Let’s Make the Holidays Count: Building Language Through Pretend Play

Bethany Yu
12 hours ago
3 min read

Holiday Programmes 2025

Holiday programme in Singapore for kids | Building Language Through Pretend Play | Total Communication | Kids activities

The Magic of Holidays: More Than Just Rest and Play

As therapists, we often hear parents say, “It’s the holidays, let them just play.”

And we couldn’t agree more except we like to add a little twist: play with purpose.

The November and December holidays can feel long for parents, especially when routines fade and screen time starts to take over. But what if those weeks could be more than just a break from school? What if they became an opportunity for your child to grow their language, thinking, and imagination, all while having fun?

That’s exactly what our Language Stimulation Through Pretend Play programme is designed for.

Why Pretend Play Is Serious Learning (Disguised as Fun)

At Total Communication, we know that play is the language of children. It’s how they make sense of their world, express emotions, and build the foundation for later academic success.

Pretend play develops:

Vocabulary and sentence structure — role-playing introduces new words and ways to use them.
Social thinking and emotional understanding — learning to take turns, read expressions, and show empathy through play.
Listening and comprehension — following pretend scenarios helps children process and respond meaningfully.
Flexible thinking and problem-solving — kids can adapt to different scenarios and face problems in a safe environment.

As therapists, we’ve seen first-hand how play transforms hesitant communicators into confident storytellers. It’s in the moments of pouring “tea” for a stuffed rabbit, building a pretend zoo, or playing “chef” in a toy kitchen that language truly comes alive.

Programme Snapshot

Programme Name: Language Stimulation Through Pretend Play
Age Group: 4-7 years
Duration: 4 weeks (2 sessions per week)
Session Length: 2 hours each
Format: Small group, play-based therapy sessions

This isn’t a typical classroom setup. Each session is thoughtfully curated to immerse children in interactive storytelling, hands-on play, craft-based learning, and guided thinking - all within a nurturing environment.

Programme Goals

Our holiday programme focuses on both language and cognitive development, so children grow in multiple areas at once.

*Language Goals*	*Cognitive Goals*
Vocabulary expansion (emotions, actions, categories) WH-questions (who, what, where, why) Sentence building using visuals and modelling Use of connector and transition words Following multi-step instructions	Imagination and symbolic play Emotional recognition and expression Flexible thinking and problem-solving Joint attention and turn-taking Early inferencing and dynamic thinking

Weekly Themes: Where Every Story Sparks Learning

Week	Theme	Focus Area
Week 1	Supermarket Adventures	Categorisation, requesting, describing items
Week 2	Restaurant & Kitchen Play	Sequencing steps, verbs, turn-taking dialogue
Week 3	Zoo & Vet Clinic	WH-questions, problem-solving in scenarios
Week 4	Community Helpers	Vocabulary groups, simple sentences, following directions

Each session flows through a rhythm:

🎭 Storytelling → 🤹 Pretend play → ✂️ Craft or game → 💬 Reflection and home ideas

This structure ensures that language and cognition are naturally reinforced, not forced.

What Your Child Will Gain

Confidence in communication – expressing ideas, emotions, and needs clearly.
Cognitive flexibility – learning to adapt and think on their feet.
Better social language – initiating, maintaining, and ending conversations appropriately.
Joy in learning – discovering that communication can be fun and meaningful.

By the end of the programme, children don’t just leave with new words, they leave with new ways to think, connect, and express themselves.

From a Therapist’s Lens

When we designed this programme, our goal was simple: to make the holidays enriching without feeling like “extra classes.”

Each theme is crafted with therapeutic intention. We observe how a child expresses ideas, scaffold their language, and help them connect thought to word and word to emotion.

As therapists, we act as mediators of meaning, guiding each child to see patterns, find words for feelings, and discover the power of communication in everyday play.

And the best part? Parents often tell us that after just a few sessions, their child starts narrating play scenes at home, initiating conversations, and even using new phrases naturally.

Why This Holiday Programme Matters

The long November–December break is the perfect window for developmental growth. Without school pressures, children are more open, imaginative, and ready to absorb new skills.

Instead of filling time with worksheets or screens, let this holiday be a season of meaningful play where language blooms, confidence rises, and thinking sharpens through fun.