Summer in Central Florida is a great time to engage children in activities designed to strengthen language and communication skills.
Language Rich Activities That Are Fun And Educational
Water play to encourage language skills
Whether it is in your backyard, a community park, or even inside with different size containers of water, there are many opportunities to encouraging language skills. For instance, verbs like ‘pour’, ‘scoop’, ‘drip’, and ‘splash. Exclamatory words ‘yuck’, ‘yay’, ‘wow’, and concept words such as ‘cold’, ‘hot’, ‘dry’, and ‘wet’.
During water play activities, try to follow your child’s lead. Comment on their actions by saying relevant comments, such as “fill it up” or “pour, pour, pour”.
Sand play can support communication and language skills
Children love playing in sand, whether this rich sensory activity is with kinetic sand in a tray inside or a sandbox outside. Encourage core words during sand play, such as ‘all done’, ‘more’, ‘dump’, ‘fill’. Concept words, ‘dirty’, ‘clean’, ‘heavy’, ‘dry’, and ‘wet’.
It is also a great time to support non-verbal actions, if your child lifts a bucket, say words they can use such as “help me” or “it’s heavy”.
Playing with sidewalk chalk fosters language and creativity
Sidewalk chalk is a fun and engaging way to encourage communication skills and gestures. Try using gestures name the objects that are drawn. For instance, draw cars and make the ‘driving’ gesture or draw ice cream, then make the gesture of licking the ice cream.
It is also a great way to encourage pointing, by asking the child to point at different drawings.
Applying sunscreen is another way to encourage language skills
Ask your child which body part do they want to put on sunscreen on first. For example, “your legs or arms next?”. Not only is this a great way to have sunscreen applied, it teaches body parts.
Offer your child choices, name body parts as you point to them, and ask them which one is next. The child can say the word, point, look, or even sing their mode of communication.
If you are concerned about your child’s speech and language development, keep a notebook of what they are doing or saying and bring it to your speech pathologist
If you have any questions or concerns about your child, we encourage you to contact Orlando’s First Words Therapy. We take a holistic approach to speech-language-therapy to help your child communicate more effectively.
Our therapists have extensive clinical experience and training, ensuring your child receives the highest level of care.
