What does 'extension' refer to in the context of enhancing child utterances?

In the context of enhancing child utterances, 'extension' refers to the practice of adding more information to the child's utterances. This technique is valuable because it helps to model richer language experiences for the child, thereby encouraging language development. By providing additional context, details, or related ideas, the adult can expose the child to new vocabulary and sentence structures, fostering their ability to communicate effectively.

This approach not only promotes better understanding of language but also supports the child's cognitive and linguistic growth by prompting them to think more critically about what they want to express. In this way, extension is a key strategy used by speech-language pathologists and educators to bolster children's language skills in naturalistic interactions.