Communication, Speech & Language Skills

Master these essential components of Communication, Speech & Language Skills

Eye Contact

Establishing and maintaining visual connection with caregivers, fostering social engagement and communication.

Activities:

  • 1Peek-a-Boo: Play peek-a-boo to encourage the child to look at your face.
  • 2Facial Expressions Game: Make exaggerated facial expressions (e.g., smiling, widening eyes) to draw their attention.
  • 3Follow the Toy: Hold a toy near your face and move it slowly to encourage the child to look at your eyes.
  • 4Mirror Play: Use a mirror to help the child notice their own and your facial expressions.
  • 5Singing with Eye Contact: Sing songs while maintaining eye contact (e.g., 'If You're Happy and You Know It').

Joint Attention

Sharing focus on an object or event with another person (e.g., following a caregiver's gaze or pointing).

Activities:

  • 1Point and Look: Point to an object and say, 'Look!' while encouraging the child to follow your gaze.
  • 2Shared Book Reading: Point to pictures in a book and name them, encouraging the child to look at the pictures.
  • 3Bubble Play: Blow bubbles and point to them, saying, 'Look at the bubbles!'
  • 4Toy Exploration: Play with a toy together, taking turns to hold and point at its features.
  • 5Follow the Leader: Use a toy car or animal and move it while saying, 'Let's see where it goes!'

Turn-Taking

Participating in back-and-forth interactions (e.g., vocal exchanges, peek-a-boo).

Activities:

  • 1Rolling a Ball: Roll a ball back and forth, taking turns.
  • 2Vocal Turn-Taking: Make sounds (e.g., 'ba-ba') and wait for the child to respond with their own sounds.
  • 3Stacking Blocks: Take turns stacking blocks and knocking them down.
  • 4Peek-a-Boo: Alternate hiding and revealing your face.
  • 5Toy Exchange: Pass a toy back and forth, saying, 'My turn, your turn.'

Vocalizations

Producing sounds as a precursor to speech, including cooing, babbling, and variegated babbling.

Activities:

  • 1Imitate Sounds: Imitate the child's cooing or babbling sounds to encourage them to respond.
  • 2Sing Nursery Rhymes: Sing simple songs with repetitive sounds (e.g., 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star').
  • 3Animal Sounds: Make animal sounds (e.g., 'moo,' 'baa') and encourage the child to mimic them.
  • 4Sound Play: Use toys that make sounds (e.g., rattles, squeaky toys) and encourage the child to vocalize.
  • 5Mirror Babbling: Sit in front of a mirror and make sounds together.

Gestures

Using nonverbal cues to communicate (e.g., pointing, waving, reaching, nodding).

Activities:

  • 1Wave Bye-Bye: Demonstrate waving and encourage the child to imitate.
  • 2Pointing Practice: Point to objects and name them, encouraging the child to point as well.
  • 3Clapping Hands: Clap your hands and encourage the child to join in.
  • 4Reaching Games: Place toys just out of reach and encourage the child to reach for them.
  • 5High Fives: Give high fives and celebrate when the child imitates.

Facial Expressions

Conveying emotions through smiles, frowns, or surprise.

Activities:

  • 1Emotion Cards: Use cards with faces showing different emotions and mimic them.
  • 2Mirror Play: Make faces in the mirror and encourage the child to copy.
  • 3Emotion Songs: Sing songs about emotions (e.g., 'If You're Happy and You Know It').
  • 4Dramatic Play: Use puppets or stuffed animals to act out emotions.
  • 5Surprise Box: Use a box with a surprise inside and react with exaggerated facial expressions.

Emotional Reciprocity

Responding to and mirroring caregivers' emotions (e.g., smiling when smiled at).

Activities:

  • 1Mirror Emotions: Mirror the child's emotions (e.g., smile when they smile).
  • 2Comforting Play: Comfort a doll or stuffed animal and encourage the child to do the same.
  • 3Emotion Matching: Match your facial expressions to the child's emotions.
  • 4Happy Songs: Sing happy songs and encourage the child to join in.
  • 5Reactive Play: React enthusiastically to the child's actions (e.g., clap when they stack blocks).

Imitation

Copying sounds, facial expressions, or actions (e.g., clapping, blowing raspberries).

Activities:

  • 1Copy Sounds: Imitate the child's sounds and encourage them to imitate yours.
  • 2Action Songs: Sing action songs (e.g., 'Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes') and encourage imitation.
  • 3Toy Play: Use toys to demonstrate actions (e.g., shaking a rattle) and encourage the child to copy.
  • 4Facial Imitation: Make simple facial expressions (e.g., sticking out your tongue) and encourage imitation.
  • 5Movement Games: Do simple movements (e.g., clapping, stomping) and encourage the child to follow.

Intentional Communication

Deliberately signaling needs or interests (e.g., crying for food, pointing at a toy).

Activities:

  • 1Choice-Making: Offer two toys and wait for the child to reach or point to indicate their choice.
  • 2Requesting Games: Place toys in clear containers and wait for the child to signal they want them.
  • 3Sign Language: Introduce simple signs (e.g., 'more,' 'eat') to encourage intentional communication.
  • 4Pause and Wait: During play, pause and wait for the child to signal they want to continue.
  • 5Toy Out of Reach: Place a toy just out of reach and wait for the child to communicate their desire for it.

