The My PlayHome app can be an excellent tool for expanding language skills. It’s a digital dollhouse where kids can interact with a virtual family and their home. Download the app from the Apple App Store here.
You might hear people say, “listening to audiobooks is not reading.” Kimberly Rues article does a great job explaining the importance of audiobooks for emerging readers. For a child that has difficulty decoding they can easily fatigue due to overexertion of the brain transcribing symbols into meaningful language. The use of audiobooks helps in bridging the gap for emerging readers. Moreover, it can enhance the child’s comprehension because they are being exposed to information auditorily and visually. https://www.edutopia.org/article/audiobooks-help-emerging-readers/
When the school year ends and summer begins, many families take a break from structured routines, including therapy sessions. While summer is a great time for relaxation and fun, it’s also an important opportunity to maintain progress in speech and language development. Here’s why continuing speech therapy over the summer is essential for kids: Prevents Regression: Without consistent practice, children can lose the progress they’ve made during the school year. Speech and language skills require ongoing reinforcement, and a summer break could lead to setbacks that take additional time to regain. Supports Consistency and Routine: Many children thrive on structure, and maintaining therapy sessions provides a sense of continuity. This consistency helps reinforce learned skills and encourages continued growth. Advantage
Going on vacation this summer and worried about your child not having school or missing therapy? No need to stress! The good news is that there are plenty of fun and easy ways to continue enhancing your child’s language skills while traveling. Here are some tips to keep up the progress: Talk About Your Travels Before, during, and after your trip, engage in conversations about where you’re going and what you’re doing. Encourage your child to describe the sights, sounds, and experiences they encounter. Ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think we’ll see at the beach?” or “Can you tell me what this place looks like?” This boosts vocabulary and narrative skills. Visit Interactive Museums or Zoos Many museums,
1. Encourage kids to take short movement breaks before sitting down to work 2. Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps to help them succeed 3. Give them options or choices instead of taking away all control 4. Teach basic mindfulness, breathing exercises, and help them recognize negative thoughts 5. Set up a quiet spot where they can go to regroup when needed 6. Pause and rewind a video if they’re ready to talk or ask questions. 7. Work together with your child or student to solve problems 8. Acknowledge their frustrations and praise their efforts to choose better alternatives Source: Let’s Not Overlook Mood Disorders in Our Youth Population By Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L
Only have a pen and paper? No worries! The amazing thing about speech therapy is that you can practice it almost anywhere and everywhere, and all you need is a pen and paper. Whether you’re at home, on the go, or waiting for an appointment, you can work on improving your speech and language skills. Here are a few language-based activities you can do with just a pen and paper: Word Association Write down a word and then come up with as many words as you can that are related to it. For example, if you write “dog,” you might list “bone,” “bark,” “puppy,” “collar,” etc. This helps build vocabulary and strengthens connections between words. Sentence Building Write down a
Re-evaluations in speech therapy are often seen as just another formality, but they play a crucial role in tracking progress and adjusting therapy goals. Therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and as clients grow and develop, their needs change. Re-evaluations provide an opportunity to assess how a client has progressed since the last assessment and adjust therapy to ensure it remains effective and aligned with their current goals. For example, a child may have made significant strides in articulation but still need work on social communication, or their expressive language skills may have improved, requiring a shift in focus to comprehension. Without re-evaluations, we’d be making assumptions instead of using data to guide decisions. A re-evaluation typically includes standardized testing, informal
Home practice is a crucial component of pediatric speech therapy because it helps reinforce the skills learned in sessions and supports consistent progress outside of therapy. In my opinion, calling it “home practice” instead of “homework” is key in keeping kids motivated and engaged, as it avoids the negative connotations associated with homework. Home practice can be made fun and interactive, turning it into an enjoyable activity rather than a chore. When children feel involved and excited about practicing at home, they are more likely to carry over what they’ve learned and make meaningful improvements. It creates an opportunity for both children and their families to bond, and it helps reinforce the idea that learning is a continuous, fun
Interactive Activities on PBSKids (pbskids.org/parents) that Foster Language Development, Social Skills, and Increased Independence in Children: Rosie Care: https://pbskids.org/rosiesrules/games/rosie-care Help Rosie take care of animals Skills targeted: Following directions, sequencing, problem solving Babysitting Squee: https://pbskids.org/jellybenandpogo/games/babysitting-squee Help Jelly, Ben, & Pogo get Squee to sleep Skills targeted: Following directions, problem solving, vocabulary skills Super Duper Halo-Halo: https://pbskids.org/jellybenandpogo/games/halo-halo Help Jelly, Ben, & Pogo find ingredients to make the Filipino dessert, Halo-Halo Skills targeted: Following directions, sequencing, vocabulary skills Riding with Rosie: https://pbskids.org/rosiesrules/games/riding-with-rosie Help Rosie complete activities of daily living across the community Skills targeted: Following directions, problem solving, vocabulary skills
Often, when we think about play-based therapy activities, we associate them with young children. However, Claudia Doan writes an insightful article on how play-based approaches can be highly beneficial for older students, providing valuable opportunities for learning. While many older students are typically interested in video games and sports, Doan discusses how engaging in playful activities can enhance motivation, participation, and the generalization of skills. In my own experience, I’ve observed how these activities foster friendly competition between the therapist and the student. The article highlights some excellent examples of dramatic, constructive, and exploratory play. Below are a few session ideas that I have brainstormed and worked with in the past: Session Ideas: Dramatic Play: Game Show (e.g., Jeopardy) Targets:
