Verbal routines consist of words that are repeated at a predictable time during an activity. A verbal routine happens any time you say the same words, in the same way, for the same things, every time a specific activity occurs. Think “Ready, Set, GO!” “1, 2, 3!” 

Introducing verbal routines into your daily routines can be a great way to promote speech and language skills in children.  The more a child hears the same words in a particular context, the better he associates with what is being said to him. Chances are that after hearing the same word again and again in a language stimulating activity, he might start speaking those words when given an opportunity like when pausing before saying the last word of the verbal routine and giving him to fill in the word.

Verbal routines can be modeled throughout the day during play, people games, singing, reading, and daily routines.  Some examples include:

• Morning: “Rise and Shine”
• Brushing teeth: “Brush, brush, brush our teeth.  Make them nice and clean.”
• Clean-up: “Clean up, clean up, everybody your share.”
• Chase: “Ready, Set, Go!”
• Building a tower of blocks and knocking it over: “Up, up, up, up, DOWN!”
• Blowing bubbles: “Bubble, bubble, POP!
• Bedtime: “Night, night, sleep tight.”

Many Songs are repetitive in nature and have Verbal Routines. For example:

• Old MacDonald Had a Farm
• Wheels on the Bus
• This is the Way I Brush My Teeth
• The Ants Go Marching
• Jelly on the Plate

Many Books use this concept of verbal routines. Some books that encourage verbal routines and repetitive texts include:

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin and Eric Carle
• Panda Bear Panda Bear by Bill Martin and Eric Carle
• Cat the Cat Who is That? by Mo Willems
• Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
• Pete the Cat: I love my White Shoes by James Dean and Eric Litwin

You can create your own Verbal Routines depending on your schedule and interests.  Remember, REPITITION IS KEY!  The consistency and repetition of words is needed to help your little one anticipate what comes next.