Fall-Themed Speech Therapy Activities
There are so many ways to get excited for the turn of the season while teaching your child new skills! Engaging in fall-themed speech therapy activities can be both fun and effective for elementary-age kids and toddlers. These activities can help develop speech and language skills while incorporating the spirit of the season. Here are some ideas:
Pumpkin Patch Plosives: For toddlers working on speech sounds, create a "pumpkin patch" with paper or foam pumpkins. Write words with target speech sounds on each pumpkin. Encourage the child to "harvest" the pumpkins and say the words correctly.
Leafy Language Hunt: For elementary-age kids working on vocabulary and describing skills, go on a nature walk to collect different leaves. Have the kids describe the leaves using adjectives, such as colors, shapes, sizes, and textures.
Apple Picking Pronouns: Use a visual of an apple tree with apples. Write sentences containing different pronouns on the apples (e.g., "He is eating," "She is jumping"). Have the child choose the correct apple and read the sentence aloud.
Scarecrow Story Sequencing: Create a fall-themed story with pictures or sentences on cards. Mix up the order and have the child put the cards in the correct sequence while practicing narrative skills.
Acorn Articulation: Write target words with speech sounds on paper acorns. Play a game where the child collects acorns and says the words correctly before placing them in a container.
Harvest Time Associations: Prepare a collection of fall-themed items like pumpkins, leaves, apples, and scarecrows. Have the child match the items with their corresponding associations (e.g., pumpkin - pie, scarecrow - field).
Fall Following Directions: Give the child fall-themed directions to follow. For example, "Find a red leaf and place it on the table." Vary the complexity of the directions based on the child's level.
Squirrel Storytelling: Provide the child with a picture of a squirrel and a collection of acorns with different words or sentence components. Have them pick an acorn and incorporate the word or sentence into a story about the squirrel.
Pumpkin Patch Prepositions: Set up a pumpkin patch scene with pumpkins in different positions (e.g., under, on, next to). Ask the child to place a toy pumpkin according to the different prepositions you provide.
Fall Sensory Bin Language Exploration: Create a sensory bin filled with fall-themed items like leaves, small pumpkins, pinecones, acorns, and textured materials (e.g., rice or dried beans).
Remember to adapt these activities to the individual needs and abilities of the child. Whether you're working with toddlers or elementary-age kids, incorporating their interests and making the activities interactive can enhance their speech therapy experience during the fall season.
