improving the blood supply to the body, the child’s local immunity is enhanced.

Increasing immunity helps the baby more easily tolerate viral diseases or completely avoid them during periods of colds. The likelihood of serious respiratory diseases is reduced.

If the child is already sick or suffers from a chronic illness, such as asthma, then breathing exercises will help him recover faster from illness or endure attacks more easily.

HOW DO CHILDREN DO BREATHING GYMNASTICS CORRECTLY?

Up to the age of five, breathing exercises for children take more of a playful form and are combined with physical and vocal exercises. Children must do this kind of play gymnastics with their parents. This will ensure complete safety of classes, and will also allow mom and dad to spend more time with the baby.

It is recommended for children to engage in full breathing exercises from the age of five. At this age, the child begins to control his breathing and evaluate his well-being. But even at this age, he must do the exercises under the supervision of his parents. You can study independently only from the age of seven.

The rules for performing the exercises depend on which technique you choose. For example, in some techniques it is considered correct to breathe through the nose, in others - through the mouth. Be sure to check this point before starting classes.

In general, there is a small list of recommendations for doing breathing exercises with children:

1. the child must be calm, not angry and not too playful;
2. exercises should be performed at a calm pace so that the baby does not overdo it and you can always control his condition;
3. during classes you should not take sharp exhalations;
4. The baby's shoulders should remain calm.

Be sure to stop exercising if:

1. the child is breathing rapidly, has suddenly turned pale or flushed;
2. the baby complains that his arms or legs are numb;
3. The child's hands began to tremble.

Before starting classes, ask your child to talk about how he is feeling and immediately warn him if he suddenly feels unwell.

BREATHING GYMNASTICS FOR CHILDREN. EXAMPLES OF EXERCISES.

"Swing"

Goal: to strengthen physiological breathing in children.

For a child in a lying position, a light toy is placed on his stomach in the diaphragm area. Inhale and exhale through the nose. An adult pronounces a rhyme:

Swing up (inhale)

Swing down (exhale), Hold on tight, my friend.

"Tree in the Wind"

Goal: formation of a breathing apparatus.

IP: sitting on the floor, legs crossed (options: sitting on your knees or on your heels, legs together). The back is straight. Raise your arms up above your head with an inhalation and lower them down to the floor in front of you with an exhalation, while bending your torso slightly, as if bending a tree.

"Woodcutter"

Goal: development of smooth, long exhalation.

Stand straight with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. As you inhale, fold your hands like a hatchet and lift them up. Sharply, as if under the weight of an ax, lower your outstretched arms down as you exhale, tilt your body, allowing your hands to “cut through” the space between your legs. Say "bang." Repeat with your child six to eight times.

"Angry Hedgehog"

Goal: development of smooth, long exhalation.

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Imagine how a hedgehog curls up into a ball when in danger. Bend down as low as possible without lifting your heels from the floor, clasp your chest with your hands, lower your head, exhaling “p-f-f” - the sound made by an angry hedgehog, then “f-r-r” - and this is a satisfied hedgehog. Repeat with your child three to five times.

"Blow up the balloon"

Goal: train the strength of inhalation and exhalation.

IP: the child is sitting or standing. “Blowing up the balloon” he spreads his arms wide to the sides and inhales deeply, then slowly brings his hands together, bringing his palms together in front of his chest and blows out air - pfft. “The ball has burst” - clap your hands, “the air comes out of the ball” - the child says: “shhh”, stretching out his lips with his proboscis, lowering his hands and settling, like a balloon from which the air has been let out.

"Leaf Fall"

Goal: development of smooth, long inhalation and exhalation.

Cut out various autumn leaves from colored paper and explain to your child what leaf fall is. Invite your child to blow on the leaves so that they fly. Along the way, you can tell which leaves fell from which tree.

"Geese are flying"

Goal: to strengthen physiological breathing in children.

Slow walking. When you inhale, raise your arms to the sides, when you exhale, lower them down, pronouncing a long sound “g-u-u-u”.

"Fuzz"

Goal: formation of a breathing apparatus.

