Help your Toddler talk with Verbal Routines

Toddler Routines: What Is a Verbal Routine?

Verbal routines are words and phrases that become predictable because you say them in the same way and at the same time every time you do the same activity. 

They help your child learn language associated with that familiar activity and eventually learn words that they can use to participate in the activity, because they have heard you model it again and again for a long time! At Walky Talky, our therapy services in Perth support families in using verbal routines as part of everyday toddler routines.

How Toddler Routines Support Your Child's Language Development

• They help you simplify your language, making it easier for your toddler to understand and copy.
• They help your toddler's comprehension of language. When they hear the same words every time they do the same routine, they start to understand what these words mean!
• They provide opportunities for your toddler to copy words and join in! Verbal routines are predictable and therefore your toddler is more likely to join in and say some of the words in the routine because they know them so well!
• For our toddlers who are already saying the words in your verbal routines, you can entice them to say them by pausing before the end of the phrase to get them to finish it (e.g. ready, steady........). 

These are strategies we regularly coach families on through our therapy services at the Walky Talky Hub in Perth.

Everyday Toddler Routines with Verbal Phrases You Can Try

• Saying 'ready, steady....go!' every time you roll a ball to each other.
• Saying 'up, up, up......down!' as you build a tower and knock it down.
• Saying 'open' 'turn the page' 'all finished' every time you read a book.

Parents attending our Perth speech therapy services often share how these small, consistent routines make a big difference in early communication.

How to Introduce Toddler Routines Through Repetition

Choose some of the regular routines in your day (e.g. bath time, meal time, book reading, getting into the car). Think of some simple words that you can model during this routine.

Model these words every time you carry out this routine. To begin with, you'll be modelling these words without expecting your child to copy them as they are learning the words associated with the routine,

After a few times, you can start pausing before the next step of the routine to see if your toddler will join in with a word! 

Families who work with our speech therapy services in Perth often feel more confident in establishing these routines after just a few guided sessions.

Support for Toddler Routines at Walky Talky in Perth

For more information on verbal routines, including verbal routine scripts and video examples, come join the Walky Talky Baby or Toddler membership now! For 1:1 support, we offer expert speech therapy services in Myaree, Perth, to support your child's communication journey.