Making Language Easy, Predictable, and Fun with Verbal Routines

A common strategy used by speech-language pathologists to support early language development is the use of verbal routines.

Verbal routines are short, familiar phrases that are said the same way during the same activity, every time. These predictable patterns help your child connect language to daily life, making communication feel safe, fun, and easy to learn.

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What Makes Verbal Routines So Helpful?

Verbal routines help support communication in four key ways:

Repetition Builds Understanding

When children hear the same words over and over in a meaningful context, they begin to understand what those words mean and how they are used. This repeated exposure supports comprehension and sets the stage for future expression.

Predictable Patterns Encourage Participation

Because verbal routines follow the same structure every time, they become predictable. This helps your child anticipate what’s coming next—and often join in!  For example, when you say “ready, set…,” your child might learn to shout “go!” with excitement.

Early Conversations and Turn-Taking

Even before children are speaking, they can take part in verbal routines by using gestures, sounds, or facial expressions. This back-and-forth interaction is an important foundation for learning how to take turns and hold a conversation.

Routines Connect Language to Real Life

Verbal routines are often tied to daily activities like playing, brushing teeth, or eating. Because they happen during real-life situations, the words become more meaningful—and more likely to be remembered and used later on.

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Imagine the Following Scenario: 

A parent is getting their toddler ready for a walk. As they put on their child’s shoes, they say, “Shoes on!” in the same upbeat voice they use every day. The child hears the phrase and lifts their foot. Later, as they head out the door, the parent says, “Bye bye, house!” and the child waves. On the walk, the parent playfully says, “Let’s walk fast… now slow!” and the child giggles, joining in the game.

In this simple routine, the child is learning language through real experiences. The repetition and predictability of verbal routines invite the child to participate and respond—using sounds, gestures, or even words.

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How Can You Use Verbal Routines Throughout the Day? 

Here are some ideas for building verbal routines into everyday moments:

Play Time:

• “Ready, set, go!”

• “Up, up, up… and down!”

• “Roll, roll, roll the ball!”

• “My turn… your turn!”

Outings & Walks:

• “Let’s go!”

• “Shoes on!”

• “Stop and go!”

• “Bye bye, house!”

• “Let’s walk fast… now slow!”

Bedtime Routine:

• “Night night, sleep tight!”

• “Sweet dreams!”

Hygiene Activities:

• “Splash, splash!”

• “Pop the bubbles—pop, pop, pop!”

• “Wash your ___.”

• “Time to dry off!”

• “Brush, brush, brush your teeth!”

Mealtime:

• “Yummy, yummy!”

• “More, please!”

• “All done!”

• “Let’s eat!”

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Remember:

Verbal routines don’t need to be fancy or complicated. Just saying the same words in the same way during familiar moments helps your child build confidence, develop language, and feel connected to you.

It’s not about drilling or correcting—it’s about connection, repetition, and joy.

By using verbal routines, you’re helping your child take their first steps toward understanding and using language in a way that feels natural and fun.