Category Language Development

Play is an important part of children’s learning, communication and development.

Play in speech therapy is purposeful. Speech Pathologists can use play-based activities to help children practise language, communication and social interaction skills in engaging and meaningful ways.

If you have ever wondered, “All my child does in speech therapy is play,” there is often much more happening during the activity than it may first appear.

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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

The first then strategy is a simple way to help children understand instructions, routines and transitions. By presenting two steps clearly — what happens first and what happens next — parents and therapists can reduce the amount of language a child needs to process.

Some children find it difficult to follow instructions, complete routines or understand the sequence of everyday activities. Using “first” and “then” can make expectations clearer and easier to understand.

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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Does your child find it difficult to tell you what happened at school, describe an experience or share a story with someone else?

They might respond with “I don’t know,” “I can’t remember,” or provide information that is difficult for the listener to follow.

Storytelling skills, also known as narrative skills, help children organise their thoughts, sequence events and communicate experiences clearly to other people. 

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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes.

Screen time and language development is a common concern for parents, particularly as screens have become part of everyday life for many families.

Research suggests that the relationship between screen time and children’s language development is not simply about how many minutes a child spends using a device. The type of content, the child’s age and whether an adult watches and interacts with them can also make a difference.

Young children develop language most effectively through responsive, back-and-forth interactions with other people. Talking, playing, reading and sharing everyday experiences give children opportunities to hear language, practise communication and connect words with the world around them.

This does not mean that all screen use is harmful. Instead, families can focus on balancing screen time with plenty of opportunities for face-to-face communication, play, movement and shared activities.

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Play is an important part of children’s learning, communication and development. Through play, children can explore ideas, practise new skills, interact with other people and learn how language relates to everyday experiences.

Play can take many forms, but it is often enjoyable, engaging, meaningful and interactive. Children may explore, experiment, imitate others and repeat experiences as they learn.

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Waiting can be a simple but powerful communication strategy. By pausing and giving your child time to respond, you create more opportunities for them to initiate, communicate and take an active role in the interaction.

Children communicate in many different ways, including facial expressions, body language, gestures, sounds, words and sentences. Some communication attempts can be subtle, especially for children who use few spoken words or need more time to process what has been said.

When adults slow down and wait, children have more time to notice, process and respond. This can support communication, shared attention and participation in everyday interactions.

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