Summer is finally here and school is out of session! You may be searching for easy activities to help keep your children entertained this summer while they are home and don't involve a screen.
Here are some easy ways parents can help foster their child's continued speech and language growth and development at home, that won't cost money and will hopefully keep your kids engaged:
Articulation and Phonemic Awareness Activities:
Sound & Letter Scavenger Hunts: Pick a speech sound to practice modeling for your child while they go on an 'around the house' or 'outdoors' scavenger hunt. Help them find 5-10 items that begin with the speech sound that they are practicing (or alphabet letter they are learning)! If they need some visual supports, simply take some pictures on your phone of common household objects that start with the targeted speech sound (e.g. "P" - pots, pan, popcorn, pail, pizza). We also love some of these pre-made 'scavenger hunt for kids' ideas on GoodHousekeeping.com.
Sidewalk Chalk Hopscotch: Use chalk to draw a hopscotch board and write some words (or draw pictures) that start with your child's targeted speech sounds on each square. Each time you jump on a square, practice saying the word inside. Here are some other fun chalk games you can consider playing with your child this summer, suggested by SpeechTherapyFun.com.
Language Activities:
Blow some bubbles: We often use bubbles with our pediatric clients (1-3 year olds) because not only do kids love bubbles (honestly, who doesn't?) but they offer great ways to teach children early language concepts such as 'up/down, big/small, in/out, pop, blow' etc. You can also use bubbles to elicit requests ("more"), practice turn-taking and model the earliest developing speech sounds 'p' (pop), 'b' (bubble, blow) and 'm' (more, my turn).
Pretend Play! Children learn best through play so we strongly encourage you to act silly and relive your own childhood! Dress-up in outfits, pretend play with your child's toys or household objects, use your imagination and act-out make-believe adventures (e.g. you are pirates going on a treasure hunt). During pretend play you can model new vocabulary, expand your child's utterances (or model phrases that they may repeat), and create language rich experiences that will be meaningful for you and your child. Wondering where to start? Growing Play offers a list of 50 pretend play ideas that we love: 50 pretend play ideas.
Blocks: Legos and duplo blocks, wooden blocks, foam blocks, Piccasso tiles...it's likely you have at least one of these at home (or if you're like us, you have them all). While playing with blocks we encourage you to follow your child's lead (imitate how they are playing with the blocks) while modeling language concepts (e.g. big/small, up/down), action words (e.g. give, hold, push, balance, stack) and spatial words (on, under, next to). We also like to think 'outside the box' with our blocks during the hot summer months. For example, throw some foam blocks in the kiddie pool or bathtub and have your child go 'fishing' for blocks with a cup or soup ladle, or turn a tray of ice cubes into frozen 'blocks' that you help your kids stack and then watch melt onto the hot pavement. checkout these 47 block activities for preschoolers for some more fun ideas!
We have a passion for educating families of the children who receive speech and language therapy services through Sunny Spot Speech. We provide private speech therapy services for kids in home, online, at your child's preschool, daycare, private school, or at another community location throughout Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley (Northridge, Calabasas, Granada Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Topanga, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Universal City, San Fernando, Valley Village, Burbank, Glendale).
Are you concerned your child may have a speech or language delay? Contact us if you live in Los Angeles for a free phone consultation: Phone: 818-350-3107 Email: info@sunnyspotspeech.com
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