Using Children’s Books to Support Language Development
Reading with your child is one of the most powerful ways to support speech and language growth. If your child loves books, you can use them as a way to introduce new vocabulary, to model sentence structures, and to spark conversations. Here five simple ways to use books to boost language skills:
1. Talk About the Pictures – You don’t have to read every word, you can look through the illustrations together. Describe what you see with words or short phrases such as “bunny,” “blue sky” or “The fish is swimming.”
2. Pause and Wait – Give your child time to respond. This encourages turn-taking and helps them practice forming their own thoughts.
3. Repeat & Expand – If your child says “fish,” you might reply, “Yes, a goldfish is swimming!” to model longer phrases.
4. Comment More than Question – Simply narrate what you see. Instead of saying, “What is she doing?” narrate what you see such as “She is jumping!” The 3:1 Rule is saying three comments for every one question. This ultimately reduces overwhelm, encourages more natural conversations, and provides more opportunities for your child to produce their own language without feeling like they are being tested.
5. Connect Books to Experiences – Choose themed books that tie into experiences you have planned. For example, If you just visited the zoo, read a zoo-themed story and say, “We saw giraffes too! Remember how they were eating the leaves in the trees?” Connecting stories to real-life events helps make learning even more meaningful.
💬 Want more language-building tips? Book a parent coaching session or start speech therapy sessions to learn helpful strategies you can use every day during your child’s daily routines.
