Memorial Day Weekend
PROMOTE SPEECH & LANGUAGE SKILLS BY PLAYING OUTSIDE
Spending time outside with your children is an excellent way to promote speech and language skills!
USE SIDEWALK CHALK
Articulation: You can use sidewalk chalk to help your child practice her target sounds from speech therapy. After you say a word that uses your child’s target sound, have her repeat it and then write it down using sidewalk chalk. Your child can even think of these words herself. Another bonus is that this activity targets spelling and writing as well.
Following Directions: Give your child one, two, or three step instructions involving drawing different shapes and using different colors of chalk to target his ability to follow directions.
Fluency: Your child can write some of the sentences that he says in conversation in sidewalk chalk. Then, you can help him put slashes between words where he could have paused. Finally, he can read the sentence, pausing where he put the slashes, and consequently producing smooth, slower speech.
Categorical Naming: Think of different categories of words, such as animals, clothes, or sports. Ask your child to use the sidewalk chalk to draw and then name as many items in that category that she can think of.
GO FOR A WALK
Articulation: See if your child can find any animals, plants, or other items outside that contain his target sound while you take a walk together.
Vocabulary: Ask your child to point out anything you pass by that she does not know the name for. Not only will your child learn new vocabulary, but she will see the functional use of these items in the environment around him.
Naming and Describing: Describe an object or animal that you see in the environment and see if your child can name what you are describing. Your child then can describe something he sees to you, without telling you what it is!
Wh- Questions: Think of wh- questions (who, what, where, when, why) you can ask your child while she is observing her surroundings as you take a walk together.
PLANT A GARDEN
Following Directions: There are many steps involved in planting a garden, and your child will need to follow many directions. You can vary the types of directions you give your child, whether they consist of one, two, or three parts, throughout the activity.
Sequencing: In order to plant a garden, steps must be taken in a specific order. Ask your child to think about the steps that were taken, first, in the middle, and last, to plant vegetables or flowers together. When you are finished, ask your child to repeat back the steps you took in order.
Vocabulary: The tools you use and different types of vegetables or flowers you plant may be words that your child has never heard of before. Take advantage of this opportunity to expand your child’s vocabulary. Make sure you repeat new words throughout the activity and check for understanding.
PLAY CATCH OR A SPORT
Categorical Naming: While playing catch with your child, think of a category of words, such as animals. Throw the ball back and forth, and whoever has the ball has to say a word that is in that category.
Articulation: Before your child takes her turn, give her words to say with her target sound. This can be used with any turn-taking sports-related game, whether it’s baseball, basketball, or a game of catch.
Sequencing: Ask your child to explain the rules of the sports game you are going to play in order, first, middle, and last steps.
GO TO THE ZOO
Naming and Describing: Think of an animal that you would see in the zoo and then describe it to your child without telling him the animal’s name. See if he can guess which animal you are referring to solely by listening to your clues. Then, he can give you clues to see if you can guess which animal he’s thinking about.
Wh- Questions: There are so many wh- questions (who, what, where, when, why) you can ask at the zoo! These questions could be as simple or advanced as you want. There are usually plaques in front of each animal’s section that gives more information about where the animals live, what they eat, etc. You can even have your child read the plaque and ask questions about it afterward.
GO ON A SCAVENGER HUNT
Articulation: As part of the scavenger hunt, have your child find items that contain his target sound. The items can be things you would see in nature or objects from home that you hide on your own.
Fluency: Your child can read each clue out loud using her smooth speech. Ask her to read it to herself first, thinking about where she needs to pause and how she can use her strategies when reading.
Following Directions: In order to find different items in a scavenger hunt, you will have to give your child clues. You can vary how complex each direction is, giving one, two, or even three parts to follow per clue.
Geocaching : Geocaching is a great way to explore your city and places you visit. Geocaching is where people will hide “caches” which are then located by others who are geocaching. Inside each of these little tiny caches are lists of who has found them and some random trinkets. There are literally thousands of these all over the place. Free apps can be downloaded to smartphones. Geocaching can be great for following directions and expanding vocabulary.
MAKE AN OBSTACLE COURSE
- Articulation: Have your child describe the course using appropriate volume, speaking posture and rate of speech. Have him say a word with his sound in it 10x's before moving to next obstacle.
- Following Directions: Obstacle courses require children to navigate by going in, out, under, over, on, off, through, next to, to the right/left of, up, down, etc. The simple act of going through the course can help promote following directions and basic concept knowledge (not to mention gross and fine motor skills).
- Vocabulary: Before each obstacle, have him name a multiple meaning word and provide two definitions