The simplest way to build a preschooler’s speech at home is daily conversation: read aloud and ask about the pictures, play word games such as guessing, synonyms and opposites, and talk during meals and trips. Give your child time to answer and repeat a mistaken word correctly, calmly, without making them say it again.
Read aloud every day and talk about the book
Reading aloud is a lesson and time together at once. It grows vocabulary, shows how sentences are built and trains active listening. Make the reading a conversation:
- Stop on a picture and ask “What is happening here?” or “What will the bunny do next?”.
- Let your child finish a familiar line or rhyme.
- Use one new word from the book later that day, at dinner or on a walk.
- Return to favourite books: a repeated story lets a child retell it in their own words.
Word games that make practice fun
Games turn language practice into play, so children ask for them again. Pick one or two and keep them short.
| Game | How to play | What it trains |
|---|---|---|
| Guess the word | Describe an object (“It is round, red and grows on a tree”) and let your child guess, then swap roles. | Vocabulary, describing words |
| Same and opposite | Say a word and ask for a word that means the same (big – large) or the opposite (big – small). | Synonyms and antonyms |
| What is in the bag? | Hide a toy in a bag; the child feels it and describes it before looking. | Sensory words, full sentences |
| Story from a picture | Show a picture and ask what happened before and what will happen next. | Sequence, past and future tense |
| Crosswords and Scrabble | For older children who already read: simple crosswords or word-building games. | Spelling, word building |
Talk at the table and on the road
Conversations over meals and during family trips teach a child to build a dialogue, share an opinion and listen to others. Ask open questions (“What was the funniest part of your day?”), share your own answer and wait. On the road, describe what you see together: colours, sizes, where things are.
Children learn to listen in the same conversations. Our article on active listening shows how to show a child you hear them, which makes them want to talk more.
How to correct speech mistakes gently
Be patient and support every attempt to speak, even with mistakes. Repeat the phrase correctly in your answer (“I goed to the park” → “Yes, you went to the park! What did you see there?”) and carry on the conversation. A child hears the right form and keeps the wish to talk. Correction that shames a child lowers their motivation to learn.
Steady practice and support build a child’s confidence in their own words, which helps later with friends, in class and at school.
When to ask a speech-language specialist in Ottawa
If you are worried about how your child speaks or understands, you can contact a preschool speech and language program yourself: in Ontario it serves children from birth until they start school, and no referral from your doctor is needed (ontario.ca, Preschool Speech and Language Program). In Ottawa and Renfrew County this program is First Words: free services for children from birth to school entry and an online Communication Checkup for parents (firstwords.ca).
Speech practice in class at KIDSUP
Speech and communication are part of the early development program for children aged 3–6: play-based classes in groups of up to 15, where children talk, listen and ask questions during play. For children 4–8 who are getting ready for school, the school readiness program adds preparation for writing and counting.
| Program | Ages | Format | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early development | 3–6 | Group | $45 |
| Preparation for school | 4–8 | Group or one-to-one | $60 group$40 one-to-one |
| Group classes | 4–8 | Up to 15 children | $60 |
| Individual sessions | 4–8 | One child, one teacher | $40 per session |
All programs run 9AM–1PM in English at 150 Katimavik Rd, Kanata. Full list: programs and prices.
Read next
- Early development, ages 3–6Speech, motor skills and social skills, groups up to 15
- Active listening with your childHow to show you hear and value their feelings
- Playing and learningTurn learning into a fun process
- Kindergarten readiness checklistLanguage skills to check before JK
- Support your child’s creativityDrawing and modelling to express feelings
- All tips from teachersClassroom practices to continue at home
Questions parents ask
Talk with your child every day: read aloud and ask about the pictures, play short word games, and talk during meals and trips. Give your child time to answer and repeat mistaken words correctly in your reply.
Guessing games where you describe an object, “same and opposite” word games, “what is in the bag”, retelling a story from a picture, and crosswords or Scrabble for older children who already read.
Repeat the phrase correctly in your answer and continue the conversation, without asking the child to say it again. Correction that shames a child lowers the motivation to speak.
Ontario’s Preschool Speech and Language Program serves children from birth until they start school, and you can contact it yourself without a doctor’s referral. In Ottawa it is First Words, which offers free services and an online Communication Checkup for parents.
Yes. Speech and communication are part of the early development program for ages 3–6 ($45, 9AM–1PM, in English) in Kanata. Book a place online or call 613-867-7786.
Classes for children 3–8 in Kanata
Early development, school readiness, group and individual classes at 150 Katimavik Rd, 9AM–1PM, in English. Tell us your child’s age and we will suggest a program.
