Playtime is one of the easiest ways to encourage communication because children are already interested, active, and engaged. Whether your child is building with blocks, playing with toy animals, pushing cars, or pretending to cook, there are many simple ways to add language to the moment.

Begin by describing what your child is doing. You might say, “The car is fast,” “You built a tall tower,” or “The puppy is sleeping.” Follow your child’s lead instead of directing the play too much. If they choose a toy dinosaur, talk about the dinosaur. If they line up cars, describe the colors, sizes, and actions.

You can also add simple choices to invite communication. Try asking, “Do you want the red car or the blue car?” or “Should the bear eat or sleep?” Give your child time to respond with a word, gesture, look, or sound.

Pretend play is especially useful because it encourages imagination and storytelling. When you join in with simple language, you show your child that words can help bring play ideas to life.