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Let’s Talk! How Parents Can Encourage Speech Development at Home

As a parent of a nonverbal child in speech therapy, what you do at home can make a world of difference in your child’s progress. While speech therapists can pave the way for speech, the love and support you provide at home can help create a foundation for growth and communication.

Speech therapy is more than sessions with a therapist. Speech therapy makes communication easier for your child in everyday life, whether it’s through developing alternative communication methods, improving social interaction, or improving language comprehension. You can help support your child’s work at home in several different ways:

Play your favorite childhood games

Children learn naturally through play. It’s how they explore the world, build connections, and practice new skills. Research shows that meaningful and joyful activity can even boost learning in children.

Playing your favorite childhood games with your child can help them strengthen their communication skills, which could help them feel more confident when expressing themselves in their daily life.

Play games such as:

• Red light green light: Non-verbal kids can sometimes struggle with basic commands. This game can help them learn to follow directions.
• Playing house: Role-playing games can help students learn words for common household items or social interactions. Role play grocery shopping, going to school, going to the zoo, or other favorite activities.
• Hide and seek: Hide an object or a reward somewhere in the room, and help your child find it through functional communication. You can guide them toward the item by saying whether they’re “hot” or “cold” in relation to its hiding spot or guide them through directions to follow.

• Obstacle courses: Create a simple course with pillows, tunnels, or chairs. Use directions like “Go under” or “Jump over” to practice understanding and responding to instructions.

Sing along and groove to the music together

In addition to games, music and dance are powerful tools for engaging kids and encouraging communication. Songs and physical activities help children connect words with actions and emotions.

Try activities such as:

• Singing songs with actions: Sing classics like “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “Wheels on the Bus” and do the hand motions together. Pause occasionally to let your child indicate what comes next.
• Dance party: Play music and encourage your child to clap, stomp, or sway along. Take turns leading the movements to practice imitation.
• Sing-along videos or virtual dance classes: Many Disney songs have sing-along versions on YouTube. Some even have dance classes where your child can sing or dance along with their favorite character.

Use routines as learning opportunities

Daily routines can also provide natural moments for communication practice, helping your child build language and communication skills in a familiar and supportive environment.

Morning routines

• Brushing teeth: Narrate the steps as you go: “Pick up your toothbrush,” “Squeeze the toothpaste,” and “Brush up and down.” Pause to let your child imitate actions, point, or vocalize.
• Getting dressed: Offer choices to encourage decision-making. Hold up two shirts and ask, “Which one? Red or blue?” Wait for your child to point, gesture, or use their AAC device.

Mealtime opportunities

• Requesting food: Use meals to practice requesting items. Hold up their cup and ask, “Do you want water?” Wait for a gesture, sign, or vocalization before handing it over.
• Labeling food: Name foods as you serve them: “Here’s your sandwich. Banana. Juice.” Repetition helps reinforce vocabulary.
• Taking turns: Practice simple back-and-forth interactions like passing the salt or offering napkins.

Bedtime routines

• Storytime: Choose interactive books with lots of pictures. Ask questions like, “Where’s the dog?” and pause to let your child point or respond.
• Wind-down activities: Use soothing activities like talking about the day or singing lullabies to reinforce language in a calm setting.

Lastly, be patient with your child and yourself as you navigate this journey together. Progress takes time, and every small victory is worth celebrating. Remember, you’re not alone in this—your child’s speech therapist is your partner, and together, you can create a nurturing environment for growth. At Community Physical Therapy, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more about how speech therapy can empower your child and family.