Milieu

Teaching

What is Milieu Teaching?

Milieu Teaching is a set of strategies used to promote language
development during everyday parent-child interactions.

Why is this important?

Parents are their child’s first play partner and language teacher. The
role of parents is crucial when a child is having a hard time learning
language. Training parents to use these strategies has proven
effective in language and communication development of children.
 Milieu Teaching
Strategies
1. Mand-Model: provide a prompt, or small sentence, to cue your child to talk or point
a. During snack time, before giving your child the desired snack, ask, “want snack?” to elicit language from your child.
Give your child the wanted snack item and praise for any communication attempt.
2. Modeling: say exactly what you want your child to say
a. While giving your child a bath, model and state, “splash!” while creating a splash in the water.
3. Incidental Teaching: put toys, or desired items, out of reach to obtain requests from your child; intentionally “forget” items
a. During play with a racetrack, set up the racetrack but purposefully “forget” the cars or put them out of reach to
elicit a request for the cars from your child.
4. Time Delay: pausing 5-20 seconds, with expectant look, before talking to the child
a. If your child wants a block you have, make the motion of handing it to them with an expectant look on your face
and wait for up to 20 seconds for a communication attempt. Reward your child with the block for any
communication attempt.

Adaptations
Behavior support: use visual schedules to show schedule of events, timers to signal ‘all done’, have clear expectations, brief
sessions, and use activities your child likes

Play support: choose materials of interest and use strategies during specific times of the day (i.e., bath time or snack time)

Resources
http://mosaic.pitt.edu/milieuteaching.html

https://www.researchautism.net/autism-interventions/types/behavioural-and-developmental/behavioural/milieu-teaching-and-
autism

References
Christensen-Sandfort, R. J., & Whinnery S. B., (2013). Impact of milieu teaching on communication skills of young children with

autism spectrum disorder. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 32 (4), 211-222.

Dinehart L. H., Kaiser, M. Y., & Hughs C. R., (2009). Language delay and the effect of milieu teaching on children born cocaine

exposed: A pilot study. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 21 (9), 9-22.

Hancock, T. B., & Kaiser, P. A., (1996). Siblings use of milieu teaching at home. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 16

(2), 168-190.

Kaiser, P. A., Hemmeter, L. M., Ostrosky, M. M., Alpert L. C., & Hancock T. B., (1995). The effects of group training and individual

feedback on parent use of milieu teaching. Journal of Childhood Communication Disorders, 16 (2), 39-48.