12/15/2025
🚀 Mindful Monday: Why Action Beats Objects in Play!
When we play, our first instinct is often to point and label: "Look, a ball! A car! A block!"
While labeling serves a purpose, the action (the verb) you use is far more impactful than the object (the noun) you point at. We use action-based play to create a powerful learning loop that sticks!
Why Action Creates Lasting Language
✨Focusing on verbs and experiences during play is a core component of evidence-based, play-based therapy. It drives communication by building stronger connections in the brain:
➡Reinforces Core Language & Grammar: Verbs are the building blocks of sentences. Research shows that strong verb vocabulary is a better predictor of later grammatical skills than early noun diversity. By using verbs ("Go," "Up," "Eat"), you're giving your child the functional building blocks (Core Vocabulary) they need to move from single words to phrases.
➡Creates Deeper Memory Links (Faster Retrieval): Pointing provides a static label. Engaging in an action (shaking a maraca, pushing a car) provides a strong multi-sensory experience (motor movement + sound + visual input). This rich, embodied learning creates a stronger semantic representation, which makes it easier for the brain to retrieve and use that word later.
➡Encourages Intentional Communication: Actions inherently lead to a need to communicate. If you push a car and it stops, the child is motivated to ask you to "Go!" or "Push!" again. This moves communication from passive labeling to intentional, functional language use.
💡 The SLP Takeaway: While pointing/labeling is essential for receptive language and joint attention, Action Imitation is a great predictor of later expressive language production.
