Preschool Language

By preschool-age, some skills that children should demonstrate include using words and sentences to communicate wants and needs, answering simple wh- questions, following 1-2 step directions, and (by age 4) telling short stories. If your child has difficulty with any of these skills, here are some tips for how to help them at home:

• Expansion:  Add more language to every communicative attempt.  For example, if your child says “water” after some water has spilled, you can expand by saying, “The water spilled.”

• Ask questions that keep the conversation going:  Give choices or ask open-ended wh-questions like “Where should the car go next?”  not just “What is this?”. Avoid too many yes/no questions as well.

• Follow their lead: Join in their play. Narrate everything that they are doing and that you are doing.

• Create language opportunities:

  • Place a favorite object out of reach so they can request it using words or hand signs

  • Offer a little, then wait (give a small amount of snack and then allow them the opportunity to ask for more)

  • Choose an activity the child can’t do without your help, then wait (like opening bubbles or turning on music)

  • Pause a familiar activity so they can request more of it (such as stopping your pushing while they’re on a swing)

  • Change a familiar activity so they can comment on it (like putting a shoe on your head instead of on your foot)

• Simplify directions: Instead of saying “Can you go get your shoes please?”, break it down to “Get shoes.” Use picture cues to help if needed. You may even need to gently guide them with your hand or use gestures like pointing to help them understand at first.

• Provide opportunities for storytelling: Give them picture books and allow them to talk about the pictures (even if their sentences are simple). Help them sequence with words like “first,” “next,” and “last.” Create stories while you play pretend with them (such as pretending to go to the doctor).

• Use visual supports to help with questions: Provide pictures when you ask a question. They need to be able to identify first before they can answer verbally. Model an answer as well. For example you could say, “What are you eating?”, “Crackers! You are eating crackers.”

Check out these handouts for more activities to try at home!

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