3 Simple Ways to Support Language at Home - Without Flashcards

3 Minute Read

So what is it that I do all day? I can assure you I don’t make preschoolers and kindergarteners memorize flashcards, hoping that they magically start talking.

My method is a bit more natural: Language through play.

Here are three of the most common recommendations I share with families, simple strategies you can start using at home today:

• Narrate during play

  This a common way to connect with your child and gain their interest through their preferred toys. For example if you’re playing with a barn set, you could take a barn animal and say “Oh I’m hungry, I’m going to go eat some food. I’m going to take a bite, nom nom nom this food is delicious. Now I’m sleepy, let’s lie down.” By naturally narrating common actions and vocabulary, you give your child the words they’ll eventually use themselves, no flashcards required.

• Speak in first-person throughout your day

  Sometimes when children are “late talkers” it’s because they don’t have the language to use in certain situations. If you provide that language for them in first person, it will be contextually appropriate when they repeat it themselves. This can look like, “Wow I’m thirsty. I’m opening the fridge. I see milk, and juice, and water. I want juice. Let’s put it in a cup. Let’s take a sip.” This kind of real-time, relatable language helps children connect words with actions and feelings in context.

• Honor any attempt at communication

  We want our children to be “communication risk-takers”. This means that we want them to to feel confident trying new ways to express themselves without fear. One way to do this is to provide a safe and trusting environment to try new things. And to do that we need to honor and validate any attempt to communicate, whether it’s a smile, a gesture, a sound, or a word. This could look like saying, “I see that you smiled when I showed you this picture. Thank you for telling me that this makes you happy!” Celebrating all forms of communication helps build trust and encourages children to explore language in ways that feel right for them.

Language development should feel joyful, not pressured. Every child communicates in their own way and in their own time, and that’s okay. Developmental milestones can be helpful guides, but they aren’t rigid deadlines. Some children need more time to find their voice, and it’s important to honor and support their individual journey.

By meeting children where they are, and celebrating every step forward, we create the kind of trusting environment where real communication can grow.

Remember, you’re doing amazing, and your child is too. :)

~Chloe