Building Language Through Daily Routines

Did you know you can use everyday routines to build your child’s speech and language skills? Everyday routines, such as brushing teeth, getting dressed, and mealtimes are predictable, repetitive, and meaningful times to work on speech and language skills with your child. Here are some useful strategies you can use during any daily routine.

5 Strategies for Building Language during Routines

1. Self Talk - attach words or phrases to what you are doing, ex: “I am putting toothpaste on my toothbrush” “I am cooking rice and chicken! yum”.

2. Parallel talk - attach words or phrases to what your child is doing, ex: “you are drinking milk!” “you are putting your socks on your feet”. 

3. Sing Songs - create simple songs that go along with the tune of nursery rhymes or you can look up simple songs for daily routines online.  Babies and toddlers specifically enjoy and respond to the sing songy nature of nursery rhymes and, of course, their caregivers voice. Here is an example of a song I use during teeth brushing: 

Sing to the tune of row, row your boat: 

“Brush, brush, brush your teeth, every single day, tops and bottoms all around to keep the germs away”.

4. Verbal Routines - short, consistent phrases or songs you say or sing throughout a routine. “One, two, three, go!” “First shirt, then pants!” “Wash, wash, wash your hands”. Make sure to practice saying these verbal routines the same way every time you engage in a daily routine with your child. 

5. Visuals- use pictures, simply hand draw them or print them, to supplement the vocabulary you use during a routine. Here is an example of a visual schedule you can use to help your child accomplish their morning routine at home. Check it out on TPT: Visual Schedule: Morning Routine by Fun First Therapy | TPT.

I hope you enjoyed this post!

-Lexie Starnes, MA CCC-SLP