Spice up your speech therapy sessions with some fun games. Do something fun while you punch out flashcards. During the COVID 19 pandemic, assisted therapy professionals in schools (and many also in private offices) have had to invest a penny and figure out how to offer therapy services in mixed and only virtual models. It's completely new territory for most of us.
If you're working with very young children or with children with shorter attention spans, you'll want to switch things up and schedule 2 to 3 activities per session. Unfortunately, due to the current situation around the world, it can be difficult to access a speech therapist for your child, leading you (the parents) to assume that important role. The trick is to incorporate speaking practice into your favorite game in a way that seems natural. You can learn more about Hearing and Speech Improvement Month on the website of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association.
I encourage language teachers to feel more confident in treating speech and sound disorders and to progress faster with their students. A simple way to introduce some emotion into the practice of speech therapy is to combine it with movement activities. You wouldn't believe how many times you go to the fridge or the food cabinet until you put your speaking homework there. When you discover what works best for your child, you'll see how quickly speaking practice can go from being something they tolerate to something they actually look forward to.
Not only is this my first-hand experience as a speech-language pathologist, but it's backed by a wealth of research. Sock puppets, coloring books, gingerbread houses, and play dough are other good examples, but any craft will work as long as it helps your child focus on specific speech sounds. If you're worried that your child is falling behind, don't hesitate to contact a speech therapist to find out how they can help. Place your speech cards on the table, choose a card and practice it (perhaps with 3 or 5 practices), and then let your child reach into the bag and pull something out to place on top of the card.
Practicing speech therapy activities at home and using communication development techniques during everyday interactions with your child is one of the best ways to improve their speech and language development.
