Fun and Easy Speech Therapy Exercises to Do at Home
Fun and Easy Speech Therapy Exercises to Do at Home
Speech therapy doesn’t have to take place only in a clinical setting. There are many fun and engaging activities that parents can do at home to support their child’s speech development. Whether your child is working on articulation, vocabulary building, or improving their social communication skills, integrating speech therapy exercises into everyday life can make learning enjoyable and effective.
This guide will provide fun and easy speech therapy exercises that parents can use at home to help their child strengthen communication skills in an engaging and natural way.
Why Home Speech Therapy is Important
While working with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is essential for children with speech and language delays, consistent practice at home can reinforce progress and accelerate improvement.
Benefits of Doing Speech Therapy at Home:
Provides more frequent practice opportunities in a comfortable environment.
Encourages natural speech development during everyday activities.
Makes speech therapy feel like play rather than work.
Strengthens the bond between parent and child through communication-based activities.
The key is to make speech therapy exercises fun so that your child stays engaged and motivated.
Fun and Easy Speech Therapy Exercises to Try at Home
1. Mirror Play for Pronunciation Practice
A mirror is a great tool for helping children see how their mouth moves when forming sounds.
How to do it:
Sit in front of a mirror with your child and make different speech sounds together (“p,” “b,” “m,” “s,” “sh,” etc.).
Exaggerate the mouth movements so they can clearly see how to position their lips and tongue.
Let your child imitate your mouth movements and sounds.
This exercise is especially helpful for children working on articulation.
2. Scavenger Hunt with Words
A scavenger hunt is a great way to incorporate movement while reinforcing vocabulary and speech sounds.
How to do it:
Choose a target sound or letter your child is working on (e.g., the “B” sound).
Have them find objects around the house that start with that sound (e.g., ball, book, banana).
Ask them to say each word aloud and use it in a sentence.
This activity helps children practice pronunciation and expand their vocabulary in a playful way.
3. Flashcard Challenge
Using flashcards is a simple way to practice speech sounds, word recognition, and sentence building.
How to do it:
Create or buy flashcards with words or pictures.
Have your child say the word on each card. If they say it correctly, they keep the card!
Make it a game by adding a timer to see how many they can say in a minute.
For older children, have them use the word in a sentence for an extra challenge.
Flashcard games keep speech practice engaging and interactive.
4. Sing Songs and Nursery Rhymes
Music is an effective way to encourage speech development and improve language rhythm.
How to do it:
Sing familiar songs like The Wheels on the Bus, Old MacDonald, or Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
Encourage your child to fill in the missing words as you sing.
Use hand motions and facial expressions to make it even more interactive.
Songs reinforce language patterns and make learning new words fun and memorable.
5. “I Spy” for Speech and Vocabulary
The classic I Spy game encourages children to practice describing objects and using new words.
How to do it:
Say, “I spy something that is (color, shape, or starts with a certain letter sound).”
Have your child guess the object and describe it using full sentences.
Reverse roles and let your child be the one who gives the clues.
This game helps children with speech articulation, vocabulary, and descriptive language skills.
6. Bubble Blowing for Oral Motor Strength
Blowing bubbles helps strengthen the muscles needed for speech and breath control.
How to do it:
Have your child blow bubbles using a wand.
Practice saying words with “p,” “b,” or “m” sounds before blowing the bubbles (e.g., “pop,” “big bubble”).
Encourage them to describe the bubbles using words like “big,” “small,” or “floating.”
This activity builds oral motor strength while making speech practice fun.
7. Storytelling with Pictures
Encouraging your child to tell a story using pictures helps with expressive language skills.
How to do it:
Use a picture book with no words and ask your child to describe what’s happening.
Show a series of pictures and have them create a story using complete sentences.
Encourage them to add details like character names, emotions, and actions.
Storytelling builds vocabulary, sentence structure, and creativity.
8. Puppet or Stuffed Animal Conversations
Using puppets or stuffed animals can help children practice conversation skills in a relaxed and fun way.
How to do it:
Have a puppet “ask” your child questions and encourage them to respond.
Act out social situations like ordering food at a restaurant or introducing themselves.
Encourage your child to use complete sentences and take turns in conversation.
This activity is great for developing social communication skills.
9. Tongue Twisters for Speech Clarity
Tongue twisters are a fun way to practice articulation and speech fluency.
How to do it:
Start with simple ones like, “She sells seashells by the seashore.”
Encourage your child to say it slowly at first, then speed up.
Repeat it multiple times to improve clarity and pronunciation.
This exercise strengthens speech muscles and improves diction.
10. Play-Based Learning (Pretend Play)
Pretend play encourages language development through conversation and role-playing.
How to do it:
Play “restaurant” where your child takes orders and describes the food.
Act out a “doctor visit” where they practice asking and answering questions.
Set up a pretend “store” and have them ask for items using full sentences.
Role-playing helps children practice real-life conversations and social interactions.
Tips for Making Speech Therapy Fun and Effective
Keep sessions short and engaging: 5-10 minutes of focused practice is better than long, tiring sessions.
Use positive reinforcement: Praise effort and progress to keep motivation high.
Incorporate speech practice into daily routines: Mealtimes, bath time, and car rides are great opportunities for learning.
Be patient and make it fun: If your child is frustrated, take a break and try again later.
Model good speech habits: Speak clearly and use proper grammar so your child can learn by example.
When to Seek Professional Help
While home speech exercises are beneficial, some children may need additional support from a speech-language pathologist. Consider seeking professional help if your child:
Is not using words by 18 months.
Has difficulty being understood by others after age 3.
Struggles with forming complete sentences by age 4.
Shows frustration when trying to communicate.
Early intervention can make a significant difference in speech and language development.
Final Thoughts
Encouraging speech development at home doesn’t have to be stressful or complicated. By integrating fun, play-based activities into daily life, you can help your child improve their speech skills in a natural and engaging way.
If you’re concerned about your child’s speech progress, reach out to us today to schedule a free evaluation and receive personalized strategies to support their communication journey!