Play and enjoyment are a crucial element of the speech therapy process. Based on insights from one of the leading experts in the field, Suzanne Evans Morris, this article explores why making therapy fun can lead to lasting progress with respect to a child’s developmental goals.
I vividly recall a game-changing speech therapy seminar with Suzanne Evans Morris. She emphasized one profound idea: that one of my primary goals, as a therapist, is to encourage my kiddo’s to “love their mouths.” And the more I practiced ST, the more I realized the wisdom of her words.
If a child is engrossed in an activity, their attention and curiosity are inevitably captured. In an enjoyable atmosphere, children feel motivated to meet and even exceed their therapy development goals.
Contrary to a toy or a picture, speech isn’t something a child can physically see or touch. Away from a mirror, their mouths are also largely invisible to them. Add in the natural discomfort of teething, and it’s clear why many children may feel detached or even frustrated with their speech.
Children learn differently from adults; their minds are oriented toward discovery and exploration. Research even suggests that kids can be quicker than adults in solving some problems, simply because they’re willing to try multiple approaches until they succeed.
As facilitators, we can place opportunities for learning in a child’s path, but ultimately, it’s the child who chooses to engage. Their inherent curiosity is the ignition for their learning journey.
Vocalization Games: Turn difficult tasks into exciting challenges that focus on vocalization. E.G
Animal Sound Game: This game is simple yet entertaining. Ask the child to imitate the sounds of different animals. It’s not only fun but helps in understanding different speech sounds and patterns.
Rhyme Time: Encourage children to come up with words that rhyme. For example, say a word like ‘cat’, and ask them to find rhyming words like ‘bat’, ‘hat’, ‘rat’. Rhyming enhances phonological awareness.
Storytelling Chain: Start a story and let the child add to it. This back-and-forth game encourages creative thinking and helps in sentence formation and narrative skills.
Tongue Twister Challenge: Tongue twisters are a great way to work on articulation. Start with simple ones and gradually increase the difficulty as the child’s skills improve.
Sound Hunt: Go on a sound hunt around the house or outdoors. Identify objects that start with a certain sound or letter. This game enhances speech sound recognition and vocabulary.
I Spy With My Little Eye: This classic game is excellent for speech development. Describe an object by its attributes or initial sound, and let the child guess what it is.
Sing-Along Sessions: Singing songs is a joyful way to work on rhythm, intonation, and pitch. Children can learn new words and improve their fluency and timing.
Mirror Practice: Stand in front of a mirror with the child and practice making different sounds and words. This visual feedback is invaluable for teaching correct tongue and lip placement.
Telephone Game: Whisper a sentence to the child, and let them whisper it back or to someone else. This game improves auditory processing and clarity of speech.
Puppet Talk: Use puppets to create dialogues. This can be particularly helpful for shy children, as it takes the focus off them and onto the puppet.
Interactive Tools: Utilize puppets or digital apps to create an engaging, dynamic environment.
Puppet Play: Puppets are a fantastic, hands-on tool for encouraging speech and language development. They can be used in various ways:
Speech Therapy Apps: There are many apps designed to assist with speech development, offering interactive and personalized experiences. Examples include:
Interactive Storytelling Apps: Combining the elements of digital media and traditional storytelling, these apps encourage language development through interactive narratives.
Positive Reinforcement: Reward accomplishments, no matter how small, to build confidence and enthusiasm for speech.
Verbal Praise and Encouragement:
Reward Systems:
Positive Feedback Activities:
Making speech therapy fun doesn’t just achieve short-term goals; it builds a lifelong positive relationship with communication. The objective is to create a setting where everyone, not just children, feels safe and motivated to explore their speech capabilities.
The role of fun in speech therapy is a core strategy for ensuring effective and long-lasting results.