04/21/2026
Using written scripts to teach language can be controversial — and honestly, that’s fair. But when used thoughtfully, they can be an incredibly powerful tool.
In this reel, you’ll see a clear shift — starting with a written script for “what’s in the bag?” and then moving to the child asking a question independently once the script has been faded. He’s using the language function of requesting information on his own, and that’s a big step forward.
When introducing written scripts to help a child begin asking questions, a few key things matter:
Even if you start with one question form (“what”), it’s important to vary the rest of the question from the very beginning. This helps prevent rote, memorized responses and supports more flexible language use.
And just as important — the answer to the question should be inherently reinforcing, especially in the early stages. The child needs a meaningful reason to ask.
In this clip, you’ll see the contrast — full written script followed by no written script. The work in between isn’t shown here, but this is the outcome we’re building toward.
Asking on his own without the script?! BIG win!!!