To promote Lila's language development effectively, what step should be taken first?

Engaging in frequent verbal interactions with Lila is a foundational step to promote her language development effectively. This approach is crucial because language acquisition is significantly influenced by the quantity and quality of language models that a child is exposed to. By having rich and consistent verbal exchanges, Lila will learn new vocabulary, understand sentence structure, and practice using language in context.

Frequent interactions encourage her to respond, thus fostering her ability to express thoughts and needs. This type of engagement also builds social communication skills, which are vital for a child on the autism spectrum. The interactive nature of conversations helps in recognizing non-verbal cues and developing pragmatic language skills, which may not come naturally.

While providing parents with a list of high-frequency words can be beneficial, it lacks the immediate, personalized context that frequent interaction offers. Encouraging participation in fantasy play fosters imagination and social skills but may not directly address her immediate language needs. Lastly, while recommending services from a speech and language pathologist could be an important aspect of her overall development, the most immediate and impactful first step is to enhance verbal interactions in her everyday experience.