Making Crafts and Building Language

Children love creating and coloring, and this enthusiasm for artistic expression is a vital part of their development. Engaging in craft-making activities is a fun outlet for their creativity. Each child has their own unique perspective and style, which can shine through in their art. This process of creation allows for numerous natural opportunities to promote language development, as children describe their thoughts, feelings, and the materials they are using. I often incorporate crafts into my speech-language therapy sessions due to their highly motivating nature, as children are more likely to engage and participate when they are excited about the activity at hand. The vibrant colors, diverse textures, and the satisfaction of creating something tangible can significantly enhance their willingness to communicate.

So how can you transform such a simple and enjoyable play activity into a language-rich learning opportunity? Here are some of my tips, which can help enrich the experience for children while promoting the development of their language skills:

First and foremost, let them request supplies. I do this by keeping most of the supplies on my side of the table, which creates a scenario where my daughter must use her words/gestures to ask for or indicate what she wants. She is certainly capable of reaching for the materials independently, but if she does so without verbalizing, I take the opportunity to model appropriate language by saying, “I want the heart.” This not only reinforces her understanding of what she needs but also encourages her to express herself verbally. You can further enhance this interaction by holding up choices and waiting for her response, posing questions like, "Do you want the red heart or the pink heart?" This strategy not only promotes language use but also helps with her decision-making skills.

What you can say: "More glue"

"I want the red crayon"

"Pink heart"

"Do you want the heart or star?

Another important aspect is to encourage them to ask for help when needed. I do this by allowing my daughter to work independently on her craft project. However, if I notice her beginning to struggle with a particular task, I pause for a moment to give her a chance to figure it out. If she continues to struggle, I then model the phrase, “Help me,” prompting her to seek assistance verbally rather than simply becoming frustrated or giving up. This not only teaches her to advocate for herself but also reinforces the importance of communication in problem-solving.

What you can say: "Help me"

"I need help"

"It's stuck! Help"

"Mommy, you do it"

Additionally, it’s beneficial to describe the materials together as you work. For instance, you might say, "This heart is soft," or "That paper is shiny!" By doing this, you are not only expanding their vocabulary but also encouraging them to observe and articulate their thoughts about the materials they are using. It can also lead to further discussions about textures, colors, and shapes, enriching her understanding of the world around her through sensory exploration.

What you can say: "Blue paper"

"Sticky glue"

"The snowflake is soft"

"The pink heart is big"

"The picture is colorful"

Helping them expand their phrases is another effective strategy. If they say, "Red heart," you can add to the message by responding, "Yes! A big red heart!" This technique encourages your child to build upon their initial thoughts and express themselves in more complex ways, which is a crucial part of language development.

What you can say: Child "heart" ---> You can say "Pink heart"

Child "I cut" ---> You can say "Yes, you cut the paper"

Child "big circle" ---> You can say "You drew a big circle"

Child "more" ---> You can say "I want more" or "more crayons"

During the crafting activity, you can very naturally practice following directions. Simple instructions like, "Put the sticker on the card," or "Find the pink one!" not only help our children to understand and follow directions but also reinforce their listening skills and comprehension. This aspect of the activity can be both fun and educational, as it integrates language learning into a playful context.

What you can say: "I'm putting the sitcker on. Now, you put the sticker on."

"Give me the green crayon"

"Put the crayons in the box"

"Put the star under the heart"

And as always, you can introduce new words as you go along to build vocabulary skills. For example, phrases like ‘Let’s sprinkle glitter!’ or “The glue is sticky” can be seamlessly integrated into the crafting process. This not only enriches her vocabulary but also helps her to make connections between words and their meanings through hands-on experience.

What you can say: Craft supplies, describing words, actions

Crafting is more than just a fun activity, it’s a natural way to support language development. By incorporating opportunities for requesting, describing, following directions, and expanding phrases, you can turn a simple art project into a language-learning experience. Most importantly, your child will be having fun while building essential communication skills. So grab some supplies, get creative, and enjoy the magic of crafting and connection!