Unlocking action words after the first nouns

 

Free Parent Guide · Communication & Requesting

Your child has “mama,” “ball,” “milk” — but no “go,” “eat,” “open.” Here’s how to add verbs.

A 2-minute walkthrough with Sonali, Occupational Therapist.

Why this matters

Children pick up nouns easily because we point and name objects. Verbs are harder — they’re invisible. They happen, then they’re gone. So we teach them differently, by narrating.

The technique is called parallel talk: you narrate actions as they happen, like a calm sports commentator, so your child hears the verb at the exact moment they see it.

What to try tonight

1
Narrate what you do. “I’m peeling. Peel, peel, peel. I’m cutting. Cut.” Short sentences, one verb at a time, repeated, while your child watches the action happen.
2
Narrate what they do. They take a bite — “eat.” They drink — “drink.” They reach — “take.” Stay one word ahead of them. Don’t quiz; just say the word as it happens.
3
Start with twelve everyday verbs. Eat, drink, open, close, go, come, give, take, push, pull, pick, put. Use them in every routine — meals, bath, play — same word, same action, every day, for a month.
4
Keep it pressure-free. Don’t test, don’t withhold food until they say the word. Parallel talk works precisely because there’s no pressure. You speak; they listen; eventually they speak.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Asking “what are you doing?” — it turns narration into a quiz.
  • Withholding things until the child produces the word.
  • Introducing too many verbs at once instead of the core twelve.
  • Expecting the child to repeat. Verbs take weeks of input first.

When to seek more support

If your child has a small noun vocabulary that isn’t growing, or you’re not seeing any movement toward verbs after a month of daily parallel talk, a speech and language therapist can help you tailor the approach.

S
Designed and reviewed by Sonali, Occupational Therapist, NeuroBuddy Clinical Advisory Panel.
When you’re ready

Verbs, made playable

Buddy Says turns thirty action words into a velcro speech-bubble game — the natural next step after parallel talk.

See Buddy Says

NeuroBuddy is a developmental support brand, not a substitute for clinical assessment, diagnosis, or therapy. Questions? care@neurobuddy.in

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