Squish, Roll, Talk! Using Play-Doh to Build Language Skills

As a speech-language pathologist, one of my favorite “therapy tools” is probably already in your kitchen drawer: Play-Doh.

Play-Doh isn’t just a fun sensory activity—it’s a powerful way to support language development through play.

Why Play-Based Learning Matters

Children learn language best when they’re engaged, relaxed, and having fun. Play-based learning creates meaningful opportunities for children to:

• Hear and use new words

• Practice back-and-forth communication

• Develop attention, problem-solving, and social skills

When children are playing, their brains are primed for learning. They’re motivated to communicate because language has a purpose—asking, commenting, requesting, and sharing ideas. That’s where the magic happens.

Why Play-Doh Is Great for Language Skills

Play-Doh naturally encourages:

• Descriptive language (soft, squishy, big, long)

• Action words (roll, squeeze, cut, smash)

• Social interaction (turn-taking, sharing ideas)

• Fine motor skills, which are closely connected to speech and language development

Best of all, Play-Doh activities are easy to adapt for both toddlers and early school-aged children.

3 Play-Doh Language Activities to Try at Home

1. Talk While You Play (Narrate & Expand)

Best for: Toddlers and early school-aged children

As you play alongside your child, talk about what you’re both doing. This is sometimes called self-talk and parallel talk.

What to say:

• “I’m rolling the Play-Doh.”

• “You made a big ball!”

• “Wow, you’re cutting it into pieces.”

If your child says a word or short phrase, expand it:

• Child: “Dog.”

• You: “Yes! A brown dog. The dog is running!”

This helps children hear correct sentence models without pressure to repeat.

2. Play-Doh Story Builders

Best for: Preschoolers and early school-aged children

Use Play-Doh to create characters, animals, food, or places. Then build a simple story together.

How to play:

• Make a character and ask, “Who is this?”

• Ask simple questions: “Where are they going?” or “What happened next?”

• Take turns adding to the story.

This activity supports:

• Vocabulary growth

• Sentence structure

• Storytelling and sequencing skills

Tip: Keep it silly and flexible—there’s no “wrong” story!

3. Give Me Directions!

Best for: Older toddlers and early school-aged children

Turn Play-Doh time into a listening and comprehension game.

Try this:

• Give simple directions:

  • “Roll the Play-Doh.”

  • “Make two small balls.”

• Gradually increase complexity:

  • “Roll the Play-Doh and put it on the plate.”

  • “Make a long snake, then cut it into three pieces.”

You can also switch roles and let your child give you directions—great for expressive language and confidence.

A Final Encouragement for Parents

You don’t need fancy toys or structured lessons to support your child’s language skills. What matters most is connection, conversation, and play. When you sit down, follow your child’s lead, and talk together, you’re building the foundation for strong communication skills.

So grab the Play-Doh, get a little messy, and remember: every squish, roll, and laugh is a chance for language to grow.