5 Activities for Building Speech and Language Skills at Home While Cooking
It can be challenging to find quality time to enhance your child's speech and language skills after school while also juggling after school events, homework, tutoring, athletic events, laundry, and dinner...all in just a few hours!
The good news is...helping your child improve their speech and language skills doesn't have to be another item on the "to do" list. You can incorporate these skills into everyday activities like cooking.
Here are 5 activities for building speech and language skills at home while cooking:
1. Recipe Reading and Following Directions: Choose a simple recipe and have the child read it out loud. As they read, ask them questions about the ingredients and directions, such as "What do we need to add next?" or "How long do we bake it for?" This activity helps develop vocabulary, comprehension, and sequencing skills.
2. Food Label Scavenger Hunt: Before starting the cooking activity, ask the child to search for specific words or ingredients on food labels. For example, you can ask them to find three items that start with the letter "B" or locate a product with the word "organic." This activity enhances reading, word recognition, and categorization skills.
3. Conversation Starters: While preparing the meal, encourage open-ended questions and conversations. Ask the child about their favorite foods, what they enjoy cooking, or if they have any dietary restrictions. This activity promotes expressive language skills, social engagement, and turn-taking in conversations.
4. Vocabulary and Descriptive Language: Introduce new vocabulary words related to cooking, such as "whisk," "saute," or "marinate." As you cook, ask the child to describe the textures, smells, tastes, and colors they observe. Encourage them to use descriptive language like "crunchy," "spicy," or "juicy." This activity helps expand vocabulary, improve descriptive skills, and sensory perception.
5. Following Sequential Steps: Choose a recipe that requires multiple steps and ask the child to explain the steps in order. For example, ask them, "What do we need to do first? What comes after that?" This activity strengthens the child's ability to sequence events and follow directions. Additionally, you can also have them write or draw the steps to reinforce visual-motor skills and organization.
*Jessica Lenden-Holt, MA CCC-SLP