If you’re reading this, you might be hearing your child repeat lines from TV shows, films, or songs… over and over again.
Maybe it feels like it comes out of nowhere. Maybe it doesn’t quite fit the situation. And maybe you’ve been told they’re “just copying” or that you should try to stop it. But this isn’t random. And it’s ABSOLUTELY not something you need to stop.
This is communication.
What’s actually happening
Many children, especially autistic children, are gestalt language processors. That means they don’t learn language one word at a time. They actually learn it in chunks.
So instead of learning:
“want” + “drink”
They learn full phrases like:
“Do you want a drink?”
And those phrases often come from places that are:
- familiar
- predictable
- emotionally meaningful
Like TV shows.
So when your child repeats TV lines, they’re not just copying. They’re using language they already have, to try and communicate something. Even if it doesn’t sound like it “fits” yet.
A quick real example
Recently, I worked with a child who kept repeating a line from Hey Dugee. On the surface, it didn’t seem to make sense. It sounded random. But when we looked a little closer at when it was happening, it became clear. She was using that line when he was feeling overwhelmed and unsure what was happening next. That Hey Dugee phrase wasn’t random, it was familiar, safe, and stored language she could access in that moment.
So instead of trying to stop it, we translated it.
We started modelling simple phrases like:
- “Help me”
- “What’s happening?”
- “I don’t like it”
Over time, that’s how language begins to shift.
What about my own experience?
I see this all the time, not just in the families I work with, but in my own home too. Tommy has used scripts, songs, and repeated phrases in exactly the same way. And I know how confusing it can feel when you’re trying to work out what your child actually means. But once you start looking at it differently,
everything starts to make more sense.
What you can do instead (simple tips)
1. Don’t try to stop it
This is your child’s current way of communicating.
If we remove it, we remove their voice.
2. Think: “What could this mean?”
Look at:
- what’s happening
- how they’re feeling
- when they’re saying it
There is always a reason.
3. Model simple, meaningful phrases
Instead of correcting, offer alternatives:
- “Help me”
- “My turn”
- “Stop”
- “I want snack”
No pressure to repeat - just model consistently.
The most important thing to remember
Your child is communicating.
Even if it doesn’t sound how you expected.
Even if you don’t understand it yet.
This is a stage It’s not the end point.
If this sounds like your child and you’re not sure what their scripts mean, or how to support them, I can help you break it down.
👉 Start with a £16 personalised support plan
👉 Or book a 1:1 session with me
Because when you understand your child’s language…
everything starts to feel a little bit easier.
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