Tie a light feather to a string. Invite your child to blow on it. It is necessary to ensure that you inhale only through your nose, and exhale through pursed lips.

"Bug"

Goal: train the strength of inhalation and exhalation.

IP: the baby stands or sits with his arms crossed over his chest. He spreads his arms to the sides, raises his head - inhale, crosses his arms over his chest, lowers his head - exhale: “huh-uh-uh,” said the winged beetle, I’ll sit and buzz.”

"Cockerel"

Goal: to strengthen physiological breathing in children.

IP: standing straight, legs apart, arms down. Raise your arms to the sides (inhale), and then slap them on your thighs (exhale), saying “ku-ka-re-ku.”

"Crow"

Goal: development of smooth, long exhalation.

IP: the child stands straight, legs slightly apart and arms down. Inhale - spreads your arms wide to the sides, like wings, slowly

lowers his hands and exhales: “carrr”, stretching out the sound [r] as much as possible.

"Locomotive"

Goal: formation of a breathing apparatus.

Walking, making alternating movements with your arms and saying: “chuh-chuh-chuh.” At certain intervals you can stop and say “too-too.” Duration – up to 30 seconds.

"Grow Big"

Goal: development of smooth, long exhalation.

IP: standing straight, feet together. Raise your arms up, stretch well, rise on your toes – inhale, lower your arms down, lower your entire foot – exhale. As you exhale, say “u-h-h-h”! Repeat 4-5 times.

"Watch"

Goal: to strengthen physiological breathing in children.

IP: standing, legs slightly apart, arms lowered. Swinging your straight arms back and forth, say “tick-tock.” Repeat up to 10 times.

"The porridge is boiling"

Goal: formation of a breathing apparatus.

IP: sitting, one hand lies on the stomach, the other on the chest. Suck in your stomach and

drawing air into the lungs - inhale, lowering the chest (exhaling air) and sticking out the stomach - exhale. When exhaling, pronounce the sound “f-f-f-f” loudly. Repeat 3-4 times.

"Balloon"

Goal: to strengthen physiological breathing in children.

IP: Lying on the floor, the child puts his hands on his stomach. Taking a slow, deep breath, inflates your stomach, while imagining that a balloon is inflating in your stomach. Holds your breath for 5 seconds. Exhales slowly, the stomach deflates. Holds your breath for 5 seconds. Performed 5 times in a row.

"Pump"

Goal: to strengthen physiological breathing in children.

The baby puts his hands on his belt, squats slightly - inhale, straightens up - exhale. Gradually

squats become lower, inhalation and exhalation take longer. Repeat 3 – 4 times.

"Adjuster"

Goal: formation of a breathing apparatus.

Stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart, one arm raised up, the other to the side. Inhale through your nose, then change the position of your hands and, during an extended exhalation, say “r-r-r-r-r.” Repeat 5-6 times.

"Scissors"

Goal: formation of a breathing apparatus.

I.p. - Same. Straight arms are extended forward or to the sides at shoulder level, palms facing down. With an inhalation, the left hand rises up, the right hand goes down. Exhale – left hand down, right hand up. After the child has mastered this exercise, you can change it: not the arms move from the shoulder, but only the hands.

"Snowfall"

Goal: development of smooth, long inhalation and exhalation.

Make snowflakes from paper or cotton wool (loose lumps). Explain to the child what snowfall is and invite the child to blow “snowflakes” from the palm of his hand.

"Trumpeter"

Goal: development of smooth, long exhalation.

IP: sitting, hands clenched into a tube, raised up. Exhale slowly while pronouncing the sound “p-f-f-f-f” loudly. Repeat up to 5 times.

"Duel"

Goal: to strengthen physiological breathing in children.

Roll a piece of cotton wool into a ball. Gate - 2 cubes. The child blows on the “ball”, trying to “score a goal” - the cotton wool should be between the cubes. With a little practice, you can conduct competitions with one cotton ball on the principle of playing football.

"Spring"

Goal: formation of a breathing apparatus.

IP: lying on your back; legs straight, arms along the body. Raise your legs and bend them at the knees, press them to your chest (exhale). Return to IP (inhale). Repeat 6-8 times.

