What simple words can I teach my child with speech delays to share feelings? 

Parenting Perspective 

Start with Simple Words 

When supporting a child with speech delays, one of the greatest challenges is helping them to express their emotions. Communication is crucial for building self-awareness and confidence, and while speech delays may present hurdles, your child can learn to share their feelings with patience and the right approach. Start with simple words that are easy to understand and pronounce. Basic emotional terms like happy, sad, angry, or tired are a great place to begin. For instance, you might say, ‘I feel happy,’ or ‘I feel sad,’ encouraging your child to use these phrases when they experience those emotions. 

Use Physical Cues and Visual Aids 

To help them associate words with feelings, you can use physical cues. For example, when your child is feeling overwhelmed, you could teach them to say, ‘I feel upset,’ while holding their hands to their chest, or tapping their head when they are confused. This gives them a non-verbal way to communicate their feelings before they can say the words. Visual aids, such as emotion charts or flashcards, can also be incredibly helpful. These can show pictures of different faces expressing happiness, sadness, or anger, making it easier for your child to connect a feeling with a word. 

Create a Safe Environment for Practice 

It is important to create a safe environment where your child feels comfortable experimenting with words. Praise them for every effort, no matter how small. Even if they only manage a whisper or a gesture, this is still progress. Encourage your child to say their feelings out loud and repeat the words frequently in different contexts, so they begin to build a habit of expression. Over time, as they grow more comfortable, they will start to feel more confident in their ability to communicate. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam emphasises the value of emotional expression and encourages kindness and gentleness in communication. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ beautifully expressed this in a Hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim, 2569: 

‘Speak well or remain silent.‘

This reminds us that expressing feelings is not only about speaking but about doing so with sincerity and care. By teaching your child to express their feelings, you are not just helping them to communicate, you are encouraging them to do so in a way that honours their emotions and others around them. 

Furthermore, the Quran highlights the importance of trusting Allah with our feelings. Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Tawbah (9), Verse 51: 

‘Say (O Prophet Muhammad ﷺ): no (calamity or difficulty) shall ever befall upon us, except what has been decreed by Allah (Almighty); He is our Lord, and so the believers place their full reliance upon Allah (Almighty). ‘

This verse can be shared with your child to help them understand that their emotions are part of Allah’s plan for them, and expressing them is a way of connecting with their inner self and trusting in Allah’s wisdom. 

Before speaking up about their feelings, you can teach your child to make a simple Dua, such as: ‘Ya Allah, help me to say what is in my heart.’ This prayer can help them feel calm and supported as they begin to express their emotions.