May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! Speech and communication is very important for young kiddos, as it helps them express their feelings, thoughts, and emotions. In honor of this wonderful month, we thought it would be the perfect time to share some of our favorite speech-based activities with you. Even just working with your little ones on their speech and language development a few times each week can make a big difference.
From trying a fun twist on charades to creating a mystery sound box and more, here are 3 speech-based activities to try during National Speech-Language-Hearing Month and beyond.
1. Emotion Charades
Being able to share your feelings and emotions is something that every kiddo should feel comfortable doing. To help them learn how to better express themselves, try playing charades, but with a twist. In this version of the game, you can start by acting out simple emotions and having your child guess what each one is. Then, switch roles, and this time you have to guess what emotion your child is trying to act out.
2. Mystery Sound Box
Grab a box or bin that you have laying around the house and place 5-10 random items inside that your child can identify. Then, have your child choose one item at a time, and ask them questions such as “is it hard or soft?”, “what color is it?” or, “is it big or small?”. You can also encourage your little one to answer in full sentences, and have them tell you what the item is used for.
3. Category Time
For this final activity, come up with some simple categories and write them down on a piece of paper. Then, sit with your child, and work together to try and think of as many things that fit inside the category as possible. For example, some easy categories could be animals, colors, fruits, or things at the park. At the end, see which category had the most answers, and celebrate your great teamwork!
Wishing you a very happy National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! Make sure to follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) throughout May for tips, resources, and more! Additionally, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support your family however we can.
