Vanessa Boomer, ED.S., CCC-SLP
As a mom of three boys, I often feel like I am running in circles to get them to after-school activities. Throw in therapies and two jobs and you have a three-ring circus on my good days.
As a mom to a child with significant speech-language delay, I understand that homework isn’t always as easy to complete as your therapist might think. As a therapist, I still know that ANY extra language activities are super helpful for carry-over and skill improvement.
Here are some great ways to work simple language activities into your current schedule:
During car rides make games for your child(ren) to play. Here are some fun and easy examples!
- Name items using the alphabet/categories: Example: Name foods, apple, banana, carrot; name things you can buy at Walmart: anchovies, books, car air freshener. The possibilities of the ABC category game are endless and it can be made as simple or hard as needed for your child.
- Name as many things as you can think of in a category such as ” things that are green, things that are hot, things we use in the bathroom.
- Is your child working on articulation? Focus on naming categories that contain that letter.
- Are problem-solving or social skills an area of concern? Play a game that has your child predict outcomes! For example: “If the road to our house was closed, what could we do?” “If our best friend’s pet is lost, what should we say?”
Do you eat at home? In the car? Out at restaurants? If you eat, meal time if a wonderful time to discuss the day and ask specific questions that target the skill deficit for your child. Have your child order for the table (with help as needed, start out with drinks or an appetizer). Have your child name three things they know about (anything) they see in the environment.
- Tell me three things you know about carrots.
- Name three different things we drink that are hot.
- Why do we peel a banana before eating it?
Menus are wonderful visual reminders and will be fun ways to incorporate more discussion and skill practice at home.
Contact me for more ideas of activities that you can do in 5 minutes or less!
