Learning Through Play: Simple At-Home Strategies to Support Your Child’s Speech Therapy

At More Than Speech, we believe play is one of the most powerful tools for helping children develop communication skills—and that doesn’t stop when the therapy session ends. In fact, some of the most meaningful progress can happen in everyday moments at home.

The good news? You don’t need special equipment or a degree in speech-language pathology to make a difference. With just a few simple strategies, you can support your child’s development through the thing they love most: play.

Here are a few learning-through-play tactics you can start using today:

1. Narrate Your Day ("Play-by-Play Talk")

Whether you’re unloading the dishwasher, getting dressed, or walking the dog, talk through what you’re doing out loud.

• “I’m pouring the milk. Look! The milk is white.”

• “Let’s zip your jacket. Zip, zip, zip!”

Why it works: This helps children connect language with real-life actions and builds vocabulary in a natural, meaningful way.

2. Follow Their Lead

Instead of directing the play, let your child choose the activity and follow their interests. If they’re playing with cars, join in! Model phrases like:

• “Go, car, go!”

• “Uh oh, crash!”

• “Red car is fast!”

Why it works: Child-led play increases engagement and creates more authentic opportunities for communication.

3. Use Repetition with Purpose

Children learn best through repetition. Don’t be afraid to say the same word or phrase multiple times.

• “Ball! Throw the ball. Catch the ball. Yay, ball!”

Why it works: Repetition helps solidify word meaning and supports memory for both speech sounds and vocabulary.

4. Pause and Wait

During play, ask a question or make a statement, and then pause. Give your child time to respond before jumping in.

• “What do you want?” [wait]

• “The cow says…” [wait for moo]

Why it works: Waiting gives children time to process and encourages verbal participation, even if it’s just a sound or gesture.

5. Add One Word

Take your child’s words and expand on them by adding just one more word.

• Child: “Dog!”

• You: “Big dog!” or “Dog run!”

Why it works: This supports language growth without overwhelming them—you're modeling the next step up.

6. Turn Daily Routines into Mini-Therapy Sessions

You don’t need a full playroom to work on language. Use bath time, meals, and bedtime as built-in opportunities:

• Count bubbles, label body parts, sing songs, or name foods and textures.

Why it works: Consistent routines offer predictability and are perfect for reinforcing vocabulary and sequencing.

7. Read with Interaction, Not Perfection

Don’t worry about reading every word on the page. Instead, make it interactive:

• Point to pictures and ask, “What’s this?”

• Encourage sound effects or ask, “Where’s the dog?”

Why it works: Interactive reading supports vocabulary, comprehension, and joint attention—key components of communication.

Partnering With You Every Step of the Way

At More Than Speech, we know parents are the most important part of a child’s therapy journey. By bringing simple, play-based techniques into your daily routines, you’re reinforcing what we work on in the clinic—and giving your child more chances to grow, connect, and communicate confidently.

Need ideas specific to your child’s goals? We’re always happy to guide you with personalized at-home strategies during your sessions.

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Want more ideas tailored to your child’s development? Contact us to schedule a consultation or learn more about how our play-based approach can support your family.