Speech Sound Practice for Busy Families:
Simple Strategies
Life is busy, and adding speech sound practice to your routine can feel like a challenge. The good news? It doesn’t have to be! You don’t need hours of extra time or fancy materials to help your child work on their speech sounds. With a few creative strategies, you can make meaningful progress during your everyday routine.Here are practical, time-efficient ways to help your child with their speech practice at home:
1. Use Everyday Moments:
You don’t need a dedicated practice session to work on speech. Use everyday moments like car rides, mealtime, or bath time as opportunities to sneak in practice. For example: While driving, name objects you see out the window that contain your child’s target sound. At dinner, encourage your child to say their target sound words related to the meal (e.g., "rice" for /r/ practice).
2. Keep practice short and simple:
Short, frequent practice sessions (3–5 minutes) are more effective than long, drawn-out sessions that occur infrequently. Consistency is key! Use a timer to keep the session short and focused. Aim for 2–3 mini-practice moments throughout the day.
3. Model Correct Sounds:
Even if your child isn’t ready to say a sound correctly, hearing you model it provides a great example. When you say a word with their target sound, emphasise and stretch it slightly. For instance, if their target is /s/, you might say:“Look at the ssss-snake!”
4. Use Repetition in Fun Ways:
Repetition is crucial for speech development. Try repeating target sounds in engaging ways:
Songs and Rhymes: Incorporate target sounds into familiar tunes or rhymes.
Reading Aloud: Choose books with lots of target sound words and read them together.
5. Keep Practice Fun and Playful:
Children learn best through play, so try incorporating their favorite games or activities into practice:
Scavenger Hunts: Ask your child to find items around the house that have their target sound.
Board Games: Before taking their turn, have your child say a word with their target sound.
Silly Stories: Create a short story using lots of target words.
Katie / Speech Pathologist (CPSP)