Response to Name

Turning or reacting when their name is called.

Activities:

  • 1Name Game: Call the child's name and reward them with a smile or toy when they respond.
  • 2Hide and Seek: Call the child's name while hiding and reward them when they find you.
  • 3Sing Their Name: Incorporate the child's name into songs (e.g., '[Name] is here!').
  • 4Name and Touch: Call their name and gently touch their shoulder to get their attention.
  • 5Daily Routines: Use their name frequently during daily activities (e.g., '[Name], it's time to eat!').

Auditory Discrimination

Distinguishing between sounds (e.g., recognizing a caregiver's voice vs. background noise).

Activities:

  • 1Sound Matching: Play matching games with sounds (e.g., animal sounds, instruments).
  • 2Sound Hunt: Hide a noise-making toy and encourage the child to find it by listening.
  • 3Music Play: Play different types of music and encourage the child to react to changes.
  • 4Voice Recognition: Record familiar voices and play them back for the child to identify.
  • 5Environmental Sounds: Point out and name everyday sounds (e.g., doorbell, birds chirping).

Social Referencing

Looking to caregivers for emotional cues in unfamiliar situations.

Activities:

  • 1New Toy Introduction: Introduce a new toy and show excitement or caution, encouraging the child to look at you for cues.
  • 2Stranger Play: Have a new person interact with the child while you provide reassuring cues.
  • 3Unfamiliar Situations: Create mild unfamiliar situations (e.g., new room) and model calm behavior.
  • 4Emotion Cues: Use exaggerated facial expressions to show how to react to new experiences.
  • 5Mirror Reactions: Use a mirror to show how emotions are expressed and referenced.

Cause-and-Effect Understanding

Learning that actions have outcomes (e.g., shaking a rattle to produce sound).

Activities:

  • 1Button Toys: Use toys that produce sounds or lights when buttons are pressed.
  • 2Pop-Up Toys: Play with toys where actions (e.g., pushing a lever) produce a result.
  • 3Ball Drop: Drop a ball into a container and show the child the result.
  • 4Musical Instruments: Use instruments (e.g., drum, xylophone) to show cause and effect.
  • 5Light Switches: Let the child turn lights on and off to see the effect.

Symbolic Play

Using objects to represent something else (e.g., pretending a banana is a phone).

Activities:

  • 1Pretend Cooking: Use toy kitchen items to 'cook' and 'serve' food.
  • 2Doll Play: Pretend to feed or dress a doll.
  • 3Toy Phone: Use a toy phone to 'talk' to someone.
  • 4Block Building: Use blocks to represent buildings or cars.
  • 5Animal Play: Use toy animals to create pretend scenarios (e.g., farm, zoo).

Receptive Language (Early Understanding)

Recognizing familiar words or phrases (e.g., responding to 'no' or 'bye-bye').

Activities:

  • 1Simple Commands: Give simple commands (e.g., 'clap hands,' 'wave bye-bye').
  • 2Object Identification: Ask the child to point to familiar objects (e.g., 'Where's the ball?').
  • 3Following Directions: Play games that involve following simple directions (e.g., 'roll the ball').
  • 4Routine Cues: Use consistent phrases during routines (e.g., 'time to eat').
  • 5Picture Books: Point to and name pictures in books, asking the child to find them.

Motor Skills for Communication

Developing oral-motor and physical coordination to support communication (e.g., chewing, blowing, gesturing).

Activities:

  • 1Chewing Games: Offer teething toys or safe foods to practice chewing.
  • 2Blowing Bubbles: Encourage blowing bubbles or through a straw.
  • 3Finger Play: Sing songs with finger movements (e.g., 'Itsy Bitsy Spider').
  • 4Reaching Games: Place toys just out of reach to encourage reaching and grasping.
  • 5Clapping and Patting: Practice clapping hands or patting surfaces.

Rituals and Routines

Anticipating patterns in daily activities (e.g., bedtime routines), aiding language structure comprehension.

Activities:

  • 1Consistent Bedtime Routine: Follow the same steps every night (e.g., bath, story, song).
  • 2Mealtime Rituals: Use consistent phrases and actions during meals (e.g., 'yummy food').
  • 3Greeting Rituals: Wave and say 'hello' or 'goodbye' consistently.
  • 4Playtime Routines: Start and end playtime with the same song or action.
  • 5Transition Cues: Use a specific song or phrase to signal transitions (e.g., 'clean-up time').

Attention Span

Focusing on objects, faces, or interactions for increasing periods.

Activities:

  • 1Focused Play: Engage in activities that require sustained attention (e.g., stacking blocks).
  • 2Puzzle Play: Use simple puzzles to encourage focus.
  • 3Sensory Bins: Create sensory bins with materials like rice or beans for exploration.
  • 4Interactive Books: Read interactive books with flaps or textures.
  • 5Quiet Time: Provide quiet, focused activities like coloring or threading beads.