Why Your Child’s Speech Therapy Looks Like Play
If you’ve ever watched your child’s speech therapy session and thought, “this just looks like playing,” you’re not wrong, and that’s by design. In pediatric speech therapy, especially for young children, play is the most effective way to build communication. Research consistently shows that children learn language best through meaningful interactions, not drills or isolated practice.
At Child and Family Development, SLPs use evidence-based strategies embedded into play and daily routines. While it may look simple on the surface, each interaction is intentional and designed to support your child’s language development. Below are some of the key strategies your SLP is using during sessions, along with definitions and examples so you can better understand what’s happening, and even try them at home.
Recasting
Recasting is when an SLP repeats what a child says but corrects any errors in a natural, supportive way. Instead of directly pointing out a mistake, the clinician provides the correct model. This allows the child to hear the appropriate form without interrupting their communication or creating frustration.
Example:
Child: “Him go park.”
SLP: “He is going to the park.”
Expansion and Extension
Expansion and extension are strategies used to build longer and more complete sentences. Expansion involves adding missing grammatical elements, while extension adds new information to expand on the child’s message.
Example:
Child: “Doggy bark.”
Expansion: “The doggy is barking.”
Extension: “The doggy is barking because he sees a squirrel.”
Sabotage
Sabotage is a playful technique where the SLP creates a small “problem” or interruption to encourage communication. This might involve withholding a needed item, giving something in a closed container, or pausing during a routine. The goal is to create a natural opportunity for the child to request, protest, or comment.
Example:
The SLP hands a child a closed jar of bubbles and waits.
Child: “Open!” or “Help!”
Self-Talk
Self-talk involves the SLP narrating their own actions during play. This provides consistent language input without requiring the child to respond, making it especially helpful for early language learners.
Example:
“I’m building a tower… up, up, up… oh no, it fell down!”
Parallel Talk
Parallel talk is similar to self-talk, but instead of describing their own actions, the SLP narrates what the child is doing. This helps connect language directly to the child’s focus and actions.
Example:
“You’re pushing the car fast! It’s going down the ramp.”
Modeling
Modeling is the foundation of language development. The SLP demonstrates words, phrases, or sounds within meaningful contexts so the child can hear how language is used. There is no immediate expectation for the child to repeat. Exposure comes first.
Example:
During bubble play: “Pop! Pop bubbles!”
Wait Time
Wait time is the intentional pause after a prompt or during an interaction. Many children need extra time to process language and formulate a response. By pausing, the SLP creates space for the child to initiate or respond independently.
Example:
The SLP holds a toy, looks expectantly, and waits.
Child: “Car!”
SLP: “You want the car. Here you go.”
Binary Choices
Binary choices involve offering two options to support decision-making and communication. This strategy reduces the complexity of open-ended questions and helps children practice expressive language.
Example:
“Do you want the ball or the bubbles?”
Child: “Bubbles.”
Why This Approach Matters
Children learn language through interaction, repetition, and meaningful experiences. Play-based therapy allows SLPs to follow the child’s interests, creating opportunities for natural communication while embedding evidence-based strategies throughout the session. What may look like simple play is actually carefully structured to promote language growth, social engagement, and confidence in communication.
If you’re interested in supporting your child at home, these same strategies can be used during everyday routines like meals, bath time, or play. Small changes like pausing, modeling language, or offering choices, can make a significant impact over time. And if you ever wonder what your SLP is doing during a session, don’t hesitate to ask. We’re always happy to explain the “why” behind the play!
