Our Favorite Ways to Build Language Skills While Having Fun

Pediatric speech and language pathologists use a variety of resources to support language development. Since every child has unique preferences that can change daily, it’s important to have a range of engaging options. The key to success is choosing activities and toys that motivate the child—because if they’re not interested, keeping their attention and building on their language foundations becomes much more challenging.

Here are some of our favorite fun and effective resources for targeting expressive and receptive language skills in children ages 1 to 4.

A mother and her child singing together with finger movements

Build Language through Songs

Music is a fantastic way to encourage language development, and kids learn best when they can imitate a direct model. Get silly, act out the songs, and make it interactive! (These songs can be found on YouTube or music streaming services.)

• "Going on a Bear Hunt" – Great for sequencing and movement-based learning.

• "One Little Finger" – Perfect for learning body parts.

• "Wheels on the Bus" – A classic with repetitive language patterns.

• "Broccoli Ice Cream" – Fun for opposites and word play.

• Laurie Berkner’s Songs – Engaging choices like The Goldfish, Waiting for the Elevator, and We Are the Dinosaurs.

• Songs for Littles with Ms. Rachel – A highly interactive YouTube resource designed to encourage early language skills.

A mother and daughter sharing a pretend play snack together

Build Language with Toys

Simple, everyday toys can spark so much expressive, receptive, and social language!

• Toy Cars & Ramps

  • Encourage environmental sounds (beep, vroom, honk).

  • Practice interactive language routines like “Ready, set… go!”

• Pretend Food & Picnics

  • Build vocabulary with words like “mmmm,” “yummy,” “more,” “please,” and “thank you.”

  • Practice turn-taking and pretend play skills.

• Swings, Scooters & Slides

  • Movement is highly motivating for young children!

  • Try pausing before letting them go and encourage them to say or sign “go.” The sillier and more exaggerated you are, the more fun it will be!

• Blocks

  • Great for stacking and knocking down!

  • Model language like “up, up, up” while stacking and “1-2-3… go!” when knocking them down.

By incorporating these fun resources into play, you can create meaningful learning experiences that keep kids engaged while supporting their language development.