Parallel talk – Part 2

This article is the second in a four‑part series designed to help families explore simple, natural ways to support communication.

In the first part, we introduced parallel talk—a strategy where parents and caregivers narrate what their child is seeing and doing. By describing actions in real time, children gain new words, new connections, and a deeper awareness of their surroundings.

In this part, we go further, showing how parallel talk can be woven into playtime and daily routines.

Parallel Talk in Playtime Activities

Example 1: Pouring Grains

A simple activity like pouring grains can become a language‑rich moment. Narration might sound like:

• “I am pouring the grains.”
• “I am looking at the grains.”
• “I want to pour more grains.”
• “I can hear the sound of the grains.”

Example 2: Building Towers

During block play, you can comment on what the child is doing:

• “I am building a tower with blocks.”
• “It is a tall tower.”
• “My hand can’t reach the top of the tower.”

However, it is important to remember that the goal is not to ask questions or expect replies, but to give words to actions so children understand that their movements and thoughts have language.

Parallel talk in everyday routine

It is important to include parallel talk as a part of the child’s daily routine.

Example 3: Mealtimes

When a child is eating, narration can make their experience meaningful:

• “I bit into a chilly.”
• “Give me some water.”
• “I will not eat the chilly, Mama. I have kept it aside.”

If the child  pushes the plate aside, we could try to interpret what the child may be thinking by saying

• “My stomach is full.” 
• “I want a break.”

Example 4: At Therapy sessions

Here the child’s Occupational therapists uses  parallel talk to describe actions and feelings:

• “I want the toy.”
• “I cannot do it. Help me!”

Even simple play, like blowing bubbles, can be narrated:

• “I am looking at the bubbles.”
• “Didi is popping the bubble.”
• “The bubbles are gone.”

This narration helps children connect words with actions and also notice non‑verbal cues—like placing a hand on the therapist’s hand to ask for more bubbles.

Why parallel talk works

• Increase their awareness of the world around them. 
• Offer new words for language development.
• Support both spoken and non‑verbal communication.
• Create a stress‑free way to engage, without overwhelming them with questions or instructions

Parallel talk is a gentle, natural way to build communication. In the next part of this series, we’ll explore how parallel talk can be used in interpreting powerful non-verbal means of communication, helping children connect with peers and family in meaningful ways.

This video and guidance were created by Communiverse, led by Deepa Bhat Nair, an organisation dedicated to providing innovative, family-focused solutions for neurodivergent children and their caregivers. Communiverse offers both online and in-person support, providing highly nuanced interventions for very young children — with remarkable outcomes. The team is also pioneering path-breaking programs for middle schoolers and young adults with social cognition challenges, helping them navigate school, college, and daily interactions with greater confidence.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can call or what’s app us. Our counselors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali.