· Beth · Blog · 3 min read
5 Speech & Language Goals to Support Your Child in the New Year
The start of a new year often brings new motivation, and for many parents that can mean a renewed focus on their child’s development. When it comes to speech and language development, progress doesn’t come from drills; but rather small, intentional moments woven into everyday life.
Here are five realistic AND supportive goals you can focus on this year to support your child’s speech and language development at home:
1. Create More Opportunities for Conversation
One of the most powerful things you can do for your child’s language development is to simply talk with them, not at them. Children learn language best when communication feels natural and connected, not instructional.
Aim to build conversations into routines you already have:
- Car rides
- Mealtimes
- Bath time
- Bedtime
Pause, wait and give your child time to respond! Conversations don’t need to be long to be impactful. Even brief exchanges help children practice vocabulary, sentence structure, and conversational turn-taking!
2. Encourage Storytelling
Many children are great at answering questions, but struggle to tell a full story. A great goal for the new year is to help your child share their experiences using their own words.
Instead of asking yes/no questions, try asking:
- “Tell me what happened first.”
- “What happened next?”
- “How did that make you feel?”
Resist the urge to correct or rush - that isn’t the goal! Focus on listening. Storytelling builds vocabulary, sentence structure, sequencing skills, and confidence.
3. Make Shared Reading Interactive
Reading together remains one of the strongest predictors of language growth at any age. Shared reading is one of the strongest tools for building vocabulary, comprehension, and expressive language.
Instead of focusing on reading the the words and focusing on finishing the book, try this:
- Talk about the pictures - point out what you notice
- Ask prediction questions
- Relate the story to personal experiences
4. Support Clear Speech Through Natural Modeling
If your child is difficult to understand, supporting speech clarity is a great goal - but keep it natural and pressure free! Instead of correcting errors directly, model clear speech:
Child: “I pe da.” Adult: “You pet the cat? Okay, let’s go pet the cat.”
This reinforces accurate speech sounds while keeping communication positive. If you’re ever unsure whether your child’s speech is developmentally appropriate, a speech-language pathologist can help guide next steps.
5. Build Confidence, Not Perfection
Perhaps the most important (and often overlooked goal): help your child feel confident using their voice.
Children who feel safe communicating are more likely to:
- Try new words
- Ask questions
- Participate in class
- Advocate
Celebrate effort over accuracy. Let your child know their ideas matter, even when their speech and language isn’t perfect. When children feel heard and valued, their communication skills grow more naturally and more sustainably.
Final Thoughts
Speech and language development isn’t a race. Progress is rarely linear, but small and consistent interactions can lead to powerful changes in development.
As you move into the new year, focus less on what your child should be doing and more on how you can support them where they are right now. Those everyday moments of connection make all the difference.
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s communication, working with a speech-language pathologist can provide clarity, reassurance, and individualized support.
Here’s to a year filled with connection, conversation, and growing confidence!
