What is Enhanced Milieu Teaching?

Meet Susie, a playful and imaginative girl who loves going on adventures. Her parents, Sarah and Mark, noticed that Susie had difficulty expressing herself and often became frustrated. They decided to implement Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT) to help her improve her communication skills. Here’s how EMT transformed Susie’s journey:

• Natural settings: Sarah and Mark engaged with Susie during playtime, turning their living room into a magical land where they would go on exciting quests.
• Following Susie’s lead: They let Susie take the lead, allowing her imagination to flourish while encouraging her to express herself.
• Language models and prompts: Sarah and Mark used language models and prompts, like asking open-ended questions such as “What happens next?” to stimulate Susie’s language development.
• Feedback and praise: They provided positive feedback and praise whenever Susie attempted to communicate, building her confidence.
• Modeling advanced language: Sarah and Mark gently introduced new words and sentence structures to expand Susie’s vocabulary and encourage her growth.

Through EMT, Susie’s communication skills blossomed. She now confidently shares her imaginative stories, expressing herself with ease and joy.