Play-Based Speech Therapy for Toddlers: What Child-Led Therapy Really Looks Like

I hear this from parents all the time: "The speech therapist just plays with my child. Are they actually doing therapy?"

I get it. You're investing time, energy, and maybe money into speech therapy. You want to see your child working on flashcards, repeating words, sitting at a table doing "real" therapy work.

But here's what I know after years of working with toddlers: the most effective speech therapy for young children doesn't look like traditional therapy at all. It looks like play.

Let me explain why—and what's really happening during those play-based sessions.

What is Child-Led Speech Therapy?

Child-led therapy (also called play-based therapy) is when the speech-language pathologist follows your child's lead during the session.

Here's what it looks like in action:

• Your child picks up a toy car → the therapist starts playing cars with them

• Your child abandons the car and grabs bubbles → the therapist switches to bubbles

• Your child decides to put the bubble wand on their head like a hat → the therapist does the same thing

  
  

The child is 100% in charge of what happens next.

For in-home speech therapy, this might mean playing with toys the therapist brings or toys already at your house. For clinic sessions, it's the same approach—we're watching what catches your child's attention and meeting them right there.

The focus is always on preferred activities and high-interest toys—the things that make your child light up.

Why Child-Led Therapy Works Better Than Traditional Approaches

Here's the truth: children learn best when they're engaged, interested, and having fun.

Think about it—when was the last time you learned something new while feeling stressed, bored, or forced? Probably never, right? Your toddler is the same way.

Child-led therapy works because:

• Kids are intrinsically motivated (they actually WANT to participate)

• They feel a sense of control and autonomy

• They're relaxed and open to learning

• The language we're targeting comes up naturally in play

• Repetition happens organically without feeling like drill work

  
  

In my practice, I know therapy is working when the child runs to the door excited when I arrive and is disappointed when our session ends. That's the kind of engagement that leads to real progress.

"But It Just Looks Like Playing..." Here's What's Really Happening

This is the part parents don't always see—and honestly, that's kind of the point. Good play-based therapy shouldn't feel like work to your child.

But behind the scenes, your child's speech therapist is:

Strategically modeling language at just the right level for your child (signs, gestures, single words, or short phrases)

Using intentional pauses to create opportunities for your child to communicate (like holding the bubbles and waiting expectantly before blowing them)

Repeating target words and concepts naturally throughout play (saying "pop!" every time a bubble pops, or "go!" each time the car zooms)

Expanding on what your child says (when they say "car," responding with "yes, fast car!" or "red car!")

Creating communication temptations (putting desired items in clear containers they can't open, holding a toy just out of reach, "forgetting" to give them a crucial item)

Meeting them at their developmental level while gently pushing them toward the next skill

It's incredibly intentional. It's just designed not to feel that way to your toddler.

What Child-Led Therapy Can Help With

Play-based, child-led therapy is my preferred method for young children working on:

• First words and early language

• Expanding from single words to phrases

• Using AAC devices or communication systems

• Baby sign language

• Early speech sound development

• Social communication skills

• Following directions and understanding language

Basically, if your child is under 5 and working on communication—this approach works.

What to Expect in Child-Led Speech Therapy Sessions

Every session is different because every child is different (and every day is different!). But here's the general flow:

The therapist observes what your child gravitates toward—Are they reaching for the ball? Staring at the bubbles? Picking up the toy kitchen food?

They join your child in play on your child's terms, following their lead completely

They begin incorporating therapy goals naturally into whatever game your child has chosen

They look for communication opportunities and create moments for your child to practice new skills

They adjust in real-time based on your child's engagement and responses

The best part? Your child has no idea they're "doing therapy." They just know they're having fun.

Is Child-Led Speech Therapy Right for Your Child?

If your toddler isn't talking yet, is behind on language milestones, or is struggling to communicate their needs—I know how worried and frustrated you feel.

Maybe your pediatrician said "wait and see," but your gut is telling you something different. Maybe you've tried some strategies at home but aren't sure if you're doing them right. Maybe you're just tired of the meltdowns and wish you could understand what your little one is trying to tell you.

Child-led, play-based speech therapy can help. And it works because it's designed around how toddlers actually learn—not how adults think they should learn.

Wondering if your child might benefit from speech therapy? I'd love to talk with you. Give me a call to discuss what you're noticing with your toddler's communication and whether speech therapy services might be a good fit for your family.

Remember: if it looks like your child is "just playing" in speech therapy, that's actually a very good sign. It means they're engaged, motivated, and learning in the way their brain is wired to learn best.

Questions about whether your child needs speech therapy? Let's talk. Call our office today → (949-214-4527)

AUTHOR: JESSIE KENSEY, M.S., CCC-SLP

References:

Raising Children Network. Letting your child lead play. https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/activity-guides/imagination-and-make-believe/letting-your-child-lead-play

Gibson, J. L., Pritchard, E. J., & de Lemos, C. (2021). Play-based interventions to support social and communication development in autistic children aged 2–8. Autism & Developmental Language Impairments. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/mp2xc