The question I get asked the most is:
"What can I do at home to help with my child's speech?"
Well, I'm here to help answer that question.
Usually, I send home worksheets with fun activities that follow up what we have done in speech that day/week. This works well for awhile. Then December hits and the speech homework folder disappears. Homework slowly doesn't make it's way home or back to speech.
So, instead of falling into that trap, I've decided to give you some resources for what you can do instead of waiting for something to come home in the soon to vanish homework folder!
Ideas for Speech Homework
Your child has to complete those daily reading minutes, so why not combine and use that time to practice speech goals as well!
Here's what to do:
1. Get your book
2. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes.
During that time practice speech goals. Below are ideas for how to target each goal.
During that time practice speech goals. Below are ideas for how to target each goal.
Articulation and Stuttering:
1. If you are at the word level:
* Pick a page and look for words in the pictures or text with your speech sound in it.
Write down words and say each word 5-10 times.
2. If you are at the sentence level:
* Do the same thing you did at the word level, but this time use the words you find in a sentence.
3. If you are at the reading/conversation level:
* Read! Read every other page and listen to make sure you are using your sounds correctly.
* Look at the pictures with your child and have then tell you what is happening. Listen for correct use of speech sounds.
* Retell the story. Read the story together or have your child read and retell you what happened paying attention to using speech sounds correctly.
**When your child is at the conversation level, they are going to need help from you to monitor or listen for the correct use of their sounds. If you hear them use a sound incorrectly, tell them what word was incorrect and have them say the word again. This will help them pay closer attention to what they are saying and increase their ability to self-correct errored words.
**Stuttering: Follow the hierarchy above. Instead of saying the words at a normal rate, use the speech tool of "stretchy" slow speech.
Language
* Look at the pictures and talk about what is happening. Listen for correct use of words in sentences.
If your child speaks in one to two words, model sentences that are slightly longer (e.g., " I see cat." "I see a black cat." I see a big, black cat.)
* As you look at pictures, point out concepts in the pictures (e.g., "The dog is under the tree.")
If your child speaks in one to two words, model sentences that are slightly longer (e.g., " I see cat." "I see a black cat." I see a big, black cat.)
* As you look at pictures, point out concepts in the pictures (e.g., "The dog is under the tree.")
*Read to your child or have then read a page and retell what happened. Again listen for correct use of words in sentences.
* Ask questions! See if your child is able to comprehend. If your child struggles with this, have them draw a picture to retell or answer the questions to help support their recall of the information.
* Vocabulary. Talk about what words your child does not know or understand as you are reading.
* Vocabulary. Talk about what words your child does not know or understand as you are reading.
**If your child says a sentence incorrectly. Rephrase the sentence to the correct form to provide a good model. Talk about what words they said incorrectly and what they need to do to make it correct.
Printable Practice Sheets
I have created some practice sheets that you can print off or look at on this blog. You will find them on the right side under the label section according to the specific area your child needs
(articulation (speech sounds), grammar, stuttering, etc.)
You can print them off and use them as is or cut out the pictures to play various games such as:
Go Fish
Memory
I Spy
Tic-Tac-Toe
Bingo
Use the same hierarchy above. Start at the word level, then sentence, reading and conversation.
Here's what to do:
1. Get a box of any kind (shoe, cereal, tissue, bag etc.) Cut or leave an opening, so you can reach your hand inside.
2. Decorate the box if you wish.
3. Find items around the house that either have your speech sound in them, grammar targets, for stuttering or any other item of choice.
4. Use the box to practice the following:
* Articulation: pull an item out of the box. Name it, use it in a sentence, describe it.
* Stuttering: use your stretchy speech to name item, tell a sentence about it, describe it, etc.
* Play a guessing game. Pull out an item, don't let anyone see it. Give clues about the item and
see if others can guess what it is.
* Hide items around the room and describe where to find them.
* Choose items around the room and describe where to find them
* Choose items from the box, lay them out, then put them back in the box. Try to remember
the items you pulled out.
* Put items in the box that box for various categories (ex. zoo animals, transportation, etc.)
Pull items out of the box and place in categories.
Take a trip to the park, grocery store, library, museum, movie theater, amusement part, etc. Use these trips to increase vocabulary. Ask "wh" questions. "Who did we see?", "What did we do?", "What will we need to bring?" Make a photo album or collage using pictures, postcards, and brochures from places you visit. If you go to the grocery store, sort the groceries into categories of color, type of food, wet/dry, pantry/fridge, etc. After watching a movie, talk about your favorite parts, and have your child summarize the movie to someone who did not see it.
Scavenger hunts are a fun way to practice speech sounds, fluency, language and following direction. Print off pictures or find items to hide around the house. Depending on what your child understands, you could give 1, 2, or 3-step directions (e.g., Look under the chair and open the red box, look above the blue chair, etc.) Take turns and let your child give you the directions to follow. Repeat the phrases/sentences your child uses to include words he may have left out. (ex. Oh you want me to look under the chair.)
