Everyday Language-Building Tips from Little Tesla Pediatric Therapy
Supporting your child’s speech and language development doesn’t require fancy materials or special training—it just takes intentional moments, play, and a lot of talking together throughout the day!
Here are some of our favorite SLP-approved strategies from the team at Little Tesla Pediatric Therapy to help encourage early language growth for your little one:
1. Offer Choices During Daily Routines
From snack time to getting dressed, you can create communication opportunities by offering visual choices:
“Do you want the red cup or the blue cup?” “Should we read this book or that one?”
Even if your child is nonverbal, they may point, reach, or imitate your words to express their choice. It’s a simple way to encourage requests and expressive language.
2. Practice Turn-Taking
Choose a time each day to sit face-to-face and take turns during play. Try using:
Simple games
Puzzles
Cause-and-effect toys
Or even sitting at a small table or booster chair to limit distractions
Turn-taking teaches the foundation of back-and-forth communication—a critical building block for conversation.
3. Read Together, Every Day
Books are one of the best tools for language growth!
Try adding “books before bed” as part of your child’s nighttime routine. Choose:
Board books with colorful images
Touch-and-feel books for sensory play
Interactive books that invite pointing and naming
Ask questions like “Where’s the dog?” or “What’s happening here?” to build comprehension and vocabulary.
4. Get Silly and PLAY!
Be animated, expressive, and playful. Language develops best when your child is having fun and engaged in shared experiences.
Pretend play with dinosaurs or dolls
Car races on the floor
Peekaboo or hide-and-seek
Rolling a ball back and forth
These fun, simple activities build joint attention, social language, and imitation skills.
5. Narrate Everything You Do
Use routines as natural teaching opportunities by describing your actions out loud:
“I’m folding the red shirt!”
“We’re pouring milk into your cup.”
“We wash, wash, wash in the bath!”
The more words your child hears in context, the more vocabulary they absorb—and the more chances they’ll have to imitate and label the world around them.
6. Build Language During Bath Time
Bath time is a perfect time to practice early vocabulary, body part identification, and action words like:
“Splash!”
“Pour!”
“In” and “Out”
“Wash, wash, wash!”
“Uh-oh!”
Add some bath toys, bubbles, or bath-safe paint, and don’t forget to sing a few silly songs while you’re at it!
Little Tesla Tip:
Your child learns best from you, in the moments you share together every day. Keep things simple, repeat often, and most of all—have fun connecting through language!
Need more guidance on language strategies or speech therapy support?
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