What is the main purpose of a verbal model?

The main purpose of a verbal model is to provide verbal instructions and clear descriptions of tasks, guiding the child on what actions to take or what skills to utilize. This helps in verbalizing expectations and demonstrating language use effectively. By telling the child exactly what to do, the verbal model offers a framework for understanding and executing specific behaviors or tasks, particularly beneficial in speech and language therapy contexts.

This method facilitates clarity and comprehension, enabling the child to grasp complicated concepts through straightforward, verbal communication. It contrasts with other instructional methods, such as using touch or visual representations, which emphasize non-verbal cues. Additionally, asking questions without providing direct instructions may lead to ambiguity, which is less effective for the purpose of modeling expected behaviors.