LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AT HOME
Language development activities at home can be both fun and educational, helping children improve their vocabulary, communication skills, and comprehension. For kids who are attending speech therapy, it’s a way to supplement the work done in therapy sessions. For children, especially, learning new speech skills in a familiar environment can make the process more relaxed and natural. Plus, home is where we spend most of our time, making it the perfect place for practising those essential communication skills.
Short, frequent sessions tend to be more effective than longer, sporadic ones. You don’t need to set aside hours for this; 10 to 15 minutes a day can make a difference.
- Storytelling with Picture Cards
If your child loves stories, this could be a good exercise to accelerate their speech development. Grab a set of picture cards, or a book with lots of pictures, and let your child create a story by describing what they see.
Lay out several picture cards and ask your child to make up a story using the images. For example, a picture of a dog, a tennis ball, and a tree could lead to a tale about a dog playing fetch in the backyard. Storytelling helps build language skills, creativity, and sentence structure. It also encourages children to think critically and organize their thoughts—important skills for both speech and writing.
2.Sing-Along Sessions
Singing is a fantastic way to work on speech patterns, rhythm, and articulation. This exercise is as simple as picking a song your child enjoys and singing together.
Pick simple, repetitive songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” or “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” As you sing, emphasize certain words or sounds. You can also pause mid-song and have your child fill in the missing words.
Singing encourages speech in a rhythmic, repetitive way. It’s also a low-pressure activity, making it perfect for children who might feel nervous about traditional speech exercises.
3.Describe and Guess Game
This activity focus on building descriptive language and communication skills.
Choose an object in the room and describe it without naming it. For example, you might say, “It’s round, and we use it to play soccer.” Your child will then guess the object you’re describing. You can take turns, letting your child describe while you guess, too.
This activity builds descriptive vocabulary and helps children learn how to communicate ideas clearly and concisely. It’s a great way to teach adjectives, verbs, and sentence structure.
4.Cooking Together: Cooking isn’t just about preparing meals—it’s an excellent opportunity for boosting language development. As you cook, talk about the steps involved, name ingredients, and describe what’s happening. For example, “First, we mix the flour. What’s next?” This encourages conversation and builds vocabulary.
5.Bath Time Chats: Bath time is another great opportunity for speech practice. Use this time to name body parts, talk about actions (like washing or splashing), or sing bath-time songs. It’s a relaxing environment that makes learning feel natural.