4. Hiding Games
Hiding games are great to practice any skill. Find pictures/items with your child's speech sound, grammar target, concept, etc. Find a box,bag,bucket and fill with anything of your choice (ex. rice, beans, beads, sand, water etc.) place items in and have your child pull out the item and name it, use in a sentence, give descriptions about it, etc.
5. Guessing Games
Games such as I Spy and Headbanz are great to help your child learn how to describe.
6. Sing!
Repetitive songs are a great way to teach language skills. "Old McDonald Had A Farm" talks about animals, "Happy and You Know It" names actions. Many children speak predominantly in nouns so this is a great song for teaching verbs. Model verbs (action words) and repeat simple phrases using subject (noun) and verbs. For example if your child says, "ball," you could say, "throw ball", "I throw ball", "you kick ball", etc.
. . . . . . . .
One of the most important things to remember is to TALK, TALK and TALK some more!
Talk to your child about everything that you are doing. You are providing the models the he can learn from and imitate. Daily routine activities such as taking a bath, cooking, cleaning, etc are great times to help develop speech and language skills. You can ask questions such as: "Why do we need soap?", "What is a towel used for?", Where does the milk belong?" Talk about the answers to each of the questions you ask.
It's also important to remember that as much as talking is important, waiting and not talking is just as important. After you provide a model for your child or ask a question, be quiet and see if/how they will respond. It may take them some time to process what you have asked/said.
Most important, remember to have FUN!
You can print them off and use them as is or cut out the pictures to play various games such as:
Go Fish
Memory
I Spy
Tic-Tac-Toe
Bingo
Use the same hierarchy above. Start at the word level, then sentence, reading and conversation.
Fun Activities
Here are some fun ways to practice speech goals
1. Speech Practice in a Box
Here's what to do:
1. Get a box of any kind (shoe, cereal, tissue, bag etc.) Cut or leave an opening, so you can reach your hand inside.
2. Decorate the box if you wish.
3. Find items around the house that either have your speech sound in them, grammar targets, for stuttering or any other item of choice.
4. Use the box to practice the following:
* Articulation: pull an item out of the box. Name it, use it in a sentence, describe it.
* Stuttering: use your stretchy speech to name item, tell a sentence about it, describe it, etc.
* Play a guessing game. Pull out an item, don't let anyone see it. Give clues about the item and
see if others can guess what it is.
* Hide items around the room and describe where to find them.
* Choose items around the room and describe where to find them
* Choose items from the box, lay them out, then put them back in the box. Try to remember
the items you pulled out.
* Put items in the box that box for various categories (ex. zoo animals, transportation, etc.)
Pull items out of the box and place in categories.
2. Take a Trip
Take a trip to the park, grocery store, library, museum, movie theater, amusement part, etc. Use these trips to increase vocabulary. Ask "wh" questions. "Who did we see?", "What did we do?", "What will we need to bring?" Make a photo album or collage using pictures, postcards, and brochures from places you visit. If you go to the grocery store, sort the groceries into categories of color, type of food, wet/dry, pantry/fridge, etc. After watching a movie, talk about your favorite parts, and have your child summarize the movie to someone who did not see it.
3. Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger hunts are a fun way to practice speech sounds, fluency, language and following direction. Print off pictures or find items to hide around the house. Depending on what your child understands, you could give 1, 2, or 3-step directions (e.g., Look under the chair and open the red box, look above the blue chair, etc.) Take turns and let your child give you the directions to follow. Repeat the phrases/sentences your child uses to include words he may have left out. (ex. Oh you want me to look under the chair.)
4. Hiding Games
Hiding games are great to practice any skill. Find pictures/items with your child's speech sound, grammar target, concept, etc. Find a box,bag,bucket and fill with anything of your choice (ex. rice, beans, beads, sand, water etc.) place items in and have your child pull out the item and name it, use in a sentence, give descriptions about it, etc.
5. Guessing Games
Games such as I Spy and Headbanz are great to help your child learn how to describe.
6. Sing!
Repetitive songs are a great way to teach language skills. "Old McDonald Had A Farm" talks about animals, "Happy and You Know It" names actions. Many children speak predominantly in nouns so this is a great song for teaching verbs. Model verbs (action words) and repeat simple phrases using subject (noun) and verbs. For example if your child says, "ball," you could say, "throw ball", "I throw ball", "you kick ball", etc.
. . . . . . . .
One of the most important things to remember is to TALK, TALK and TALK some more!
Talk to your child about everything that you are doing. You are providing the models the he can learn from and imitate. Daily routine activities such as taking a bath, cooking, cleaning, etc are great times to help develop speech and language skills. You can ask questions such as: "Why do we need soap?", "What is a towel used for?", Where does the milk belong?" Talk about the answers to each of the questions you ask.
It's also important to remember that as much as talking is important, waiting and not talking is just as important. After you provide a model for your child or ask a question, be quiet and see if/how they will respond. It may take them some time to process what you have asked/said.
Most important, remember to have FUN!
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