“Ready, Set, Go!”: Using Verbal Routines in Play to Promote Language Development

One of my favorite strategies in my SLP toolkit is verbal routines. When used during playtime, these simple, predictable language patterns are a great way to support your child’s understanding of how communication works and to provide language opportunities.

What Are Verbal Routines?

Verbal routines are repetitive, structured phrases or sentences that children encounter regularly in everyday situations (think: “ready, set, go”). These routines help to create a predictable environment where children can anticipate what is coming next and practice new vocabulary and concepts in a low-pressure setting. Verbal routines often involve familiar scripts that repeat, such as those used during games, songs, or daily activities.

Why Are Verbal Routines So Powerful?

The beauty of verbal routines lies in their predictability. When children know what to expect, they feel a sense of safety and comfort, which opens up opportunities for language development. The predictability of verbal routines makes them an ideal platform for encouraging language acquisition in children, especially for our early language learners who are still building their foundational communication skills.

Here’s why they are so effective:

1. Repetition: Children thrive on repetition when learning new concepts, especially language. By hearing the same phrases and sentences over and over again, children become familiar with the sounds, words, and structures of language.
   

2. Engagement: Children are more likely to engage in play when they are familiar with what’s going on. Verbal routines can capture their attention, provide a sense of participation, and encourage them to imitate or respond.
   

3. Contextual Learning: Verbal routines occur in real-world contexts (play, mealtime, bedtime, etc.), which helps children link language to meaningful actions and experiences. For example, when using the verbal routine “peek-a-boo”, if you uncover your face or an object every time you say “boo”, the child starts to understand the meaning of “boo” and links that language with a surprise.
   

4. Early Language Skills: Verbal routines set the stage for more complex language skills by supporting vocabulary development, sentence structure, and even social communication skills like turn-taking.
   

How Verbal Routines Promote Language Development

As an SLP, I’ve seen firsthand how using verbal routines in play can support various aspects of language development. Let’s dive into how these routines foster growth in different areas:

1. Vocabulary Building

Repetitive language used in verbal routines exposes children to new words in a predictable context. For example, when racing cars, a caregiver might say, “ready, set, go” over and over. This repetition helps children learn that “go” means an action will occur in an exciting way.

2. Turn-Taking and Social Skills

Verbal routines encourage children to take turns, whether it's saying a word, completing a sentence, or responding to a prompt. For example, if a caregiver is singing “twinkle twinkle little star” and omits “star,” when the child says “star” to continue the song, it helps them learn the back-and-forth of conversation and verbal play. This skill is developed if a child is communicating via sign, gestures or AAC device as well.  

3. Sentence Structure and Grammar

Through consistent exposure to sentence structures, children start to internalize grammar rules. For example, when a caregiver repeatedly uses phrases like “put it on” or “clean it up” children begin to understand basic sentence construction and word order, paving the way for more complex speech.

4. Imitation and Speech Production

For children who are just starting to use words, verbal routines provide a great opportunity for imitation. When a caregiver says “bye-bye” the child may repeat the phrase, especially if it’s modeled in the same context multiple times. This kind of imitation is critical for speech development, as it helps children observe multiple exposures of a word and practice producing sounds in context.

Types of Verbal Routines to Use in Play

There are a variety of verbal routines that can be easily incorporated into playtime. Here are a few favorites I often recommend to parents and caregivers:

1. Songs and Rhymes Songs with repetitive lyrics and actions, like “The Wheels on the Bus” or “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” are wonderful verbal routines. The rhythmic, predictable nature of these songs encourages children to join in, anticipate words, and practice sounds.
   

2. Interactive Games Games like “peek-a-boo” or “ready-set-go” involve a lot of repetition and provide opportunities for children to participate actively. They offer simple, engaging language routines that children quickly become familiar with.
   

3. Daily Routines Incorporating verbal routines into daily activities like mealtimes, dressing, or bath time can help children understand functional language. For example, saying “Let’s put on your shoes” or “It’s time to wash your hands” provides exposure to functional vocabulary in context.
   

4. Pretend Play Pretend play is rich with opportunities for verbal routines. Whether it's a pretend birthday party (e.g., “blow out the candles”), playing doctor (e.g., “I got a boo-boo”) or building a spaceship (e.g., “3-2-1 blast off”), caregivers can model verbal routines to introduce new words and concepts.
   

5. Books and Stories Repetitive language patterns in books, like “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” help reinforce language concepts while keeping children engaged. The predictability of these stories encourages children to anticipate and participate in the story’s progression.
   

Tips for Maximizing the Effectiveness of Verbal Routines

• Be Consistent: Repetition is key to helping children internalize language patterns. The more often you engage in these routines, the better the child’s chances of learning.
  

• Be Interactive: Encourage the child to actively participate by prompting them to say words or finish phrases. Any communication modality, whether it’s sounds, gestures, sign, or AAC can be used to indicate participation in a verbal routine.
  

• Make It Fun: Keep verbal routines playful! The more engaging and fun they are, the more likely the child is to participate and enjoy the learning process.
  

Conclusion

Verbal routines in play offer children an invaluable opportunity to develop language skills in a natural, enjoyable way. Through repetition, context, and active participation, verbal routines not only strengthen vocabulary and speech production but also lay the groundwork for more complex communication skills. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or therapist, incorporating these routines into playtime is one of the most powerful and effective ways to support a child’s language development.

By recognizing the importance of these seemingly simple verbal interactions, we can help children communicate with confidence, curiosity, and creativity—setting them up for success as they grow and learn.

References:

Benedict, H., & Silliman, E. R. (2005). Language development and disorders: A guide for clinical practice. Psychology Press.

Baker, S., & Grisham, D. (2010). Teaching language and communication skills: A developmental approach. Prentice Hall.

Hoff, E. (2009). Language development (4th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Photo from Burst