How to Play Like A Speech Therapist
A Guide to Playful Language Building at Home
First things first: You don’t need to be a speech therapist to help your toddler thrive. You just need to be you.
If you’ve ever watched a speech therapist work with a toddler, you might have thought: “Wait… they’re just playing?” or “How did they get my child to say that?”
What might look simple on the outside is deeply full of intention. Every pause, every gesture and word is part of a plan to support language growth through connection and joy.
We’re so excited to share today’s topic because while some parts of a speech therapist’s role require professional training, the heart of what we do, building communication through play, it’s something every parent can do. With the right mindset, a little guidance, and a willingness to follow your child’s lead, you too can play like an SLP.
Let us show you how!
Play with Purpose
For a speech therapist, play is FUN and it’s a vehicle for learning. While we do have a thoughtful plan behind each session, you don’t need a formal therapy plan to make playtime meaningful with your child.
So where do we start?
Take a step back.
Forget about researching toddler curriculums for a moment.
Start by asking yourself:
What does my child love doing?
What lights both of us up?
What are they great at? Where are they struggling?
Think about the skills that would be helpful for them to develop. Keep it simple and trust your instincts.
A quiet encouragement for today: Feeling unsure doesn’t mean you’re falling short. It means you care. And that’s exactly why we created our Play Guide and Daily Routine Guide. They’re not intended to be perfect scripts, but as grace-filled tools to support you in the everyday moments. These aren’t rigid curriculums. They’re flexible, life-giving resources filled with playful prompts, simple strategies, and encouragement from speech-language pathologists who believe in your role and your rhythm.
Now that you’ve taken a moment to reflect, you’re ready. Let’s step in with purpose and play.
Everyday Tools: Toys and Routines That Teach
It’s no secret, we love toys. We have our tried-and-true favorites, but your child’s favorites matter just as much. Whether it’s sold as an “educational” toy or not, any toy can support learning.
But don’t miss this part…
The toy is never in charge of the learning.
Your child leads the way and you guide from the side.
Whether we’re playing with our own toddlers or working with little ones in therapy, we use what’s called guided play. If you’re not familiar with that term, it’s a flexible, responsive style of play that blends following the child’s lead with purposeful modeling. One parent in our community described it as “improv” and you know, it kind of is! You’re tuned in, ready to follow your child’s lead, and you sprinkle in learning as you go.
Let’s walk through some real-life examples.
Playtime with Toys
Farm Play + Simple Sentences
My 20-month-old loves her farm and peekaboo. So we combined the two! While she played, I hid a cow under a blanket. I made the animal sound first, “Moo!”and waited. When she said “cow,” I followed up with a model like, “I see a cow!” or “It’s a cow!” I focused on short, 2–3 word phrases to keep things just right for her level.
Car Play + Basic Concepts
An almost 3-year-old enjoyed playing with cars and ramps. He was having some trouble with concepts like big and little. So during play, I exaggerated my language: “Whoa! That’s a big car!” “Let’s find a little one next.” I paid attention to which car he picked up after I modeled a concept. Watching his choices gave me a peek into what he understood. No pressure. No drill. Just connection through play.
Pretend Play + Verbs
A 2.5-year-old loves baby dolls. She was using a lot of nouns (“baby,” “bottle,” “blanket”) but not many verbs or descriptors. So during pretend play, I joined in and narrated what was happening: “Baby is sleeping,” “She’s drinking,” “Time to rock the baby!” I kept the language playful and simple, just a step above where she was.
Learning Moments in the Everyday
Bedtime + Book Talk
At bedtime, I let my toddler choose the book. I read based on her energy and attention that evening. I often don’t read all the words on the page. Instead, we slow down and focus on pointing to pictures, labeling objects, and describing what’s happening in the scene. It’s okay if you don’t finish the story, you’re creating language-rich moments together.
Pet Care + Functions of Items
A parent of a 3-year-old wanted to find a way to work on language goals while caring for their family dog. We took a routine the child already enjoyed and turned it into a fun opportunity for learning. Our focus was on modeling the function of everyday objects involved in the task: “The scoop gets the food,” “The bowl holds the water,” “The leash helps us walk him.” It was such an easy way to add intentional language into a familiar, engaging moment.
Walks + Early Words
An 18-month-old wasn’t saying much yet, but he loved stroller walks. These outings became a natural way for his mom to model early words and sounds without any pressure to respond. As they walked, she pointed out what they saw and used simple, engaging language: “dog,” “car,” “beep beep,” “uh-oh,” “wow.” When he pointed or looked at something, she followed his lead and added a word: “bird,” “tweet tweet.” By tuning into what he noticed and adding language, she was supporting early communication in a way that felt natural and familiar.
Let’s Keep Playing
Hey parent, can we remind you of something? You’re already doing meaningful work right here in the small, seemingly ordinary moments of your day.
You don’t need a fancy plan or special letters after your name to help your child grow. You just need open eyes, a willing heart, and the courage to keep showing up.
Every time you pause to play, slow down to connect, or speak into your child’s world, you’re planting seeds that matter. That kind of presence shapes more than words. It builds trust. It builds confidence. It builds connection.
You don’t have to do it perfectly. We’re not here for perfection, we’re here for presence. And we’re here to walk with you. Our Play Guide and Day Routine Guide weren’t designed to give you more to do, but to support the work you’re already doing and breathe new life into the everyday.
So let’s keep going. Let’s keep trusting that these small moments really do add up. Let’s keep playing, not because we have to, but because it’s one of the most powerful ways we get to love, lead, and lift up our children.
We’re with you. Cheering you on, equipping you with tools, and reminding you this matters. And you’re doing a beautiful job.
If this encouraged you today, would you consider passing it on? There’s a parent out there who might need this reminder too. A simple share could be the gentle nudge or boost of confidence they’ve been waiting for.
