Language: The Ultimate Life Skill
HOW WE UNDERSTAND, COMMUNICATE, and INTERACT WITH OTHERS
As parents, we want to give our children the best start in life. But when it comes to language development, it can feel like a lot—so many milestones, so much information! So many questions.
Are they on track?
Are they learning enough?
Should I be doing more?
Here’s the good news: Language development isn’t about memorizing milestone charts. It’s about everyday moments—snuggling up for a bedtime story, playing peek-a-boo, or having a silly conversation over lunch.
As speech-language pathologists, we see language as the ultimate life skill. It’s how children express themselves, connect with others, and navigate the world. And the best part? You don’t need flashcards or fancy programs—just simple, meaningful interactions.
Instead of overwhelming you with jargon, let’s break it down into three key areas of language development and what you can do to support your child in each one.
Receptive Language – how your child understands words and ideas
Expressive Language – how they communicate their needs and thoughts
Social Language – how they interact with others
Let’s dive in.
Receptive Language: How CHILDREN Understand the World
Receptive language is a child’s ability to understand words, gestures, and instructions.
Before kids start talking, they’re already soaking up language like little sponges. Receptive language is a child’s ability to understand words, gestures, and instructions—even if they’re not saying much yet.
Think about a typical morning in your home. You might say:
“Let’s sit down for breakfast.”
“Food stays on our plate.”
“Go get your shoes.”
At first, your child may not respond. But over time, they start to understand and follow along—because they’ve been watching, listening, and learning all along.
Why It Matters
A strong foundation in receptive language helps children:
Follow directions (which makes daily life much easier!)
Engage in conversations and storytelling
Build confidence in learning new words and ideas
Simply put, a child who understands more words is better equipped to follow directions, engage in conversations, and thrive in school.
HOW TO SUPPORT IT
The best way to boost your child’s understanding? Talk, talk, talk!
✔️ Narrate what’s happening: “Let’s wash your hands—squish, squish with the soap!”
✔️ Pair words with actions: “You’re bouncing the ball! Bounce, bounce!”
✔️ Give choices: “Do you want the red cup or the blue cup?”
Every interaction is an opportunity to build language—even when it just feels like another normal day.
Expressive Language: How CHILDREN Communicate with the World
Expressive language is how children share their thoughts, needs, and ideas through words, signs, or gestures.
It starts way before words!
Think about a moment when your child wants a snack. They might:
Point to the pantry.
Sign “more”.
Say “crackers!”
Each of these actions is a form of expressive language, evolving from gestures to words as a child’s vocabulary grows.
Why It Matters
When kids struggle to express themselves, it can be frustrating (for both of you!). Building expressive language helps them:
✔️ Clearly tell you what they need (instead of melting down in frustration)
✔️ Participate in conversations
✔️ Learn new words and concepts
HOW TO SUPPORT
Want to help your child build expressive language? Try this:
Pause and wait – Give them a chance to fill in the blanks: “Ready, set… (wait for them to say ‘go!’)”
Model, don’t correct – If they say “more,” you can expand: “More crackers, please!”
Use functional words – Words like “help,” “more,” and “stop” are more useful than “elephant” or “octagon.”
It’s not about drilling words—it’s about making language meaningful in everyday life.
A Kind Reminder: It’s easy to focus on teaching colors, numbers, and ABCs, but functional words are even more important. For example, “help” is far more useful than “purple” for a toddler learning to communicate.
Social Language: How CHILDREN Interact with Others
Social language (also called pragmatics) is how we use words, gestures, and expressions to interact with people.
It’s all the little unspoken rules—like taking turns in conversation, using eye contact, and knowing when (or when not) to interrupt.
Imagine your child at the playground. They see another kid playing with a toy they want. They might:
Stand nearby but not say anything (not sure how to join in)
Grab the toy (struggling with turn-taking)
Say, “Can I have a turn?” (using social language effectively!)
Why It Matters
Good social communication helps kids:
✔️ Make friends and connect with others
✔️ Understand social cues and emotions
✔️ Feel more comfortable and confident in group settings
HOW TO SUPPORT
Model social skills – Narrate your own interactions: “I’m waiting my turn to talk.”
Practice turn-taking – Play games where you take turns rolling a ball or picking a puzzle piece.
Label emotions – Help your child understand feelings: “I see you’re sad because your tower fell. Let’s build it again!”
Every child’s journey with social language is different, and that’s okay! Personality, culture, and neurodiversity all play a role in how kids communicate.
NOTE:
To learn more about milestones, read this post.
Every child develops at their own pace. Some children meet these milestones earlier, right on time, or later than others. If you’re concerned about your child’s language skills, talk to your pediatrician and ask about a speech-language therapy evaluation referral.
SIMPLE WAYS TO BOOST EVERYDAY LANGUAGE
Supporting your child’s language doesn’t mean extra work—it just means being intentional with the moments you already have.
Here are five simple strategies:
Talk out loud. Narrate what you’re doing. (“I’m pouring milk in the cup.”)
Talk about what your child is doing. Pair words with actions to give them meaning. (“Up you go!” while lifting them up)
Give choices. Encourage language use with simple options. (“Do you want an apple or a banana?”)
Read books daily. Books build vocabulary and spark conversations.
Use repetition. Reinforce new words naturally throughout the day. (“The light is on! Your shoes are on. The lid is on.”)
Today’s Challenge
Try one of these strategies today! Then, add another tomorrow. Small moments add up to big language growth. 🙂🙂
Looking for more support? Take the Play Day Challenge! Or explore the Play Guide—our most comprehensive resource for proactive parents, available in the shop.
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Your child is always learning—and you are their best teacher! 🩵
TOOLS TO BOOST COMMUNICATION SKILLS THROUGH PLAY AND DAILY ROUTINES:
Source:
Al-Harbi, Salwa Saeed. “Language Development and Acquisition in Early Childhood.” Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), vol. 14, no. 1, 8 Nov. 2019, p. 69, https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v14i1.14209. Accessed 19 Jan. 2023.