How to Encourage Language During Play

Early on as infants your child gets to know the world through their 5 senses – looking at people’s faces, hearing their parents talk, mouthing objects, etc.  As they gain more motor control they start to engage in functional play, which involves actions such as shaking a rattle, banging on a drum, or rolling a ball to a person.  You are essentially setting the foundation of language during this time.  You model the action, physically prompt their hand if they need assistance, and eventually they will independently imitate the action.  This back and forth exchange will later lead to imitation of sounds and words.  As they are playing, you are going to start to observe exploration of sounds through babbling and jargon.  If your child says something such as “bababa” repeat it right back to them to encourage skills such as turn-taking and imitation.  Model sound effects such as “uh oh” if a shape does not fit in a shape sorter or animals noises while you’re playing with a farm. 

As they get older, your child will then move onto pretend play and dramatic play.  In order to encourage expressive language during play, encourage your child to request a toy by giving them an option and having them point to the desired item or saying the word for it.  If your child says one word such as “baby,” model a longer phrase such as “I want baby.”  Feel free to model actions and language for your child.  Use physical prompting as necessary.  For instance, if you’re racing cars say “Wow that car is fast!” as you drive the car and then make it go down the ramp and model “DOWN DOWN DOWN goes the car.”  Putting emphasis on specific words allows it to stand out in your child’s mind.  Or if you’re having a tea party and they do not know how to pour the tea, grab their hand and show them how to pour it in a cup as you say “Pour the tea” and then pretend to drink it and say “Ouch it’s hot!”  Play is the perfect opportunity to target nouns, actions, adjectives, prepositions, pronouns, and more!  And as they get older you can focus on more complex skills such as asking questions, answering questions, sequencing, recalling past events, and creating longer sentences. 

You can also focus on receptive language during play, which is understanding language.  Have your child follow a variety of directions during play.  In the beginning it could be basic directions such as “Give me the block” and you can give a prompt by holding out your hand.  You can then fade the prompts and give them a 1-step direction such as “Feed the baby.”  And once they’re ready you can move onto more complex and multi-step commands that involve distance such as “Go get the truck in your bedroom and bring it to me.”  Use modeling and physical prompting as needed.

We encourage you to take advantage of the various enrichment activities within your community such as art, movement, and cooking classes.  It’s a great way to introduce new language and socialize with similar-aged peers.  Play dates are also a fantastic way to encourage language.  At first you will observe your child engaging in parallel play, which is playing side by side.  Some of our favorite toys to encourage parallel play with other children include a play kitchen, tool bench, garage, dollhouse, etc.  It’s also the perfect opportunity to encourage social games with other children such as hide-n-seek and chase.  They can practice initiating interaction by calling someone’s name or tapping someone to get their attention as well as turn-taking with peers.  You can model phrases and questions such as “my turn,” “your turn,” “Can I play?,” “Help me,” etc. 

Alpin Rezvani, M.A., CCC-SLP is the Founder of Princeton Playspace – a unique 5,000 square foot indoor playground that offers open play, classes, birthday parties, special events, speech therapy, and more in Princeton, New Jersey.  There are endless opportunities to learn language through play at Princeton Playspace through a print-rich environment with a variety of activities ranging from a Lego wall, sensory boxes, magnetic walls, pretend play town, train table, jungle gym, infant/toddler area, and a whole lot more!  Princeton Playspace also offers a variety of classes and services such as art, yoga, dance, social skills groups, and speech therapy.  Visit them at 745 Alexander Road, Princeton, NJ, online www.princetonplayspace.com at or call 609-919-9600.