Self-talking through activities encourage word usage and understanding. In a self-talking activity you are talk about the activity as it happens. Imitation helps to enhance speech and language skills. When these activities are accompanied by actions, the child will begin by imitating these movements. Repetition allows the child to first imitate and then initiate the activity.
Telephone games encourage the child to communicate through a familiar routine.
By using such a routine the child learns that language has a purpose. Turn take with your child a pretend telephone conversation. Your model will allow for imitation. With any activity praise all your child's efforts, whether they joined in, repeated your actions, made sounds or said words. Find fun pictures in a magazine to paste them on the tub.