Why Movement, Play, and Sensory Experiences Help Children Learn to Talk

One of the most common questions I hear from parents is:

“Why are you having my child swing, climb, or play with shaving cream in speech therapy?”

It can seem surprising at first. When we think about speech and language therapy, we often imagine sitting at a table practicing words.

But for many children — especially young children and neurodivergent children — movement and sensory experiences are actually one of the most powerful ways to build speech and language.

Let’s talk about why.

Speech and Language Start in the Body

Before children can use words, their brains are learning how to understand and organize information from their bodies and the world around them.

Every time a child:

• climbs

• spins

• squeezes playdough

• jumps

• pushes a heavy toy

• splashes in water

their brain is receiving sensorimotor input.

“Sensorimotor” simply means:

• Sensory → information coming in (touch, movement, sound, sight, body awareness)

• Motor → movement and actions the body makes

These experiences help the brain build the foundation for communication.

Think of it like building a house:

• Sensorimotor experiences = the foundation

• Speech and language = the structure built on top

If the foundation is shaky and/or unstable, the rest becomes much harder.

Regulation Comes Before Communication

For a child to access language, their nervous system needs to feel regulated and safe.

If a child is feeling overwhelmed, dysregulated, or disconnected from their body, the brain shifts into survival mode rather than learning mode.

Movement and sensory play help the nervous system organize itself and settle the foundational information in order for the brain to feel grounded and able to build upward.

For example:

• swinging can help calm the body

• jumping can increase alertness

• balancing activates the core muscles which light up additional neural connections

• deep pressure (like squeezing playdough) can help children feel grounded and lowers anxiety

Once the body is more regulated, the brain has more access to language, attention, and connection. These upper level cognitive skills have a stronger reference point.

Movement Builds the Brain Pathways for Speech

Speech itself is actually a motor activity.

Talking requires coordination of:

• breathing

• vocal cords

• jaw movement

• lips

• tongue

• timing

• rhythm

Movement experiences help the brain develop the timing, sequencing, and coordination needed for speech. Movement activities often engage the core muscles which allow for more controlled access to the diaphragm— the muscle responsible for inhalations and exhalations, which are the starting point for speech.

For example:

• Clapping games build rhythm, timing, and bilateral coordination

• Jumping patterns help with sequencing muscle groups

• Action songs connect movement with words

These activities strengthen the brain networks that support communication.

Sensory Play Creates Natural Opportunities for Language

Children learn language best when it is meaningful and connected to real experiences.

Imagine the difference between:

A flashcard that says “wet.”

versus

A child splashing in water and hearing:

• “Splash!”

• “Your hands are wet!”

• “Pour it again!”

• “Big splash!”

The second experience connects words to real sensations, actions, shared enjoyment, and emotion, which helps the brain understand and remember language more deeply. Sensory experiences create episodic memory, not just surface level meaning.

Connection Is the Most Important Ingredient

When we play, move, and explore with children, something important happens:

We connect.

Shared joyful experiences create the perfect environment for communication.

This is why you might see a speech therapist:

• rolling a ball back and forth

• building an obstacle course

• playing pretend with toys

• digging in sensory bins

These activities aren’t distractions from language learning.

They are the pathway to it.

What This Means for Parents at Home

The good news is that you do not need fancy therapy tools to support language development.

Some of the best speech and language opportunities happen during everyday play.

Try things like:

• jumping on pillows and counting jumps

• playing chase and labeling actions (“run!” “stop!” “go!”)

• cooking together and describing textures and smells

• splashing in the bath and naming actions

• building forts and pretending together

The key ingredients are:

• movement

• shared attention

• play

• connection

When children feel safe, engaged, and connected in their bodies, language naturally grows.

The Big Picture

Speech and language are not just about words.

They are connected to:

• the body

• the nervous system

• movement

• sensory experiences

• relationships

When we support the whole child — body and brain together — we create the best possible environment for communication to flourish.