How to Use Playtime to Boost Language Skills

Children are natural learners, especially when they’re at play. The pretend games, songs, and stories that fill their day are also powerful tools for building language skills. For kids learning a second language, play creates low-pressure opportunities to hear, use, and absorb new words.

Here are simple, practical ways to turn everyday play into a language-rich experience.

1. Narrate Playtime

As your child plays, talk about what they’re doing in the target language. For example:

• “The car is fast!”
• “You are feeding the baby.”
• “Look at the big red block.”

This ongoing narration helps associate words with actions and objects, even if your child isn’t responding yet.

2. Use Pretend Play to Practice Dialogues

Pretend play offers natural chances for repetition. Create a store, doctor’s office, or restaurant scene where your child uses greetings, questions, and simple phrases.

A parent shared: “We made a café with cardboard and practiced ordering food in Spanish all week. They picked it up without even noticing.”

3. Choose Toys That Spark Language

Open-ended toys -like dollhouses, animal figurines, kitchen sets, or blocks- encourage storytelling and description.

As you play together, ask questions in the target language:

• “What is the bear doing?”
• “Where is the spoon?”
• “Is the elephant big or small?”

These questions gently invite speaking and listening practice.

4. Incorporate Music and Movement

Songs that include gestures or dance routines make learning memorable. Try action songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” in the target language or a themed playlist.

For example, some families pair animal songs with puppet play or movements “Fly like a bird!” or “Hop like a rabbit!”

5. Blend Play with Digital Tools

Interactive videos or apps that use animated stories and games can extend learning through guided play. If your child loves dinosaurs, animals, or fairy tales, look for resources with matching themes.

One mom shared that after a Dinolingo video on wild animals, they acted out a jungle adventure with stuffed toys repeating the new words all week during play.

6. Let Kids Lead the Way

The most meaningful learning happens when children are truly engaged. Follow your child’s interests whether it’s cooking, superheroes, or building and find ways to introduce new language naturally in those contexts.

You don’t need to correct everything. The goal is to make using the language a normal part of fun.

Final Thoughts

Play is one of the most effective (and joyful) ways to support language development. Whether you’re acting out stories, naming toys, or just talking during pretend time, these little moments add up.

Language learning doesn’t always need a classroom. Sometimes, all it takes is a few blocks, some imagination, and a willingness to talk.