99 ways to help your child communicate

Communication is a vital part of our daily interactions, and it’s especially crucial for children to develop this skill as it influences their socialisation and academic success. However, not all children come equipped with inherent communication abilities, which makes it necessary for parents to lend their support to help them develop and sharpen this skill. Here are 99 ways to help your child communicate more effectively. 

1.  Play games that involve taking turns and communicate regularly 
2.  Give your child acknowledgement when they try to speak up 
3.  Encourage your child to ask questions to avoid misunderstandings 
4.  Use simple and clear language when communicating with your child 
5.  Make eye contact and show them that you’re attentively listening to them 
6.  Engage your child in storytelling activities
7.  Read books aloud and discuss what you’ve read with your child 
8.  Actively take part in conversations with your child, even during routine activities such as mealtimes and bath times 
9.  Teach your child new words and encourage them to use them in sentences 
10.  Expose your child to different environments and people such as theatres, museums and galleries 
11.  Sign your child up to classes or activities that encourage active communication 
12.  Allow your child to express themselves through writing or drawing 
13.  Give positive feedback and praise your child’s efforts 
14.  Respond to your child’s nonverbal communication 
15.  Relax and take deep breaths when you’re tempted to talk over your child 
16.  Give them space during day-to-day activities and let them interact with their peers 
17.  Involve your child in everyday tasks like shopping or cooking and communicate what you’re doing 
18.  Help your child observe and appreciate nature and talk about what they see and feel 
19.  Encourage your child to read aloud by taking them to visit the library 
20.  Role-play with your child to prepare them for real-life situations 
21.  Turn off electronic devices and focus on communicating with your child 
22.  Teach your child to respect others’ opinions and feelings 
23.  Ask open-ended questions that require more than a yes or no answer 
24.  Avoid interrupting your child when they’re speaking 
25.  Practice active listening skills and encourage your child to do the same 
26.  Use games like charades or Pictionary to encourage nonverbal communication 
27.  Encourage your child to explain their thought process 
28.  Provide appropriate feedback when your child speaks inaccurately 
29.  Speak slowly and enunciate words clearly so your child can hear you better 
30.  Engage in pretend play with your child, encouraging them to use their imagination 
31.  Help your child recognise their emotions and express them verbally 
32.  Organise “playdates” with your child’s friends to encourage socialising and making friends 
33.  Teach your child different communication styles and when to use them 
34.  Use humour as a tool, such as silly play, to help your child open up and communicate more freely 
35.  Encourage your child to seek help when needed, and teach them how to do so 
36.  Identify your child’s preferred communication style and adapt 
37.  Create an environment where your child feels comfortable sharing their emotions and thoughts 
38.  Teach your child to use body language to express themselves 
39.  Play music and sing with your child 
40.  Use stories as a tool to teach your child morals and values 
41.  Take your child to places where they can interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds 
42.  Teach your child to use different intonations to express their emotions 
43.  Ask your child to describe their feelings when they’re upset or happy 
44.  Engage your child in sports or physical activities that require communication 
45.  Allow your child to set communication goals and celebrate when they achieve them 
46.  Encourage your child to speak up when they’re not feeling well 
47.  Avoid using baby talk with your child and use the real words for things 
48.  Help your child understand the importance of listening to others 
49.  Use technology to encourage communication, such as video calls with family members 
50.  Encourage your child to join groups, clubs or teams to help them develop stronger communication skills 
51.  Write notes to your child and encourage them to write back 
52.  Play games that require communication, like Guess Who, Snap or I Spy  
53.  Encourage your child to advocate for themselves in their daily lives 
54.  Teach your child to use positive language and avoid negative words 
55.  Use a mirror to help your child practice pronouncing words correctly 
56.  Create opportunities for your child to do public speaking, like sharing a poem or story 
57.  Attend live performances or shows with your child and discuss your experiences afterward 
58.  Teach your child basic conversation rules like taking turns and having manners 
59.  Encourage your child to ask for help when they’re struggling 
60.  Use puppets or stuffed animals to act out different scenarios 
61.  Celebrate your child’s language milestones and accomplishments 
62.  Encourage your child to speak up for their beliefs and opinions 
63.  Use TV shows or movies to teach your child about different communication styles 
64.  Use positive reinforcement when your child speaks well or uses new vocabulary 
65.  Play word games like Scrabble or Boggle with your child 
66.  Teach your child how to apologise and make amends 
67.  Show your child how to communicate effectively through your own actions 
68.  Encourage your child to express gratitude for acts of kindness 
69.  Help your child understand the meaning of idioms and colloquial language  
70.  Show your child how to give clear instructions without ambiguity 
71.  Teach your child how to use humour by teaching them jokes
72.  Show your child how to give and receive compliments 
73.  Make communication a fun activity by engaging in fun activities like scavenger hunts 
74.  Encourage your child to express their creativity through art, music, or dance 
75.  Give your child the chance to explain their feelings without feeling judged 
76.  Use intentional pauses to allow your child to gather their thoughts  
77.  Use newspapers or current events to teach your child about the world and the news 
78.  Take your child on trips and holiday where they can practice their communication skills in different languages 
79.  Use role-playing activities to teach your child how to handle potentially dangerous situations or emergencies 
80.  Use gestures, facial expressions, and body language intentionally to express your own emotions effectively 
81.  Incorporate technology in your child’s communication skill building, like using a voice recording app 
82.  Introduce your child to sign language to broaden their communication abilities 
83.  Avoid speaking negatively to or around your child, as they may start modelling this behaviour 
84.  Have your child read a script or speech in front of an audience to build their confidence in public speaking 
85.  Use art activities like drawing or colouring and ask your child to describe what they’ve made 
86.  Encourage your child to communicate their boundaries and learn to respect others’ boundaries 
87.  Use social media to teach your child how to communicate positively and effectively online 
88.  Use props or pictures to create storyboards for your child to practice communication 
89.  Label objects in your home or environment to familiarise your child with new vocabulary 
90.  Engage your child in debate or discussion, teaching them how to present a clear argument 
91.  Create opportunities for your child to share their own culture or language with others 
92.  Let your child lead the conversation and choose the topic of discussion 
93.  Take advantage of teachable moments or everyday activities to build communication skills 
94.  Meet with your child’s teachers or teaching assistants and if needed, work with them to develop a communication plan that works best for your child 
95.  Avoid interrupting your child when they’re telling a story 
96.  Encourage your child to share their opinions on current topics or social issues 
97.  Use age-appropriate books or videos to teach your child about empathy and understanding others’ feelings 
98.  Provide opportunities for your child to practice deeper listening skills by playing games like Simon Says or Musical Statues 
99.  Celebrate your child’s uniqueness and encourage them to embrace their own style of communication 

Communication is a skill that can be developed and refined over time. As a parent, it’s essential to create a supportive and nurturing environment where your child feels comfortable expressing themselves. Test out some or all of these ways, and make sure you’re giving your child the best chance to develop and polish their communication and language skills.