“Who will drive the ball further?”

Goal: development of smooth, long exhalation.

Sit down at the table with your baby, place two cotton balls in front of you (multi-colored ones are easy to find in supermarkets, and white ones can be made from cotton wool yourself). Blow on the balls as hard as possible, trying to blow them off the table.

"Blow on a dandelion"

Goal: train the strength of inhalation and exhalation.

IP: the baby is standing or sitting. Takes a deep breath in through the nose, then exhales long

through the mouth, as if he wants to blow the fluff off the dandelion.

"Windmill"

Goal: development of smooth, long exhalation.

A child blows on the blades of a spinning toy or a windmill from a sand set.

"Hippo"

Goal: train the strength of inhalation and exhalation.

IP: lying or sitting. The child places his palm on the diaphragm and breathes deeply.

Inhalation and exhalation are done through the nose. The exercise can be performed in a sitting position and accompanied by rhyming:

The hippos sat down and touched their bellies.

Then the tummy rises (inhale),

Then the tummy drops (exhale).

"Hen"

Goal: development of smooth, long inhalation.

IP: the child stands straight, legs slightly apart, arms down, spreads his arms wide to the sides like wings - inhale; as you exhale, bends over, lowering your head and hanging your arms freely, saying: “tah-tah-tah,” while simultaneously patting one’s knees.

"Soaring Butterflies"

Goal: development of smooth, long exhalation.

Cut out butterflies from paper and hang them on threads. Invite the child to blow on the butterfly so that it flies (while making sure that the child makes a long, smooth exhalation).

"Stork"

Goal: development of smooth, long exhalation.

Standing straight, spread your arms to the sides, and bend one leg forward. Hold the position for a few seconds. Keep your balance. As you exhale, lower your leg and arms, quietly saying “sh-sh-sh-sh.” Repeat with your child six to seven times.

"In the forest"

Goal: to form correct speech breathing.

Imagine that you are lost in a dense forest. Inhale and exhale say

"aw." Change your intonation and volume and turn left and right. Repeat with your child five to six times.

"Wave"

Goal: train the strength of inhalation and exhalation.

IP: lying on the floor, legs together, hands at your sides. As you inhale, raise your arms above your head, touching the floor, and as you exhale, slowly return to their starting position. Simultaneously with the exhalation, the child says “Vni-i-i-z.” After the child masters this exercise, speaking is canceled.

"Hamster"

Goal: development of smooth, long exhalation.

Invite your child to walk a few steps (up to 10-15), puffing out his cheeks like a hamster, then lightly slap himself on the cheeks - release the air from his mouth and walk a little more, breathing through his nose.

"Little Frog"

Goal: to form correct speech breathing.

Place your feet together. Imagine how the little frog jumps quickly and sharply, and repeat his jumps: squatting slightly, inhaling, jump forward. When you land, “croak.” Repeat three to four times.

"Indian War Cry"

Goal: to form correct speech breathing.

Invite your child to imitate the Indians' war cry: shout quietly, quickly covering and opening your mouth with your palm. This is a fun element for children that is easy to repeat. An adult can "lead"

volume”, indicating with his hand “quieter-louder”.

Exercises to practice correct pronunciation of sounds and syllables

To teach your baby to correctly pronounce vowels and consonants, syllables and sound combinations, you need to train them to pronounce them in one exhalation. Invite your baby to sing “songs” that imitate various sounds:

• “Ahhh!” - the baby is crying;
• "Uh-oh!" - the plane is flying;
• “Y-y-y!” — the steamer is humming;
• “Oh-oh-oh,” the bunny sighs;
• “F-f-f” - the balloon deflates;
• “Sh-sh-sh” - the snake hisses;
• “Ssss” - the pump is running;
• “Beep!” - the car honks;
• “Too-too” - the locomotive is moving;
• “La-la-la” - the doll sings;
• “Top-top-top” - the bear goes;
• “Drip-drip-drip” - it’s raining.

To engage your child, create a playful situation using your child’s favorite toys in class. Reinforce your speech with appropriate actions, and let the baby repeat after you.