If your child is working on talking, or you simply want to give their language a boost, it's easy to picture flashcards at the kitchen table. The good news is that most of the published guidance for parents points somewhere much more relaxed: the ordinary moments you already share. Here are seven ways to build communication into your day, drawn from parent resources published by organizations in the speech-language field and by pediatricians.
Why everyday moments matter more than drills
The Hanen Centre, a nonprofit focused on early language, points out that parents are well placed to support communication because they spend the most time with their child, their child is most comfortable with them, and they can use strategies naturally throughout the day, "so your child is learning in situations that are meaningful to them."[3] Hanen also notes that building communication in a child's natural environment makes it easier for them to use those skills in new situations.[3]
The consumer affiliate of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) puts it simply: supporting speech and language "starts with small, everyday moments."[1]
Seven everyday ways to support speech and language
1. Talk about what you're doing
ASHA's consumer affiliate suggests talking to your baby during baths, meals, and getting dressed, and telling them who or what you'll see during the day.[1] For older children, the same resource suggests using everyday tasks, like talking about the color, texture, and taste of food in the kitchen, or talking about what you'll buy and how many things you need at the grocery store.[1]
2. Follow your child's lead
Hanen's guidance is to notice what your child is interested in and respond by talking about that. When you do, "they hear language that matches the things they're interested in at that very moment." In Hanen's words, "children who lead get the language they need!"[2] Hanen reports that studies show children who have more interactions in which caregivers follow their lead tend to have stronger language skills.[2]
A few practical tips from the same article:[2]
- Get face-to-face, at the same physical level as your child, so you can see each other.
- "Abandon your plan" and go with your child's ideas instead of directing the play.
- Join in with your own toy and copy what your child is doing.
3. Pause and give them time to respond
Hanen's strategy called Observe, Wait, and Listen (OWL) asks parents to stop and wait without talking. Waiting gives you time to notice what your child is interested in, and it also "sends your child the message that it's their turn."[2] ASHA's consumer affiliate gives similar advice for 4- to 6-year-olds: pause after speaking to give your child a chance to respond, and put down distractions so you can be fully present.[1]
A "turn" doesn't have to be a word. Hanen notes that a conversational turn can be a gesture, a facial expression, a sound, or body language.[2]
4. Add on to what your child says
When your child says something, repeat it back and add a little more. ASHA's consumer affiliate gives this example: if your child says "Want juice," you might say, "Want juice? I have juice. I have apple juice. Do you want apple juice?"[1] For babies, the same idea applies to single words; when a baby says "Mama," you can respond with a few short sentences about Mama.[1] Hanen's tip for children using short sentences is similar: say "a bit more" than your child does.[2]
5. Offer choices and play simple games
Questions with built-in choices, like "Do you want an apple or an orange?", help a child share what they want and "understand that their words have power," according to ASHA's consumer affiliate.[1] The same resource lists low-prep games that practice listening and language:[1]
- "Simon Says" or "Red Light, Green Light" for listening and following one- and two-step directions
- A guessing game where you describe an object ("We use it to sweep the floor") and your child finds it
- A mystery box of familiar objects your child pulls out, names, and explains
- A puppet show with funny voices, talking about what each character likes, wants, and feels
For more ideas, see our home activities page.
6. Read together, and talk about the pictures
You don't have to read every word on the page. ASHA's consumer affiliate suggests talking about the pictures, asking "What's this?", and encouraging your child to point to or name things.[1] The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages shared reading from birth and says it helps build the foundation for social-emotional, cognitive, language, and literacy development.[5]
For preschoolers, the AAP suggests asking your child to tell you about the pictures and the story, responding with enthusiasm to their questions and comments, and asking them to find things that are alike, such as "Can you find all the blue things?"[6] The AAP also notes that print books offer interactivity that screens usually don't; one of its pediatricians describes touchscreen experiences as "typically passive or solitary experiences for children."[5]
7. Sing, rhyme, and use your family's languages
Simple songs and nursery rhymes help children learn the rhythm of speech, according to ASHA's consumer affiliate.[1] The same resource encourages families to "talk, sing, play, read, and listen together in any of the languages that you and your child use."[1]
Keeping it light: None of these strategies needs a set practice time. Pick one or two that fit routines you already have, such as bath time, the car ride, or dinner, and let the rest come naturally.
What if my child is already in speech therapy?
If your child sees a speech-language pathologist (SLP), ask which one or two strategies to focus on at home right now. Hanen encourages parents who are concerned about their child's language to work collaboratively with an SLP to learn research-based strategies for everyday routines.[3, 4] It also describes early communication in stages, from reacting to the world without a specific purpose to combining two or three words, which is one reason the "right" strategy can look different from one child to the next.[4] Our parent coaching page describes how SLPs can support families with this, and our guide to receptive vs. expressive language can help you think about which skills to focus on.
The bottom line
Supporting your child's speech and language at home doesn't have to look like homework. Talking about your day, following your child's interests, waiting for their turn, and adding a few words to what they say are all things you can do in minutes you already spend together. And as ASHA's consumer affiliate reminds parents, every child develops at their own pace; if you have questions or concerns, it recommends talking to an SLP rather than waiting.[1]
Sources
- Communication Health Support Association (consumer affiliate of ASHA) (n.d.). Tips for Your Child's Speech and Language Development. Helping You Communicate (CHSA).
- The Hanen Centre (n.d.). Children Who Lead Get the Language They Need!.
- The Hanen Centre (n.d.). Supporting Language Development in Young Children with Language Delay/Disorders.
- The Hanen Centre (n.d.). The Power of Parents.
- American Academy of Pediatrics (2024). Beyond Literacy: Shared Reading Starting at Birth Offers Lifelong Benefits. HealthyChildren.org.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Early Childhood (2013). How to Share Books with Your Preschooler. HealthyChildren.org.
Articles from Speech Me Therapy, a pediatric speech-language therapy practice in North Phoenix serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and families across Arizona by telehealth. Our posts summarize published guidance from professional and public health organizations; sources are listed at the end of every article.