Help your Toddler Talk with Verbal 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!

How will using verbal routines help my toddler to talk?

• 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........).

Examples of Verbal Routines

• 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.
  
  

How to introduce Verbal Routines

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!

For more information on verbal routines, including verbal routine scripts and video examples, come join the Walky Talky Baby or Toddler membership now!