Basic Concepts: What You Need To Know

THE FOUNDATION FOR FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS + PARTICIPATING IN DAILY ROUTINES

Imagine you're sitting in a workshop led by a speech therapist—this is your space to learn, ask questions, and gain confidence in supporting your child’s language development. We know it can feel overwhelming, wondering if you’re doing enough or if you’ve missed the window. Take a deep breath—you’re right where you need to be. Let’s build from here, together.

what are basic concepts?

Basic concepts are the words that help children understand and navigate the world around them. These words form the foundation for following directions, participating in daily routines, and engaging in conversations. They make up the core of how we describe, compare, and organize our experiences.

What You'll Learn Today:

The four main types of basic concepts — keeping it simple!
The key skills for each concept — straight to the point!
Words you can start modeling today — so you can jump right in!
Practical activities to reinforce these concepts — keeping it real!

The 4 MAIN CATEGORIES OF BASIC CONCEPTS:

Spatial Concepts

Spatial words describe the location of objects and help children understand relationships between things. These words are typically mastered by kindergarten (McLaughlin, 1998).

Words to Model: in, out, up, down, on, off, over, under, top, bottom, front, back, between, next to, through, around

Quantitative Concepts

Even before learning to count, kids begin to understand quantity. For example, a child may pick the bigger pile of candy even if they can’t count the pieces (Bracken, 2006).

Words to Model: some, many, a lot, a little, more, less, all, none, one, few

QUALITATIVE Concepts

These words help children compare and describe objects by size, color, texture, and weight (McLaughlin, 1998).

Words to Model: big, small, fast, slow, short, long, soft, hard, quiet, loud, light, heavy, smooth, rough

Temporal Concepts

Temporal words explain how events relate to time. Since time is abstract, younger children first learn simple order concepts like “before” and “after,” while more complex words take longer to master (McLaughlin, 1998).

Words to Model: before, after, first, next, last, during, while, at the same time

Everyday Activities That Teach Basic Concepts

Incorporating Language into Play and Routines

Here’s the good news: You don’t need to set aside extra time to teach these concepts. They’re already a natural part of your day! Once you start noticing opportunities, reinforcing these words will become second nature.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

SPATIAL CONCEPT: IN/OUT

Play Activity: Blow bubbles—put the wand in and take it out of the container.
Daily Routine: Mail—talk about putting mail in the mailbox and taking it out.

QUANTITATIVE CONCEPT: A LITTLE/A LOT

Play Activity: Pretend food—"I have a lot of fries and a little ketchup."
Daily Routine: Brushing teeth—talk about putting a little toothpaste on the toothbrush.

QUALITATIVE CONCEPT: FAST/SLOW

Play Activity: Toy cars—"This car is fast, and this one is slow."
Daily Routine: Grocery shopping—push the cart fast or slow and describe the speed.

TEMPORAL CONCEPT: BEFORE/AFTER

Play Activity: Musical instruments—"Blow the whistle before we sing and dance after the whistle."
Daily Routine: Getting in the car—"Before I drive, we buckle up. After we get out, grab your backpack."

Pssst... Need a Little Extra Help?

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Our Play Guide is packed with strategies, 10 toy guides, and professional tips to help you reinforce language skills through play.

Katie H. shared, “All of it together is so comprehensive and really all you need.” after using our guide with her 3-year-old twins.

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Daily Routine Guide

Not quite ready for the full guides?

No worries! Check out these favorites that have helped hundreds of families:

Play Calendar – 31 Daily prompts to make playtime simple and meaningful.
7-Day Play Challenge – Quick activities to build your child’s language skills.
Potato Head Play Guide – A fun way to boost vocabulary and basic concepts through play!

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