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The holidays are a perfect time to slow down, connect, and build your child’s speech and language skills in natural, meaningful moments.
Here are simple things you can do during Thanksgiving to “boost” your child’s language skills - right in the middle of the cooking, traveling, and family fun!
1. Talk About What You’re Doing (Narrate)
Toddlers learn language by hearing it.
While you cook or prepare the house, try simple narration:
“I’m making the coffee.”
“Look - you’re folding the napkin.”
“We’re wiping the table.”
Keep it short, and use lots of repetition.
2. Let Them Help (Great for Vocabulary… and Building Independence)
Little toddlers = Little helpers. They LOVE to help!
Give toddlers tiny, safe jobs:
Putting napkins on the table
Stirring (something safe and cool)
Carrying plastic cups
Dumping ingredients you’ve pre-measured
As they help, label actions (“pour,” “stir,” “carry”) and objects (“cup,” “napkin,” “spoon”).
3. Use the Power of Choice
Choices promote successful communication right off the bat and reduce frustration.
Try:
“Do you want apple or pumpkin?”
“Should we read this book or that book?”
“Do you want the red cup or the blue cup?”
Even if they can’t say the word yet, pointing and reaching count as communication!
4. Holiday Books = Language Gold
When you read Thanksgiving or holiday-themed books:
Point to pictures
Pause before saying a familiar word and see if your child says it
Make fun sound effects or facial expressions
Encourage them to imitate actions (“They are stirring….Show me how YOU stir!”)
5. Turn Travel Time Into Talk Time
If you’re in the car or airport:
Play “I Spy” with simple colors or animals
Sing songs related to what you see (Wheels on the Bus, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Down by The Station…)
Describe what you see (“I see a bus… it’s yellow!”)
Routine moments make the best learning opportunities.
6. Model Simple Phrases
During busy moments, make it easy for your toddler to functionally gain access to what they need by modeling short phrases that they can imitate.
“More please!”
“My turn.”
“Help me.”
“All done.”
“I want ___.”
They don’t have to say these phrases perfectly to get what they want; but when they hear you say it, they’ll see/hear the appropriate way to get access to the thing they want (instead of screaming at you).
7. Connect, Don’t Correct
Holidays can be overwhelming. If your child is shy or quiet:
Get down to their level
Follow their lead
Celebrate communication attempts (or attempts at doing something independently)
Expand gently without expectation (example: child says, “Ball!” → adult says, “Big ball!”)
Connection builds confidence AND communication.
A Final Thought
This Thanksgiving, enjoy the food and the family, and include your child in what you’re doing naturally.
Those small moments build big skills!
Casey
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