Summer Speech And Language Fun!
When your children are off school for the
summer they may tell you they are bored a time or two. Try one or of
the ideas below that are low cost/no cost and may help your child learn
vocabulary, practice speech sounds, remember things they learned at school over
the past year or just have fun! Whether your child recieves speech
therapy or not, talking to your kids about what you or they are doing is one
of the keys to successfully practicing language skills!
summer they may tell you they are bored a time or two. Try one or of
the ideas below that are low cost/no cost and may help your child learn
vocabulary, practice speech sounds, remember things they learned at school over
the past year or just have fun! Whether your child recieves speech
therapy or not, talking to your kids about what you or they are doing is one
of the keys to successfully practicing language skills!
- Write
several words, numbers or letters on a blank piece of paper. Cut them into strips, fold them and put
them in a bag or container. Then
have your child close his/her eyes and pull them out one at a time. They can read the word or have you say
it and repeat after you. This works
for spelling words, math practice, colors,
practicing speech sounds, naming animals, etc. The children can
decorate the bag or container with markers, stickers, crayons or ribbons,
etc. - Have
your child name as many items in a category as he/she can think of, then
add to them, e.g., farm animals, cartoon characters, flowers, birds,
fruits, cereals, vegetables, etc.
This is a great activity if you have your children at the grocery
store or shopping with you because stores are typically laid out by
departments or categories. You can
even open a cupboard or closet and have them sort cans of vegetables,
fruits, soups or bowls, spoons, gadgets in the kitchen or elsewhere. - READ,
READ, READ with them, to them or encourage them to read on their
own. Many local libraries have
summer programs and they cost little or nothing for children to
participate. - Have a
treasure hunt with little toys or objects that they can search for around
your home or yard. - Make a
special snack or decorate graham crackers or cupcakes, talking as you go.
Becky Bergren, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist School Therapist
