Why everyday moments are powerful
Speech grows fastest when language wraps around what a child is already doing. Routines offer built-in repetition, clear context, and predictable steps, which makes new words easier to understand and remember. They also reduce pressure. When communication is part of getting dressed, pouring milk, or buckling in, practice happens often and feels natural.
Quick fact: Frequent back-and-forth conversational turns between adults and children are linked to stronger language outcomes (Psychological Science).
What to try this week
- Morning get-ready: Offer choices with short models: “Blue shirt or red shirt?” Pause 5 seconds to give time to respond. Celebrate any try, including gestures.
- Mealtime: Narrate actions and invite help: “Open. Pour. Stir.” Try playful “sabotage,” like handing a cup without a straw, to encourage requests: “More straw, please.”
- Bath and dressing: Use verbs and body parts: “Wash feet. Rinse hair.” Turn it into a routine song so words repeat in the same order.
- Errands or walks: Label and compare: “Big truck, little car.” Play I-spy with sounds or categories: “Find something that is round.”
- Laundry and chores: Sort and sequence: “Shirts in. Pants in. Push.” Practice location words like in, on, under.
- Car time: Keep it simple: echo and expand. Child: “Dog.” Adult: “Brown dog running.” Short, rich models beat quizzes.
Make it easier on you
Use catchy scripts: Repeat phrases your child can predict, like “Ready, set, go.” Predictability invites participation. Expand, don’t correct: Add one or two words to what your child says. Follow their lead: Talk about what they look at or touch. Show, then say: Pair words with gestures or pictures. If using AAC or signs, model them alongside speech. Keep wait time: Silent seconds are where thinking happens.
Small, repeated moments build big skills.
For hesitant talkers: Describe more, quiz less. Turn questions into comments: instead of “What is that?” try “Big ball. Bouncy.” Any communication counts, including sounds, pointing, or looks.
For sensitive systems: Regulate first. A wiggle break, a deep breath, or softer lighting can make communication flow more easily.
Consistency beats length. Ten intentional minutes tucked into daily routines can create hundreds of meaningful practice trials each week, building connection and communication at the same time.