The Role of Play in Pediatric Speech Therapy: Making Learning Fun

During this second stage of language development, a child begins to use a combination of gestures, vocalizations, and single words to express their needs, thoughts, and ideas. Also within this stage, a child is still dependent on visual references to name objects. 

At this stage of play, a child is learning to operate more complex toys with buttons, switches, and levers. As these play skills expand, so does their ability to problem solve with these toys and the environment. Additionally, they may enjoy a simple shape sorter, a jack-in-the-box, or a simple three-piece puzzle to engage with on the floor.

Stages 3 & 4 of Play & Language:

Stages 3 and 4 of language and play development occur between the ages of 17-22 months.  When your child is in the third and fourth stages of language development they will begin to combine some simple two word phrases.  

Now they may begin to refer to items not within their visual sight. They may start to request: “go park,” “eat cheese” or “sleep mommy.”  

A child’s play skills at this third and fourth level becomes more complex and they begin to engage in what we call play schemes! 

What are Play Schemes? 

Play schemes are: play routines that young children engage in and act out. 

These play routines involve acting out every day activities that help them to learn about themselves, their environment, and how they can successfully engage, learn, and navigate within the world around them. 

These are the foundation skills for all language learning! 

Some examples of common play schemes at this stage include: pretending to feed self, and then moving towards play on others: such as brushing doll’s hair, washing their hair, or dressing them. 

As a child’s play repertoire expands so does their language.  

As they practice describing their actions: “brushing hair,” “washing hands,” “eating food” they learn to use more complex vocabulary and grammatical structures.  

For example, at this stage play with a doll or stuffed animal is a common play routine, as they are learning to speak in longer phrases they are learning to describe their actions.

Stages 5, 6 & 7 Of Play & Language:

The later stages of early childhood play and language development include: stages 5, 6, and 7. These stages of interplay between play and language take place between 24- 36 months of age.

As a child matures both linguistically and cognitively, they begin to talk about daily experiences and events. At this stage of language development, you may notice your child start to use longer sentences and more complex grammatical structures. For example, they may start to ask  questions like: “I go outside?” “Mommy go work?”

At this later stage of language and play development you may notice their ability to ask and answer questions improving steadily. As your child enters these later stages of early language and play development, they might experience new enjoyment out of sensory play, like sand and water play. They may also enjoy building with blocks or playing with a dollhouse. 

As your child’s play and language skills develop in tandem you will notice their ability to engage in more complex pretend play activities growing! At this stage your child may enjoy pretend  games with themselves like: going to the store, vet, or doctor!

Stage 8 of Play & Language Development:

At 3 and a half, a child has begun to embark on the eighth stage of play and language development. In stage 8 of play & language development, an important skill is learned called Theory of Mind.