Summer is full of sunshine, splash pads, and spontaneous adventures, but for young children, it’s also a valuable window for language growth. Without the structure of school many parents might wonder how to keep their child from losing the progress made in listening and speaking during the school year.
Thankfully, supporting language development isn’t as difficult as many parents may think. With a few intentional moments each day, summer can be a season of learning, laughter, and connection with your child.
In this article, you will find six simple, engaging ways to turn everyday activities into meaningful opportunities to help boost your child’s communication skills during the summer months.
Why Does Summer Language Practice Matter?
Young children, especially toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners, are in a critical stage of language development. Even short breaks in speech practice can impact progress.
By keeping language-rich experiences going during the summer months, you’re giving your child a strong foundation for listening, speaking, and early reading. Consistent engagement, along with regularly scheduled therapy sessions, are key.
6 Fun, Language-Boosting Activities for Summer
1. Read Books in New Places
Reading aloud daily helps build vocabulary, listening skills, and imagination. Reading aloud is powerful, and it doesn’t need to stay indoors.
- Try storytime under a tree, in a backyard tent, or at the park.
- Encourage your child to retell the story, describe the pictures, or guess what might happen next.
2. Go on a “Chatty” Nature Walk
Walking and talking builds vocabulary naturally.
- Name what you see, hear, smell, or feel: birds, bugs, breeze, sunshine.
- Ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think that squirrel is looking for?”
- These casual conversations help children hear sentence structure and learn new words in context.
3. Pretend Play with a Purpose
Imaginative play encourages language through creativity.
- Set up a pretend grocery store, zoo, doctor’s office, or restaurant.
- Use real or pretend props and take turns with your child leading the play.
- This is especially helpful for practicing turn-taking, greetings, and new vocabulary.
4. Sing, Rhyme, and Move
Music is one of the most effective ways to support early literacy.
- Sing familiar songs with motions like “Wheels on the Bus” or “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”
- Add silly rhymes or make up your own verses.
- These activities support phonological awareness, a foundational skill for reading and speaking.
5. Narrate Your Day
You don’t need extra time; you just need a few extra words.
- Use parallel talk (“You’re stacking the blocks so high!”) or self-talk (“Now I’m peeling the banana…”) during daily routines.
- Naming actions and objects helps children connect language to meaning in real time.
6. Start a Summer Journal
Simple journaling supports both speech and early writing.
- Encourage your child to draw a picture of their day.
- Help them write a few words or sentences to describe it.
- This builds storytelling skills and confidence, especially for kindergarten readiness.
Recap: Make Summer Count for Growing Communicators
- Storytime in new places adds novelty to reading.
- Nature walks boost vocabulary with sensory-rich input.
- Pretend play introduces real-world vocabulary.
- Songs and rhymes build early literacy and language rhythm.
- Everyday talk turns routines into learning moments.
- Journaling supports storytelling and writing.
Ready to Support Your Child’s Communication This Summer?
At Texas Hearing Institute, we partner with families to ensure every child regardless of how they communicate, has the tools they need to thrive. Our speech-language pathologists specialize in pediatric care and can help ensure that your child is staying consistent with learning to listen and speak.
Summer is the perfect time to schedule your child’s hearing evaluation.
Appointments fill quickly as families prepare for the new school year, and early testing ensures you have the answers and support you need before the back-to-school rush begins. By booking now, you can check one more thing off your list and enjoy peace of mind knowing your child is ready to learn, listen, and thrive this fall.
Contact us today to reserve your summer appointment.
