Help Others Communicate With Your Gestalt Language Processor

Educating others about your GLP and how they communicate is an important part of affirming  your child. But, it doesn’t have to be a lengthy or complicated explanation. Your goal is to simply help set them up for success as they communicate and build a relationship with your GLP child.

First, just explain the big picture of what being a GLP means.

• Clarify that, of the 2 ways that all children develop language, Gestalt Language Processing is how YOUR child is developing. It’s not bad - it’s just not what someone may be used to.

• Point out that it is a top-down approach. First, with the learning of language in chunks of phrases, quotes, lyrics, and rhythmed speech. Then eventually, once the language is acquired, the spontaneous production of sentences for functional communication.

Then, describe what to expect from your GLP.

• Highlight the top gestalts someone could expect to hear from your child, as well as any other common communication tactics, such as gesturing, showing you YouTube video, or leading by the hand.

• Emphasize the importance of reassuring your GLP that you heard them, even if you didn’t understand what they were communicating.

• Encourage the act of repeating back what your GLP said to affirm their communication.

• Roleplay how an interaction might look and sound.

• Suggest avoiding asking questions and making demands, and instead rephrasing them into statements.

Whether it’s with family members, teachers, caretakers, or other parents, you can help pave the way for your GLP to have more positive experiences and build more connected relationships.