The Power of Waiting

Never underestimate the power of waiting quietly

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Bluebell in foreground, beach and sea in the distance

Go SLOW

Pacing means slowing everything down to allow time for your child to process the information provided and respond

You are waiting for your child to indicate that they have received your message.
If you jump in too quickly you give the child extra information to process and respond to.

Instead of rushing in PAUSE count to 10… or maybe even 15

When we pause we allow the child time to process what has been said, to notice the environment, to recognise feelings (self and others), to recall relevant memories, and to respond to this information.

Silence is your friend

Many of us struggle not to fill the silence. It may feel awkward and uncomfortable to wait. For the majority of us it is an approach that doesn’t come naturally.. It takes time and regular practise to develop the skill of slowing down and waiting. It can be helpful to video an interaction between yourself and your child to observe how you can develop the skill of PAUSING and WAITING.

Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……because Speech Therapy Matters