How to support language development at home: 5 fun activities

Read stories daily while asking questions about images and characters. Let the child complete familiar phrases and make predictions about the story. Use different voices for characters and point to words while reading. This activity enriches vocabulary and develops narrative comprehension.

Sing nursery rhymes and create simple rhymes with everyday words. Play finding words that sound similar and invent songs about daily activities. Rhythms and melodies help memorize new words and develop phonological awareness fundamental for reading.

Narrate what you do during activities like cooking, bathing, or dressing. Describe objects, colors, textures, and actions. Ask open-ended questions like "What do you think will happen if...?" and actively listen to their responses, expanding their ideas with richer vocabulary.

Play being different characters like doctor, teacher, or cook. Use simple costumes and everyday objects as props. During play, model appropriate language for each situation and encourage the child to express ideas and emotions through dialogue and acting.

Classify objects by color, size, shape, or function while describing their characteristics. Play "I spy" describing objects without naming them. Create family photo albums and talk about memories. These activities develop descriptive vocabulary and categorization skills.