Weekly Speech Goals

Speech and Language acquisition are a main priority for Matai at this time (and probably for a long time).  I am trying to be more disciplined and organised about learning how to support Matai in his daily life.  I have been attending the Hanen Course run by the Ministry of Education and have found it very practical and inspiring.  Part of the programme focuses on goal setting - and I think it would be very helpful to have a small specific goal in mind each week as I spend my time with Matai.  If I share it with others, my hope is that without any extra time or effort, other people might be able to also reinforce the same speech or language.  NB - Bridget the speech therapist has not seen these goals ahead of them being written here.

The idea is that each week I will focus on two specific words at home (among the very many others that we will be practising :).  One word will be focussed on for understanding, the other will be focussed on to practise production either via imitation or spontaneously. 

Aaron and I had great success with this a few months ago, when one Friday night we decided that by the end of the weekend we were going to make sure that Matai could say the word 'Mum'!  2 and a half years was long enough to go without hearing it don't you think!? Matai had 2 'Daddys' for a long time!  Because the word was accessible to Matai (he had the 'm' sound already) it was not outside of his limits, and a united and focussed front made all the difference.  By Sunday night I was no longer 'Daddy' and the sweet sound of 'Mum' has followed me ever since :)

I will be choosing words from the first 120 words checklist and I will endeavour to choose words that will be useful to Matai, or that he will have an interest in.

Being aware of the weekly goals will enable good modelling in daily situations and may be a reason to create situations / activities that will practise them. 

I will be attempting to plan some ideas for myself as to how to move towards the goal, and at the end of the week I will add an edit to the post, summarising any outcomes that should be shared.

It would be great if on occasion that you notice any progress or obstacles to these goals, if you might be able to comment and share. 
Grandma, you might be great at this!!