Dr. Rhonda Richmond
I have a saying that goes like this:
“If you can think it, you can say it.
If you can say it, you can write it.
If you can write it, you can read it.
If you can read it, you can teach it.
If you can teach it, you will believe it.
If you believe it, you will achieve it.”
As a mom who has dealt with my own learning disabilities, I understand how intimidating it can feel to help your child with their learning, especially if you don’t feel super confident with your own literacy skills. You might even be asking yourself, “How can I guide my child when I have difficulties myself?” Trust me, I’ve asked myself this question more times than I can count!
But here’s where I find comfort: Philippians 4:13 reminds us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Whenever I felt overwhelmed or inadequate, I leaned on God, knowing that He equips us for every challenge, including the ones we face as parents. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but He does ask us to rely on His strength.
I’ll be honest with you—communication has been one of the biggest challenges for me, especially when it comes to speaking out loud. I’ve struggled with everything from word formation (like creating new words with prefixes and suffixes) to phonics and vocabulary. And believe it or not, writing and reading were even harder for me! After multiple failed attempts at starting with reading or writing, I realized I needed to adjust my approach and focus on speaking first.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” This verse has always reminded me of the importance of our words. Even when I wasn’t confident in my own speaking, I knew that every word spoken to my child had the power to encourage, guide, and uplift them. And so, I chose to speak life over my child’s learning process.
If your child is non-verbal, please know that just because they aren’t communicating with words doesn’t mean they can’t understand you or find other ways to express themselves. Communication is about connection, and there are so many ways to connect! Psalm 139:14 reminds us, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Every child, verbal or non-verbal, is uniquely created by God with a purpose. Don’t be discouraged if your child’s communication looks different—God has equipped them with their own ways of expressing themselves.
Speaking Like Adults (Yes, Even to Kids!)
One thing I learned early on was that children mimic what we do, so “baby talk” was out of the question for me. Speaking in that way was teaching my kids to pronounce words incorrectly, so I made a point to talk to them like I would talk to another adult. You know what? It ended up being a great decision! Not only did it help my kids learn proper language skills, but it also helped me feel less lonely as a mom, especially on those days when I was craving adult conversation (I’m sure some of you know exactly what I mean—LOL!).
The Bible teaches us in Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” The way we speak to our children can build them up, whether we’re teaching them new words or just chatting about everyday life. God calls us to use our words wisely, and speaking clearly and respectfully to our kids is one way we can honor that call.
How We Started Our Lessons
So how did we begin? Well, it wasn’t fancy or complicated. I’d start by telling my child what we were going to do: “Today, I’m going to read a sentence, and I want you to follow along with me. Then we’ll talk about it.” Once I explained the plan, I’d read the sentence: “The big black cat ran down the street.” I’d use different voices—sometimes silly, sometimes serious—just to make it fun and grab my child’s attention. Then, I’d ask simple questions like:
- What ran?
- What color was it?
- How did it go down the street?
- Why do you think it ran?
The goal was to get us talking about the sentence, and as my kids got older, I’d ask them to continue the story. I’d say, “What do you think happened to the cat after it ran?” That way, we were building a story together, sparking their imagination while also working on communication.
Finding Opportunities Everywhere
I quickly realized that communication didn’t have to be limited to formal lessons. I started talking about everything! We’d chat about books, cereal boxes, and the items in our pantry. When we were driving, we’d talk about the weather, the people we saw, or the place we were heading to—how far it was, what we expected to do there, and so on.
I’d also talk through everyday tasks. If I was cooking in the kitchen, I’d describe what I was doing out loud with the kids in the room. I’d talk about the steps I was taking, celebrate my successes, and even laugh about my mistakes. I’d say things like, “Oops! I think I put too much salt in! What should I do to fix it?” And I’d encourage my kids to respond in whatever way they could—whether it was nodding, pointing, or even trying to communicate through gestures or their device.
Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” This verse became a foundation for how I approached every conversation with my kids. Whether we were talking about school or cooking, I tried to remind myself that every moment was an opportunity to give glory to God and to model that gratitude to my children.
The Key to It All: Just Keep Talking
Here’s the thing I want to share with every parent out there: it doesn’t matter if you’re a literacy expert or if you’re struggling yourself—what matters is that you keep communicating. Speak with your child about anything and everything. Whether they’re verbal or non-verbal, the goal is to connect with them, help them express themselves in their own way, and let them see that learning can be fun and flexible.
Galatians 6:9 tells us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Parents, I know it can be exhausting, but don’t give up! Keep talking, keep connecting, and trust that God is working through every conversation, every lesson, and every challenge. If I can do it—trust me—you can too! Just keep talking, laughing, and enjoying the process, and you’ll be amazed at how much progress your child will make along the way.
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