A LOAD of LAUNDRY and LANGUAGE!
Authored By Elise Weinstein, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech Therapist at The Village Therapy Place
Loads and loads of laundry!
Any family with young children knows that there is always laundry to be done. As the mother of three young girls, I know how quickly the laundry can pile up. One way I manage my laundry burden is by including my children in the process. I have found is that even my young toddlers can help with laundry…and they are learning a lot as they do!
Laundry can be a valuable language lesson if you narrate what you are doing as you do it. What should you talk about?
Spatial Terminology: In/Out
Use the words in and out while loading and unloading each machine.
Examples:
The sock goes in. Your shirt goes in. Your pants go in. Let’s put the sweater in too.
Let’s take everything out. Can you take something out? Thanks! Look, I took out some shirts.
Basic Concepts: Wet/Dry, Clean/Dirty
Laundry time is a great time to use the words wet, dry, clean, and dirty to describe the articles of clothing. For children with a language delay/disorder, it may help to focus on one pair of opposites at a time (i.e. either wet/dry OR clean/dirty) to make it easier for them to follow.
Examples:
Wet/Dry- “This sock is so wet- feel how wet it is!” and “Look, now the sock is nice and dry!”
Clean/Dirty- “Look at the paint on your shirt-it go so dirty! And your pants got a little dirty too.” and “Look at your shirt- now it is all clean!”
Vocabulary: Naming Articles of Clothing, Laundry Supplies
Whether you are sorting laundry, putting in in the washing machine, transferring it to the dryer, folding it, or putting it away- use this time as an opportunity to bombard your child with the names of articles of clothing.
For early-language learners- stick to the basics, such as pants, shirts, socks, underwear, etc.
For older children- get specific! Use words like “long-sleeved shirt,” “hoodie,” “jeans” and “cardigan.”
This is also a great time to use all the vocabulary that is specific to laundry, such as: detergent, fabric softener, bleach, hanger, hamper, clothesline, laundry basket, washing machine, dryer, iron, ironing board, wrinkles, stained, stain remover, load, unload, dryer sheet, hang.
Categorization
Categorizing items is a great way to develop cognition and language. When the laundry is done, you can have your child help sort laundry into piles for each person in the family, and then subdivide those piles into types of clothing (e.g. undergarments, socks, tops, pants). Be sure to provide your child with the vocabulary for the experience (e.g. Jeans? Those go with the pants. T-shirt? That goes with the tops.)
A final laundry story to inspire you to try this at home:
I was pregnant with my third child and dreading bending over to transfer clothes from my front-loading washer to the dryer. My solution: my older daughter passed me clothes from the washing machine, so I could sort items that could/couldn’t be put in the dryer. I then handed the dryer pile to my younger daughter to put in the dryer for me! A family activity, language lesson, check on my to-do list, and a save for Mom all in one!
Do your kids help with laundry? What parts of the job do they like the best? Share your stories in the comments below.
Who We Are:
We, at The Village Therapy Place, located in Wyckoff, NJ- in Bergen County-aim to provide integrative, neurodevelopmental, individualized, pediatric therapy in a warm, fun, and collaborative environment.
We offer pediatric services that include physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, feeding therapy, and DIR Floortime.
At The Village Therapy Place, we utilize current and evidence-based treatment techniques to help treat your child during his PT, OT, speech therapy, feeding therapy and DIR Floortime session. These include sensory integration, reflex integration, therapeutic listening, Kinesiotape, craniosacral therapy, NDT, BrainGym, feeding therapy, PROMPT, to name a few.
Our expert pediatric therapists offer a variety of treatment options, including 30/45/60 minute sessions, group classes, at home sessions and virtual therapy to best suit your child’s needs.
The pediatric physical therapists, occupational therapists & speech therapists at The Village Therapy Place are in constant contact with a child's caregivers to facilitate lasting change.
Call us today at (201) 201-8220 or email us at office@thevillagetherapyplace.com to speak with a pediatric expert who truly cares!
