Speech and Baking: Easy Ways to Build Language Skills in the Kitchen

Holiday baking isn’t just fun, it’s a great way to support your child’s speech and language skills while spending time together. Here are a few simple ways to turn kitchen moments into learning moments.

Articulation (Speech Sounds)

Holiday recipes use a lot of big multisyllable words like cinnamon, gingerbread, and candy cane

• Clap or tab the syllable together
• Point our sounds in words: I hear /k/ in candy cane—do you?

Adjectives with the Five Sense

Use sensory words as you bake:

• Touch: soft, sticky, dense
• Sight, smooth, thick, colorful
• Smell, sweet, spicy, warm
• Hearing: quiet, cloud, crack
• Taste: sweet, tart, spiced

Following Directions

Baking is perfect for practicing listening and sequencing.

• Use words like first, next, and last
• Try simple direction (“get an egg”) or multi-step ones (“get milk and the measuring cup)
• Practice before/after: Before we add the wet ingredients, we mix the dry ones
• Reinforce safety direction around hot ovens/stoves

Enjoy the season! Baking together builds memories and supports communication in a meaningful, playful way. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season with your family!