Easy Speech Therapy Strategies You Can Use at Home—Starting with the Viral +1 Rule Everyone’s Talking About.
If you’ve been scrolling Instagram or TikTok lately, you may have come across a trending tip from speech-language pathologists called the +1 rule.
It’s short, sweet, and super effective. And here at Smalltalk Speech Therapy, we love how easy it is for parents to use at home.
So what is the +1 rule? Simply put, it’s all about expanding your child’s language one word beyond what they’re already saying. For example:
- Child says: “dog”
- You say: “big dog”
If they say “go car,” you might say, “go in car” or “go fast car.”
This small, but mighty tweak, introduces new vocabulary and models more complex sentence structures without overwhelming your child. It’s one of our favorite tools during early language development and something we often coach families to use during play, meals, and everyday routines.
But the +1 rule is just the beginning. If you’re looking for simple, effective speech therapy tips to use at home, here are five expert-backed favorites:
1. Model & Expand Language
When your child is playing, narrate what they’re doing (this is called parallel talk). If they say a word or phrase, repeat it and expand it by just a bit (hello, +1 rule!).
- Child says: “blocks.”
- You say: “stacking blocks.”
This kind of modeling helps build their vocabulary and grammar skills naturally.
2. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Children learn through repetition. If you’re teaching a new word like “bubble,” say it several times while you’re playing:
- “Bubble! Look, a big bubble! More bubbles? Pop the bubble!”
Focused repetition, especially during fun activities, strengthens your child’s understanding and use of words.
3. Use Daily Routines as Practice
Speech practice doesn’t need flashcards or fancy tools. Talk during everyday moments:
- Breakfast: “Pour milk. Eat banana. All done?”
- Bathtime: “Wash toes. Splash water. Soap on arms.”
Embedding language in routines makes it easier for children to connect words with meaning.
4. Offer Choices
Offering two simple options encourages children to communicate. Hold up two items and label them clearly:
- “Do you want apple or banana?”
- “Should we read car book or animal book?”
Even if your child doesn’t speak yet, they can point or gesture—and you’re modeling vocabulary at the same time.
5. Collaborate with an SLP (That’s Us!)
The most effective speech strategies happen when parents and speech-language pathologists work together. At Smalltalk, our therapists coach parents on how to integrate speech techniques like the +1 rule into everyday life—making therapy more consistent, fun, and impactful.
We offer both individual and group sessions, with a whole-child approach that blends communication goals with play, yoga, and even arts.
If you’re curious how we can help support your child’s communication skills, contact us here or explore our services menu for more information.
Let’s make speech therapy feel like home—because it can start right at your kitchen table.