Pretend play, especially playing “house,” is a fantastic way to encourage language development in young children. It helps them expand their vocabulary, practice conversation skills, and learn social roles. Below is a step-by-step guide for parents to maximize language learning through pretend play.

Step 1: Set the Scene (Create the Play Environment)

Children engage more when the setting feels real. Create a simple “home” setup using household items or play furniture.

Example:

Use a small table and chairs for a kitchen area.
- Table and Chair Set
Lay out toy food, dishes, and utensils.
Have dolls, stuffed animals, or action figures as family members or pets.
Use blankets and pillows to make a pretend bedroom.

Language Tip: As you set up, describe each item:
💬 “This is our kitchen. We have a stove, a refrigerator, and a sink.”
💬 “Let’s put the baby’s crib in the bedroom. The baby will sleep here.”

Step 2: Assign Roles

Decide who will play which role in the family (e.g., parent, child, sibling, pet). Encourage your child to pick a role and talk about what each person does in a home.

Example:

Parent: “Do you want to be the mommy, the daddy, or the big sister?”
Child: “I want to be the big brother!”
Parent: “Great! I’ll be the mommy. What does a big brother do?”
Child: “Takes care of the baby!”
Parent: “That’s right! You can help feed the baby and play with them.”

Step 3: Start the Daily Routine Play (Use Repetitive Language)

Encourage conversation by acting out daily tasks like waking up, getting dressed, eating, and cleaning.

Example – Morning Routine

Parent (as child is pretending to wake up): “Good morning! It’s time to wake up. Let’s stretch. What do we do next?”
Child: “Brush our teeth!”
Parent: “Yes! Let’s go to the bathroom. Here’s your toothbrush. What color is it?”
Child: “Blue!”
Parent: “That’s right! Now, let’s brush together—scrub, scrub, scrub!”

Language Tip: Use action words (wake up, brush, stretch, scrub) and descriptive words (blue toothbrush, warm water, soft pillow).

Step 4: Encourage Problem-Solving Conversations

Introduce small challenges that require problem-solving and communication.

Example – Breakfast Time

Parent: “Oh no! We ran out of milk for the cereal. What should we do?”
Child: “Go to the store!”
Parent: “Great idea! Let’s make a shopping list. What else do we need?”
Child: “Bananas and bread.”
Parent: “Perfect! Let’s drive to the store. Vroom, vroom!”

Language Tip: Introduce new words (ingredients, grocery, shopping list) and ask open-ended questions to encourage thinking and speaking.

Step 5: Expand Conversations by Adding Emotion and Expression

Encourage your child to express feelings through role-play.

Example – Taking Care of a Sick Doll

Parent: “Oh no! The baby is sick. How do you think she feels?”
Child: “She’s sad.”
Parent: “Yes, she looks sad. What can we do to help?”
Child: “Give her medicine and a hug.”
Parent: “That’s very kind. Let’s check her temperature. Uh-oh, 100 degrees! We need to let her rest.”

Language Tip: Use emotion words (sad, happy, tired, sick) and discuss solutions to encourage empathy and communication.

Step 6: Introduce New Scenarios and Vocabulary

Once your child is comfortable, add different pretend play scenarios to introduce more words and sentence structures.

Example – Going to Work

Parent: “Time to go to work! What is your job today?”
Child: “I’m a doctor!”
Parent: “Wow! Doctors help people feel better. Who is your patient today?”
Child: “The teddy bear.”
Parent: “Let’s check his heartbeat. Ba-boom, ba-boom! What do you think is wrong?”
Child: “He has a cough.”
Parent: “Let’s give him some medicine and tell him to rest.”

Language Tip: Introduce career-related words (doctor, patient, stethoscope) and encourage descriptive speech.

Step 7: Encourage Storytelling and Role Reversal

Let your child lead the play and invent their own situations. This builds confidence and language fluency.

Example – Child Leads Play

Parent: “What’s happening today in our house?”
Child: “We are having a birthday party!”
Parent: “That’s exciting! Who’s birthday is it?”
Child: “The puppy’s birthday.”
Parent: “Let’s bake a cake! What ingredients do we need?”

Encourage your child to direct the game while you follow their lead.

Step 8: End Play with Reflection and Discussion

When playtime is over, talk about what happened to reinforce vocabulary and comprehension.

Example – Recap of the Day

Parent: “That was so much fun! What did we do today?”
Child: “We ate breakfast, went to the store, and had a birthday party.”
Parent: “Yes! And you were a great big brother. What was your favorite part?”

This helps children recall events, practice sequencing, and summarize experiences.

Final Tips for Success

✅ Use rich vocabulary – Introduce new words naturally.
✅ Ask open-ended questions – Encourage your child to think and respond in full sentences.
✅ Repeat key phrases – Reinforce language by using repetition.
✅ Follow your child’s lead – Let them guide the play to keep them engaged.
✅ Make it fun! – Use silly voices, sound effects, and enthusiasm to keep play lively.

By incorporating these steps into pretend play, parents can create an engaging environment where children develop strong language skills while having fun!

Resources

For more information check out this resource:

The Benefits of Play in Speech Therapy

MDS: Is My Child’s Language on Track? A Speech-Language Pathologist’s Guide for Parents