Summer is a time of endless possibilities, filled with adventures and activities perfect for targeting communication skills with your child. Here are our parent-approved ways to incorporate speech therapy strategies into your summer activities.
1. Beach Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt
A day at the beach offers a treasure trove of new vocabulary. Create a scavenger hunt list with items like: seashells, seaweed, lifeguard, sandcastle, and more.
Strategies/Targeted Skills:
Labeling: Encourage your child to name each item they find. Beach items not yet part of your child’s vocabulary? Label the items for your child!
Describing: Ask your child to describe the texture, color, and size of the items. Provide the descriptions for your child if this is more developmentally appropriate. Keep your descriptions short, think two-words or three-words (e.g., smooth shell, big sandcastle).
Expansions: Is your child already using a few single words? Repeat what they say and add to it! For example, “Hi, lifeguard!” and “bumpy shell.” Model short and complete sentences if your child is ready for this.
2. Nature Walk Storytelling
Go on a nature walk in a park or forest. Collect interesting objects like leaves, flowers, and rocks.
Strategies/Targeted Skills:
Sequencing/Retelling: Have your child create a story using the items collected. See if they can remember what they found first, second, third, last, etc. See if your child can recall where they found the items (e.g., Do you remember where we found this flower?).
Describing: Describe the items you found with your child. “A pretty purple flower,” “A big leaf.” Talk about textures, size, colors, etc.
3. Cooking Together
Summer is a great time to try fun and new recipes. Choose simple, kid-friendly recipes like making smoothies, freezing popsicles, or decorating cookies/graham crackers.
Strategies/Targeted Skills:
Following Directions: Reading and following a recipe helps with understanding sequencing and following multi-step directions. Give your child simple one step directions (e.g., “Dump the fruit into the bowl), or if they are ready for it, give them two-step directions to follow (e.g., “Dump the fruit into the bowl and mix it!”).
Labeling/Vocabulary: Introduce new cooking-related words and concepts to your child.
Describing/Narrating: Narrate what you are doing during each step. If your child is ready, have them narrate what they are doing!
4. Fun With Water
Anything water-based is a preferred summer activity. This is the perfect opportunity to use a kiddie pool, water balloons, sprinkler, or to make a water-based sensory bin.
Strategies/Targeted Skills:
Turn-Taking: Use water balloons or bath toys. Take turns using the balloons or bath toys to splash each other.
Labeling/Vocabulary: Introduce new words to your child. Model the names of objects, but also different verbs and concepts, including: wet, dry, cold, warm, splash, swim, etc.
5. Gardening and Plant Care
Start a small garden or care for potted plants. This can include planting seeds, watering plants, and observing growth.
Strategies/Targeted Skills:
Sequencing: Discuss the steps involved in gardening and caring for a plant. For example, "First, we dig a hole. Then, we place the seed in the hole. Next, we cover it with soil, and finally, we water it."
Vocabulary: Introduce gardening-related terms like soil, seed, sprout, bloom, and fertilizer. Use these terms in context and offer details to help with learning. Also target other word types, including verbs: dig, scoop, dump.
Summer is a season bursting with opportunities for targeting speech and language. By incorporating strategies to encourage the growth of speech/language skills into enjoyable summer activities, you can help your child improve their communication skills in a natural, engaging way. Remember, the key is to keep it fun and interactive, turning every summer adventure into a valuable learning experience.
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