Communication, Speech & Language Skills

Master these essential components of Communication, Speech & Language Skills

Listening to Sounds

The ability to recognize and respond to familiar voices and environmental sounds

Activities:

  • 1Play 'sound identification' games (e.g., 'What's that sound?' with animal noises or household sounds).
  • 2Use sound-making toys (e.g., rattles, bells) and talk about the sounds they make.
  • 3Sing or play lullabies and nursery rhymes to help your child tune into speech rhythms.

Babbling and Early Sound Production

Producing early speech sounds, from vowel-like sounds to consonant-vowel combinations

Activities:

  • 1Imitate your baby's sounds (e.g., if they say 'ba-ba,' you say 'ba-ba' back).
  • 2Use exaggerated facial expressions and sounds (e.g., 'oooo,' 'aaaa') to encourage imitation.
  • 3Play peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake while making simple sounds.

Imitating Sounds

The ability to copy simple sounds or words from others

Activities:

  • 1Make animal sounds (e.g., 'moo,' 'woof') and encourage your child to copy them.
  • 2Use toys or books with sound buttons (e.g., a toy car that goes 'vroom').
  • 3Repeat simple words or sounds during play (e.g., 'ball,' 'go').

Playing with Sounds

Experimenting with and engaging in sound play

Activities:

  • 1Encourage your child to make silly sounds (e.g., 'zoom,' 'beep,' 'achoo').
  • 2Play with musical instruments (e.g., drums, shakers) and talk about the sounds they make.
  • 3Use sound effects during pretend play (e.g., 'choo-choo' for a train).

Recognizing Rhymes and Patterns

The ability to identify and enjoy words that rhyme and sound patterns

Activities:

  • 1Read rhyming books (e.g., Dr. Seuss) and emphasize the rhyming words.
  • 2Sing nursery rhymes (e.g., 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star') and pause to let your child fill in the rhyming word.
  • 3Play rhyming games (e.g., 'What rhymes with cat?').

Phonemic Awareness

Understanding and manipulating individual sounds in words

Activities:

  • 1Play 'I Spy' with beginning sounds (e.g., 'I spy something that starts with /b/').
  • 2Clap out syllables in words (e.g., 'ba-na-na' = 3 claps).
  • 3Practice blending sounds (e.g., say /c/ + /a/ + /t/ slowly, then ask your child to say 'cat').

Producing Speech Sounds

Using and improving pronunciation of various consonant and vowel sounds

Activities:

  • 1Model correct pronunciation of words (e.g., if your child says 'wabbit,' say 'Yes, rabbit!').
  • 2Play games that involve repeating words (e.g., 'Simon Says' with action words like 'jump' or 'clap').
  • 3Use picture cards to practice naming objects with clear sounds (e.g., 'dog,' 'cat,' 'ball').

Differentiating Sounds

Recognizing differences between similar sounds in words

Activities:

  • 1Play 'same or different' games with words (e.g., say 'cat' and 'cat,' then 'cat' and 'bat').
  • 2Use minimal pairs (words that differ by one sound, e.g., 'pin' vs. 'pen') and ask your child to point to the correct picture.
  • 3Sing songs that emphasize sound differences (e.g., 'The Name Game': 'Anna, Anna, bo-banna').

Engaging in Sound Games

Playing games that reinforce sound awareness and patterns

Activities:

  • 1Play 'I Spy' with beginning or ending sounds (e.g., 'I spy something that ends with /t/').
  • 2Use rhyming puzzles or matching games to reinforce sound patterns.
  • 3Sing songs with sound patterns (e.g., 'Old MacDonald Had a Farm').

Understanding Tone and Intonation

Recognizing and using different voice patterns to convey meaning

Activities:

  • 1Use different tones of voice (e.g., happy, sad, excited) and ask your child to identify the emotion.
  • 2Read stories with expression, changing your voice for different characters.
  • 3Play games where you ask questions with rising intonation (e.g., 'Do you want juice?') and encourage your child to respond.