We all know how beneficial routines are (as mundane as they can be sometimes!). Routines provide a natural rhythm to our day, they offer predictability and reduce overall stress. This is especially true for babies and toddlers. They help them feel calm, safe and secure when they know what is coming next. Routines also offer invaluable language learning opportunities for babies and toddlers too!

Why routines?

Children learn doing and think about about all the hours you spend in a day DOING all your routines together with your little one! From diaper changes, washing hands, feeding pets, getting the mail, mealtimes, playing, brushing teeth and so much more! Your everyday routines are meaningful and functional. They provide endless opportunities for you to connect and support your baby or toddler’s language learning.

The best part? Nothing fancy is required. It’s just you and your little one in your natural environment!

Routines…

• Typically have a natural order, they follow the same steps from beginning to end every time, making them predictable
• Are simple and repetitive, which help support your child’s language skills
• Offer specific roles for both you and your child, which gives your child opportunities to take-turns and imitate and initiate when they’re ready

So how do routines support your baby or toddler’s language learning? By using verbal routines! They’re when you…

• Use the SAME words
• In the SAME way
• EVERY TIME you participate in a routine with your baby or toddler

Why do they work?

Because of the repetitive nature of verbal routines, over time the steps and language become very predictable! This helps support your child’s comprehension (understanding) of the words you are using, provides opportunities for turn-taking, and making attempts to imitate or initiate interactions with you.

Examples of Verbal Routines

• Brushing Teeth: “Let’s brush your teeth, brush, brush, brush”
• Bedtime: “Time for bed, night night! Kisses for baby, mwaah!”
• Mealtime: “Time to eat, yum, yum, yum”
• Walking: “Let’s go up, up, up the stairs!”
• Washing hands: “Wash, wash, wash your hands!”
• Sing nursery rhymes and songs!

*Important Note* Before we can expect a child to take their turn or initiate a routine they need to become very familiar with the routine. This means they need to hear and see all the steps associated with the verbal routine again and again. For some babies and toddler this can take longer than others.

You will first want to model the routine several times. After your child becomes familiar with the routine you can pause, give your child and expectant look and see if they fill in the blank – this can be in the form of a gesture, sign, sound, or word! If they don’t that’s ok! Continue the routine and repeat again and again!