Working on Preposition Relay with Your Child at Home

Knowing where things are — in, on, under, behind, between — is how a child turns single words into real sentences. Preposition Relay turns that learning into a giggly, get-up-and-move game.

In short

Preposition Relay is a simple home activity that teaches position words (in, on, under, next to, behind, between) by having your child physically move an object — or themselves — to follow your instruction. You give a direction ("Put teddy under the chair"), your child does it, then swaps roles with you. Ten minutes a day, woven into play, builds the language your child needs to describe the world around them.

How to play it at home

The basic relay

• Gather a few favourite toys and everyday spots — a box, a chair, a cushion, a table.
• Give one clear instruction: "Put the car in the box." Pause, and let your child act on it.
• Celebrate the action, then add the word again: "Yes! The car is in the box."
• Take turns — now your child gives you an instruction. Following their lead builds expressive language.

Make it move

• Use your child's whole body: "Stand behind the sofa," "Crawl under the table," "Jump next to me." Movement makes the word stick.
• Run it as a relay race with siblings — each child completes one position instruction before tagging the next.

Build up gently

• Start with two easy words (in, on) before adding harder ones (between, behind).
• Pair the word with a gesture or point at first, then fade the gesture as your child gets it.
• Keep your sentences short and stress the position word with your voice.

When to ask for help

Most children begin understanding simple prepositions around 2–3 years and use them in speech a little later. If your child past three years rarely follows or uses position words, mixes them up persistently, or struggles to combine words into short phrases, a speech therapy check is a sensible next step — earlier support is always easier than waiting.

The Pinnacle way

A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care — home activities like Preposition Relay support, but never replace, that assessment. Our therapists, drawing on 25 million+ therapy sessions across 70+ centres, can show you how to weave language games into your everyday routines.

Trusted sources

Aligned with guidance from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) on early language milestones and play-based language learning, and CDC developmental-milestone resources for toddlers and preschoolers.

Next step — for a few games tailored to your child's stage, book a developmental check with a Pinnacle speech-language therapist on WhatsApp: +91 91001 81181.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.