Helping children develop their verbal skills can feel overwhelming, but one effective and natural way to encourage language is by using intraverbals. In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), intraverbals are the back-and-forth exchanges in conversation—like answering questions, filling in blanks, or making associations. These skills help children engage in social interactions and expand their verbal abilities.

What Are Intraverbals?

Intraverbals are words or phrases that don’t have a visual cue—they rely on memory and conversation. Here are some simple examples:

 Fill-in-the-blank: “Twinkle, twinkle, little ___.”
Answering questions: “What do you eat for breakfast?”
Associations: “What flies in the sky?” → “A bird!”
Conversational responses: “What’s your name?” → “Max!”

How to Use Intraverbals to Increase Verbal Output

• Keep it fun and natural – Use songs, games, and daily routines to encourage responses.

• Start with familiar phrases – Use their favorite books, songs, and routines to practice simple intraverbals.

• Increase wait time – After asking a question, pause for at least 5-10 seconds to give the child time to process and respond. It may feel longer than expected, but this extra time can make a big difference!

• Model acceptable responses both before and after the child’s response – For children with speech delays, providing a model helps reinforce learning. 

For example: “A dog says woof!

 A dog says ___.” (Pause and wait for their response.) 

“Yes! A dog says woof!” (Reinforce and repeat the correct response.)

• Use exaggerated intonation – Emphasizing key words with an animated voice can grab attention and make it easier for the child to imitate. For example, “A dog says… WOOF!!” in an excited tone makes it more engaging.

• Expand their responses – If they say “woof,” you can add, “Yes! Woof! A dog barks!” to build longer sentences.

• Try a reduced prompt to elicit the response – If the child struggles to respond, give just the first sound of the word instead of the full answer. For example: Instead of saying “A cow says… mooo!” try “A cow says… mmm___?”
  This keeps the child engaged while encouraging independent responses. Alternatively, try using a picture card or a written word to elicit the response. Each of these are less intrusive options than providing the child with the completed verbal response. 

• Reinforce all attempts – Celebrate any effort with praise or preferred items (“Great job saying ‘dog’!”).

Intraverbals are a powerful way to increase language naturally and help children engage in conversation. By weaving simple prompts into everyday routines—allowing extra wait time, modeling responses before and after, using fun intonation, and fading prompts—parents and techs can make language learning fun and effective.

Try it today! Ask your child, “A cat says…?”—then pause, model, and use just the first sound to encourage their response!