Adding Language to Everyday Moments
Tamara Gonzalez-Scheulov- May 2
- 5 min read
Updated: May 9
Children learn to communicate through meaningful interactions woven into their daily routines. The goal is to respond, connect, and model language naturally. Here are 10 simple speech and language stimulation techniques you can use at home to support your child’s communication development.
1. Self-Talk
Self-talk is when you describe what you’re doing, seeing, or feeling out loud while your child is nearby. Be sure to speak slow, clear, simple words and short phrases.
Example: You’re doing laundry with your child, sitting together with a basket of clothes.
“I’m folding the shirts."
"In the basket"
"big pile"
"Here comes the sock - one sock, two socks!"
"On top!"
"All done"
Why it works: Self-talk helps your child connect new words to real-life experience - a process known as fast mapping. Repeated exposure helps those words stick and become part of their growing vocabulary, even if they’re not saying them yet.
2. Parallel Talk
Parallel talk is when you describe your child’s actions, emotions, or focus out loud. You’re acting like a “narrator” for what they’re experiencing.
Example: Your child is eating lunch at the table. You sit nearby, face to face, and narrate what they’re doing.
“You have your lunch. It's lunchtime.”
You’re taking a bite - yum!”
“You’re giving Daddy a bite - thank you!”
Why it helps: As you describe your child's actions, you naturally introduce new vocabulary, like colors, actions, emotions, and simple concepts. When they hear words as they're doing something, it’s easier for them to understand and remember what those words mean.
3. Recast
A recast is when you respond to your child’s word or phrase by repeating it back in a slightly more complete or correct way.
Example: You are at the playground with your child and she says "her go down the slide".
"Yes, she went down the slide. Do you want a turn?"
Why it helps: Recasting provides a natural model of correct grammar, word order, and vocabulary. It helps children hear how their ideas can be expressed more clearly or completely, while keeping communication fun and positive.
4. Expansions
An expansion is when you take what your child says and build on it by adding more words. You’ll want to match their level and expand just a bit beyond what they said.
Example: Your child is helping in the garden, holding a spray bottle and they say "water".
Two-word expansion: "water plants"
Longer expansion: "You’re spraying water on the plants"
Why it helps: By hearing slightly expanded phrases, your child learns how their own ideas can grow into fuller sentences, gradually increasing their Mean Length of Utterance (MLU) over time.
5. Extensions
When your child says something, you can build on it by adding a little bit more information. You can match your child’s level with either short phrases or longer sentences.
Example: Your toddler is sitting at the table, holding a yellow shape from a puzzle. She says "Yeyo!"
Two-word extension: “Yellow triangle.”
Longer extension:"Wow, you found the yellow triangle!”.
Why it helps: Extensions are a powerful way to help your child learn new words, expand their ideas, and develop more complex language.
6. Choices
Give your child two simple choices and pause to give them a chance to respond verbally, with a gesture, or by pointing.
Example: At snack time you can ask "Do you want the banana or the apple?” (Hold both up and pause).
If your child reaches or points, respond right away with excitement and label what they chose - "apple"
If your child looks longer at one object or reaches with their whole hand, respond to any effort to communicate - “Oh! You’re reaching for the apple. You want the apple!”.
If your child doesn’t make a clear choice, go ahead and pick one yourself while modeling language and pointing - "Let's try the apple".
Why it helps: Encourages pointing, gestures, and verbal attempts to make a request.
7. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat!
Use the same word or phrase in different contexts to help your child hear it often and understand it better. This technique is called focused stimulation , which is a simple, effective way to build vocabulary.
Example:
“You have your shoes.”
“Let’s put on your shoes.”
“Shoes go on your feet.”
“Shoes on. Ready to go!”
Why it helps: Reinforces your child’s understanding of words and helps new vocabulary stick. Focused repetition in real-life situations gives your child rich language input in a natural, pressure-free way.
8. Communication Temptations
Create opportunities to communicate. Intentionally place a desired item just out of reach, offer a toy or activity that requires adult help (e.g., a wind-up toy, bubbles with a tight lid), or “forget” a part of a familiar routine. Wait and watch, then model language if needed.
Example: Offer your child something they want, like a favorite snack, but place it in a container they can’t open. Hand it to them and pause. Give them time to react. Watch for any attempts to communicate - a look, a sound, a gesture, or even a frustrated expression.
If your child responds: Celebrate it! Respond warmly and naturally. You might say: “Do you need help?” “Oh no! You can’t open it!” “You want the crackers!” .Then give them the snack or open the container. This shows them that communication works.
If your child doesn't respond: That’s okay! You can model the language yourself - “Help” or “Open” while making eye contact and using gestures (i.e., pair with sign or point). This gives your child the words they can try next time.
Why it helps: These small communication temptations motivate your child to initiate communication, whether through eye contact, gestures, pointing, or words. They create natural moments for back-and-forth interaction and give your child a reason to engage.
9. Sound Effects & Play Sounds
Use fun, exaggerated sounds during everyday routines and playtime. This technique is known as speech sound stimulation.
Example: When playing with your child.
While playing with cars:“Vroom! Beep beep!”
During pretend animal play:“Moo!” “Quack quack!” “Ribbit!”, "Roar"
When something drops:“Uh oh!” or "Oops"
Building with blocks: “Crash!” or “Boom!”
Why it helps: Helps build sound awareness and facilitates vocal play. Research shows that speech sound stimulation through playful vocalizations can support early speech development, especially in children who are just beginning to talk .
10. Follow Your Child's Lead
Talk about what interests your child in the moment. Notice what your child is interested in and join in! Let their focus guide the interaction.
Example: If they’re playing with trains:
"You’re pushing the train on the track - choo choo!” (parallel talk)
“Here comes my train - choo choo" (self-talk)
Why it helps: Increases engagement and makes language more meaningful. Following their lead creates the perfect opportunity to also use other strategies—like self-talk, parallel talk, expansions, and sound effects in a way that feels fun, responsive, and child-centered.
References:
Eichten, P. (2000). Help me talk: A parent's guide to speech and language stimulation techniques for children 1–3 years. Self-published.
Girolametto, L., & Weitzman, E. (2006). Facilitating language skills: Involving parents in early intervention. Infants and Young Children, 19(1), 36–46. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001163-200601000-00005
Tannock, R. (2009). Language intervention in the early years. In J. P. Shonkoff & S. J. Meisels (Eds.), Handbook of early childhood intervention (2nd ed., pp. 379–398). Cambridge University Press.
Weitzman, E., & Greenberg, J. (2002). It takes two to talk: A practical guide for parents of children with language delays (2nd ed.). The Hanen Centre.
