Using Common Household Objects to Enhance and Elicit Speech and Language Development

Katie Hall CCC-SLP

Using common household objects to elicit language is an effective and natural way to support speech and language development in children. Everyday items like toys, kitchen utensils, and books provide familiar, hands-on experiences that can help children connect words to real-world objects and actions. These objects offer endless opportunities for conversation, labeling, and turn-taking, making language learning fun and engaging. Additionally, incorporating common items into play helps children feel more comfortable and confident in their communication, reinforcing language in a meaningful, context-rich environment. This approach encourages spontaneous speech, expands vocabulary, and builds essential communication skills through everyday interactions. Having the latest, trendiest toys and games is not necessary to elicit and enhance your child’s speech and language skills!

There are many common household items that can be creatively used to support speech and language development. Here are some great options:

1. Toys and Stuffed Animals

● Activity: Use toys for pretend play and encourage the child to narrate actions or describe objects. For example, have them make up stories with their stuffed animals or dolls.

● Target Skills: Vocabulary building, storytelling, sentence structure, and social interaction.

2. Books or Magazines

● Activity: Point out pictures and ask open-ended questions like “What’s happening here?” or “How do you think this character feels?”

● Target Skills: Comprehension, vocabulary expansion, sequencing, and articulation.

3. Plastic Cups or Bowls

● Activity: Use for stacking and have the child request the colors or sizes they need. Create a game where you hide objects under the cups and ask the child to guess where they are.

● Target Skills: Concepts of size and color, turn-taking, and following instructions.

4. Pots and Pans

● Activity: Create a “Kitchen Band” and have the child name the items, describe the sounds they make, and repeat specific rhythms.

● Target Skills: Sound awareness, description, articulation, and sequencing.

5. Flashlight

● Activity: Play a “flashlight search” game by shining the light on different objects around the room and having the child name or describe them.

● Target Skills: Vocabulary, spatial concepts (e.g. “on”, “under”), and descriptive language.

6. Mirror

● Activity: Practice articulation by having the child watch their mouth movements while making specific sounds. You can make it fun by doing it together!

● Target Skills: Articulation, facial expression awareness, and imitation.

7. Photo Albums

● Activity: Look through family photos and ask questions like, “Who is this?” or “What were we doing here?”

● Target Skills: Memory recall, storytelling, and conversation skills.

8. Toy Blocks or Legos

● Activity: Build a tower or a structure and have the child describe the process or give instructions for building it.

● Target Skills: Sequencing, direction following, and spatial vocabulary (e.g. “on top”, “next to”).

9. Clothes

● Activity: Use a laundry basket to talk about colors, patterns, and sizes. You can also play a dress-up game where the child describes the clothes they choose to wear.

● Target Skills: Descriptive language, vocabulary, and categories (e.g., “big shirt”, “striped pants”).

10. Food Items

● Activity: During snack or meal times, talk about the food’s color, taste, texture, and shape. Ask questions like, “Is this crunchy or soft?”

● Target Skills: Descriptive language, adjectives, and decision-making.

11. Craft Supplies

● Activity: Use crayons, markers, scissors, and paper to create drawings or crafts. Describe what you’re doing together (e.g., “I’m drawing a big red circle!”).

● Target Skills: Fine motor coordination, descriptive language, and creativity.

12. Balls

● Activity: Roll or toss a ball and take turns describing the direction (e.g. “toward me”, “away from you”) or ask questions about what’s happening.

● Target Skills: Turn-taking, prepositions, and action words.