Supporting your child’s speech and language skills doesn’t stop in the therapy room or classroom. Home is one of the best places to reinforce communication goals in a natural and meaningful way! By incorporating simple, fun, and consistent activities into your daily routines, you can help your child carry over the skills they’re working on in speech therapy. Here are practical strategies and activities for supporting speech and language development at home.
1. Make Daily Routines Language-Rich
Home carry-over does not have to mean extra time set aside each day! Everyday routines, like mealtime, bath time, and getting dressed, provide natural opportunities to work on speech and language.
- Narrate what you’re doing: Describe actions as they happen, such as, “I’m pouring the milk into your cup,” or “Let’s put on your blue socks.”
- Label objects: Name items around the house, like spoon, soap, shoes, or towel.
- Ask questions: Encourage language with simple questions like, “What do we need for breakfast?” or “Which shirt do you want to wear?”
Example:
- Parent: “Here’s your toothbrush! What do we use it for? Right, brushing our teeth!”
2. Read Together Every Day
Reading is a powerful tool for building vocabulary, improving comprehension, and practicing speech sounds.
- Choose books appropriate for your child’s age and goals: Look for books with repetitive language, rhymes, or simple sentences.
- Ask questions while reading: Pause to ask, “What do you think happens next?” or “Can you point to the cat?”
- Focus on speech sounds: If your child is working on specific sounds, emphasize words in the book with those sounds.
- Retell the story: After reading, encourage your child to retell the story in their own words.
Example:
- Parent: “We just read about the bear going to the forest. What did he see there?”
3. Use Playtime for Learning
Play is a natural way for children to learn and practice their speech and language skills.
- Pretend play: Engage in pretend play with toys, such as dolls, cars, or kitchen sets, and encourage your child to use words and sentences. For example, “Let’s cook dinner. What are we making?”
- Play games with instructions: Games like Simon Says, scavenger hunts, or board games help kids practice following directions and turn-taking.
- Build vocabulary through play: Label objects, actions, and feelings during play. For example, “The car is going fast! Now it stopped.”
Example:
- Parent: “Let’s play with your animals. What sound does a lion make? That’s right—roar!”
4. Practice Speech Sounds in Daily Conversations
If your child is working on certain speech sounds, practice them naturally during everyday interactions.
- Use target words during routines: Incorporate words with target sounds into daily routines. For example, if working on the “S” sound, use words like soap, sock, and spoon.
- Repeat and emphasize sounds: When you hear a target sound, emphasize it clearly and model it correctly.
- Play sound-focused games: Play games like “I Spy” using words with the target sound.
Example:
- Parent: “Let’s say the word ‘spoon’ together. Ssss-poon. Your turn!”
5. Encourage Storytelling and Conversations
Conversations help kids practice their expressive language skills, such as forming sentences, telling stories, and answering questions.
- Talk about your day: Ask your child to tell you about their day using details like what happened first, next, and last.
- Ask open-ended questions: Instead of “Did you have fun?” ask, “What was the best part of your day?”
- Create stories together: Take turns creating a silly or imaginative story.
Example:
- Parent: “Tell me about the park today. What did you play on? Who did you play with?”
6. Follow Directions During Daily Tasks
Practicing listening and following directions at home can help your child build skills they need in school and beyond.
- Start with simple directions: Give one-step instructions like, “Pick up your shoes.”
- Add complexity: Progress to two- or three-step directions, like, “Put your shoes by the door and grab your backpack.”
- Turn tasks into games: Make following directions fun with scavenger hunts or treasure hunts.
Example:
- Parent: “Can you find your red car and put it in the toy box?”
Final Tips for Parents
Home is the perfect place to make speech and language practice feel fun and natural. Be patient, celebrate your child’s efforts, and focus on small, consistent opportunities to practice throughout the day. Whether you’re reading a book, playing a game, or talking about your day, every moment is a chance to boost your child’s communication skills.
By creating a language-rich environment at home, you can support your child’s progress and make speech and language practice a natural part of your family’s daily life!
