Play at Home Activities | Early Language Handouts

Play at Home Activities for Early Language Development

Support early speech, language, and communication skills through simple, engaging play at home activities using everyday household items. These caregiver-friendly Early Intervention handouts are designed to help therapists coach parents and caregivers to use language strategies naturally during play and daily routines.

Perfect for bagless therapy, caregiver coaching, and routines-based Early Intervention sessions.

⭐ Feel confident leaving the toy bag in the car

Not every family has access to a wide range of toys and books at home. These handouts were designed to help therapists and caregivers embrace simple, meaningful play using everyday items already found around the house.

The activities encourage therapists to model how communication and language learning opportunities can be created naturally within familiar environments and routines.

⭐ Great for routines-based intervention

Although the ideas are play-based, they are intentionally designed around everyday household items, making them easy to incorporate into daily routines and family life.

These play at home activities are ideal for supporting carryover between Early Intervention sessions.

⭐ Designed for caregiver coaching

All handouts are written in caregiver-friendly language, making them ideal for:

• Caregiver coaching sessions
• Home practice and carryover
• Sharing during meetings
• Therapist reference and session planning

Two different layout options are included so you can choose the version that best suits each family’s needs.

⭐ What’s included in this resource?

This resource includes 80 caregiver-friendly play at home activity ideas for supporting early speech, language, and communication development.

Included resources:

• Information for therapists
• Ideas for using language strategies during play
• Household alternatives to toys
• Printable poster: “Things to Play with at Home”

⭐ Play at home activity ideas include:

• 10 Ways to Play with a Cardboard Box
• 10 Ways to Play with Food Storage Containers
• 5 Ways to Play with Pots and Pans
• 5 Ways to Play on the Sofa
• 5 Ways to Play with a Mirror
• 5 Ways to Play with Toilet Roll Tubes
• 13 People Play Games
• 5 Ways to Play with a Blanket
• 9 Ways to Play with Water
• 5 Ways to Play “What’s in the Bag?”
• 8 Ways to Play with Socks

⭐ Each handout includes:

• A simple play-based activity idea
• Suggested target words
• A recommended language facilitation strategy

The strategies included are evidence-based General Language Stimulation strategies designed to increase opportunities for children to hear and use developmentally appropriate language during everyday interactions.

⭐ Why therapists love these caregiver handouts

• No prep and ready to use immediately
• Perfect for bagless therapy
• Encourages meaningful play using everyday items
• Supports caregiver confidence and carryover
• Flexible for a wide range of families
• Ideal for Early Intervention and preschool therapy

⭐ Ideas for use

• Use during caregiver coaching sessions
• Send home to support carryover
• Share with childcare providers
• Use as “activity of the month” handouts
• Display the poster to encourage play without toys
• Keep in a therapy binder for easy reference

Additional information

Two versions are included:

• Multi-idea pages for therapist planning and confident caregivers
• Simplified pages with fewer ideas and note space for caregivers who may feel overwhelmed by too many options

The ideas included in both versions are the same; only the layout differs.