Ask anyone in the (pediatric) speech therapy world what they like about December and they’ll probably tell you
ALL.
THE.
THERAPY.
IDEAS.
You don’t have to go far to find contrasting holiday activities, Santa beards loaded with articulation sounds, and conversation starters to elicit family traditions and recipes. But then we “de-holiday”. We take down the lights, we turn off the jingle bells, and we’re left with cold dreary January. I don’t think so! January speech activities (and lesson plan ideas: hi teachers!) can be SO FUN. January is time for SNOW. Now yes, I may be extra excited this year for snow because I spent 8 years in hot humid Houston. But you know who else is excited for snow? 99% of your speech kiddos! Promise. Ask them. They love the stuff.
Fashion-forward Snowmen
The child/children and the therapist each get play-doh
The directions are given to make a snowman. That’s it - just make a snowman
Now give your snowman an accessory
Everyone takes turns trying to figure out what the accessories for the other snowmen are
This turns in to a fun game of guessing, laughing at our terrible sculpture skills, and eventually describing the accessory without giving it away. Children are prompted to ask -wh questions and when the activity is over you get to start all over again.
I like to step this activity up for older kids by giving them a category for the accessories. It may be something you need for a sport, a summer accessory [they think this is funny for snowmen], or something you find in a kitchen.
Need to step it down? Try describing a simple accessory [glasses, hats, shoes] and let them sculpt what they think you’re describing. This will still target describing and following directions but with less abstractions.
Speech Therapy in January can be fun too!
