Using closing phrases and words while reading with children is an engaging and effective way to support language development. Closing phrases—where parents pause and encourage the child to complete a familiar word or sentence—are especially beneficial for toddlers and early learners. As a speech-language pathologist, I instruct parents to use this technique all the time!

This simple yet powerful strategy promotes the following:

Language Development:

Repetitive and predictable books create a structure where children can practice speech and language skills.
Closing phrases help children learn to anticipate sounds, words, and patterns in language.
Vocabulary Growth
1. By encouraging children to complete a phrase, they are exposed to new words and concepts in an engaging way.
2. Repetition in books reinforces vocabulary retention.\

Confidence and Participation:

Filling in the blanks helps children feel successful and encourages active participation.
They gain confidence as they “read” along with you, even if they’re just saying a single word or phrase.

Turn-Taking and Communication Skills:

Pausing for the child to contribute mirrors conversational turn-taking.
It strengthens their ability to listen, wait, and respond—key skills for social interaction.

Cognitive Skills:

Closing phrases foster prediction skills, teaching children to anticipate what comes next in a story.
This supports comprehension and memory as they recall patterns from previous readings.

Engagement and Fun:

Pausing for a child to finish a phrase turns passive listening into an interactive activity.
It makes reading more enjoyable and keeps children engaged longer.

6 Classic Books and Examples

Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom by Bill Martin Jr.: https://amzn.to/3Dw48US

Tap your lap or clap your hands in rhythm as you say, “Chicka Chicka…” and pause to let your child say, “Boom Boom!”
You can also have your child fill in “room” in “Will there be enough…” “room!”
Emphasize letters: As you say, “A told B, and B told C…” pause at the letter C to let your child fill it in or continue with, “I’ll meet you at the top of the coconut tree!”

Brown Bear by Eric Carle: https://amzn.to/4gkG3yV

Pause after “What do you…” to have your child say “see.” You can also do this with “I see a green frog looking at…” (have child finish the “me”).
Emphasize colors and animals: Say, “I see a ____” and let your child name the next animal or color. For example: “I see a…” (pause for “red bird”) or “blue horse.”
Imitate animal sounds: After reading each page, make the corresponding animal sound and encourage your child to join in.

Carle’s other books also make great additions! (I’m a huge fan!)

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear https://amzn.to/3ZNwOQN
From Head to Toe (great for body parts and imitation) https://amzn.to/4gMpEmG

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney: https://amzn.to/4084k5K

Pause for rhymes: After “Llama Llama red pajama…,” stop to let your child predict the next word in the rhyme.
Encourage emotions: Point to Llama’s expressions and say, “Llama feels…” to encourage your child to say, “alone,” “scared,” or other emotions in the story.
Act it out: Pretend to be Llama crying out for “Mama!” and see if your child joins you or finishes the line.

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed Eileen Christelow: https://amzn.to/4084k5K

You can shake your finger as if you’re saying “no” to see if your child can copy you!
You can pause before “Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said…” to see if your child can close the statement with “no more monkeys!”
You can pause before “one fell off and jumped his…” to see if your child can finish the statement with “head.”

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox: https://amzn.to/4gkG3yV

This is another great book for rhyming and predictive text.
You can pause after “ten little fingers and ten little…” to have your child close the saying with “toes.”
Incorporate your child’s fingers and toes to help them learn these key body parts.

Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton https://amzn.to/4gufRSn

This is grea at book to target predictive words and rhyming. For example, “leap with the frog… take another spin with the barnyard dog.”
Emphasize animals and coordinating sounds: There are great animal sounds that your child can imitate!

Incorporating closing phrases into reading is a simple yet impactful way to make storytime interactive, enriching, and a stepping stone for lifelong language and literacy skills. If you are interested in hearing more parent coaching services, please contact me or sign up for a consultation.