Receptive and Expressive Language Games

Let’s talk about some easy at-home strategies parents can use to help support their child with a language disorder which will cover both expressive and receptive language.

Like my suggestion regarding speech sound disorders, my first suggestion to parents is to pick a time in the day to dedicate some time to practice. I tell my families to set aside at least three days a week to practice. Here are some easy ways to practice receptive language skills:

1. Simon Says! This is a great game to practice following directions with embedded concepts. You can make this game simple by playing the traditional way or make it more difficult by giving multi-step directions.

2. Books! Yes, books will always be on my list of suggestions. You can target language skills by letting your child select a preferred book and discuss the pictures.

3. Blocks! If your child likes to build with blocks, you can target identifying colors, categories, and size concepts (big/small, long/short) and following directions.

4. Let your child be the teacher! Let your child select any game or toy, and let him/her give you directions on how to play. This will allow you the opportunity to “mess up” and have your child correct you.

Here are some easy ways to practice expressive language skills:

1. Guess what? This is one of my clients’ favorite games to play. I let each client think of a silly toy, word, food, or game, and he/she gives me one clue at a time, and I need to try and guess what he/she is thinking. The sillier, the better.

2. Picture story chain! You can use pictures of people, places, and objects (or use toys at home) and mix them up. Without looking, you and your child take turns picking a picture and giving one line of a story. The goal is to make the story as silly as possible until all of the pictures are gone. After, let your child go back and tell the story again.

3. Using any preferred toys. You and your child can use any preferred toys at home to create a play scheme. While playing, describe what you are doing and what toys you have. Narrate your play. Ask simple questions.