Supporting your child’s communication development doesn’t have to feel like a chore—some of the best learning happens through play, especially when the whole family gets involved. As speech pathologists, we often encourage families to embed language-rich interactions into everyday life.
Games that promote listening, speaking, turn-taking and imagination not only foster connection, but also boost vocabulary, sentence structure and expressive language skills. Here are five simple, research-backed communication games that are fun for the whole family—and powerful for your child’s speech development.
1. I Spy with Categories
A twist on a well-loved Australian classic, this version of I Spy replaces letters with categories. Try prompts like:
- “I spy something you can eat.”
- “I spy something that’s soft.”
- “I spy something that makes noise.”
This game builds vocabulary and encourages descriptive language, helping children link objects to categories—a skill essential for later literacy and comprehension. Plus, it’s the perfect distraction on car rides or while waiting at the doctor’s office.
“Category-based games improve children’s ability to sort and describe the world around them, strengthening vocabulary and expressive language.”
(Lowry, 2016. The Hanen Centre)
2. Story Starters
Spark imagination and storytelling skills by building a group story one sentence at a time. Begin with something unexpected like:
“Once upon a time, there was a kangaroo who couldn’t jump…”
Each family member takes turns adding the next sentence. This encourages children to listen carefully, remember details, and contribute ideas—key skills for developing narrative structure and communication confidence.
Bonus: You might just discover your child has a knack for wild storytelling!
3. The Listening Walk
Take a quiet walk around your neighbourhood, park or even your backyard—but this time, focus on listening. After a few minutes of silence, pause and ask:
“What did you hear?”
Maybe it was a bird chirping, a car driving by, or someone mowing the lawn. This activity sharpens auditory attention, builds vocabulary, and helps children tune into environmental sounds—a foundational ability for speech and language.
“Focused listening helps develop the auditory processing skills required for strong speech perception and language development.”
(Ferjan Ramírez & Kuhl, 2020. Mind, Brain, and Education)
4. Word Association Race
Say a word, and your child responds with something related. For example:
- You say: “Beach”
- They might say: “Sand” or “Waves” or “Towel”
Keep going and see how many words you can come up with in 60 seconds. Make it a race or a team challenge. This fast-paced game helps kids strengthen word connections, build semantic networks, and practise quick retrieval—all vital for confident speaking.
5. Silly Sentence Challenge
This one’s a guaranteed laugh. Choose three random objects in the room and challenge each other to make the silliest sentence possible. For example:
“The lamp ate my shoe while the cushion watched.”
The sillier, the better. It might sound nonsensical, but this type of play fosters sentence structure, creativity, and syntactic flexibility. It also removes the pressure to be “correct,” making it easier for shy speakers to participate.
“Playful language activities create a low-pressure environment that supports risk-taking and expressive language development.”
(Westby, 2018. Word of Mouth)
Encouraging Language at Home—and Knowing When to Seek Support
These simple communication games are more than just fun—they’re building essential speech and language foundations. The more children are encouraged to use language in relaxed, creative ways, the more confident and capable they become.
But if you’re noticing delays in speech development or want tailored advice on how to support your child’s communication journey, we’re here to help.
Book a session with one of our experienced speech pathologists at JK Speech and Health today. Let’s work together to make communication fun, effective and empowering—for the whole family.
