Speech Sounds: Simple & Fun Ways to Practice at Home

Do you ever find yourself struggling to fit speech practice into your child’s busy day or wondering how to motivate them to actually want to practice? If your answer is “Yes!,” “Sometimes, ”or “No, but I’d love some new ideas!,” this blog post is for you!  

When it comes to home practice, it’s important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each child is different and what works for one may not work for another!

However, there are some trusty, “go-to” things that we recommend as Speech Language Pathologists here at the BAC.  

Here are 5 play-based activity ideas to try out at home!  

1. Add speech to games & sports: Pick your favorite board game, card game, or sport. In between turns of the game, choose a practice word/phrase/sentence and say it 5-10 times before their next turn!  

   
   

2. Make a scavenger hunt: Print out or draw some pictures of target words and hide them around the room or house.  Each time you find one, say what you found 5-10 times! Or try a sound hunt: walk around the house and find 5 items that contain your target sound in the name and share what you found!  

   
   

3. Create a matching game: Print two copies of visual word lists. Cut out each item and choose 6 to 12 matches and place them face down. Take turns flipping over two pictures at a time to see if you can find a match. Every time you flip over a card, say what you got 5 times!  

   
   

4. Design your own guessing game: Take turns giving 2-3 hints about a target word that you’re thinking of (e.g., Target sound is /g/. “I’m thinking of something spooky and white that says ‘BOO’!”). Or try hiding one target picture under 1 of 3 cups, mixing them around, and guessing where the picture is!  

   
   

5. Build an obstacle course: Grab 5 items from around your home (couch cushions, boxes, scooters, stepping stones, or even just pieces of paper on the floor) to put into your course. As the last step before heading back to the start, have them pick a picture from a visual word list to practice!   

We recommend setting aside 2-3 days for 20-30 minutes (or however long your kiddo can comfortably tolerate for that day!) as designated “Speech Time”. Consistency helps, but life happens and we totally understand that some days are just not it. On those tougher days, DON’T FRET! WE HAVE A STRATEGY FOR THAT, TOO!

Rather than correcting your child and potentially increasing frustration, simply model the sound by emphasizing it or “over-articulating” it naturally in conversation. For example, if your child is working on their “snake sound” - /s/ - and you hear them talking about their favorite type of sandwich. We can say something like “Oh! I hear you’re talking about a …SSSS..ANDWICH! That word has your snake sound in it! My favorite is a turkey ..SSSS..ANDWICH!”. No pressure for them to repeat the word or sentence – just exposure and awareness! You can do the same while reading a book with your kiddo or even watching their favorite tv show or movie, by pointing out when we hear their target speech sound(s)!   

Make sure to check in with your ongoing clinician for personalized word lists, materials, strategies that are specific to your kiddo and their speech sounds, and any questions along the way!  

Happy practicing! 😊