25 Speech Therapy Activities for Home Practice

Supporting your child's speech and language development doesn't require expensive materials or specialized training. These 25 activities, organized by age group, turn everyday moments into learning opportunities. Each activity includes clear instructions, target skills, and tips for making practice enjoyable for both you and your child.

Activities for Toddlers (Ages 18 months - 3 years)

1. Bubble Play for First Words

Bubbles are magical for encouraging vocalizations and requesting.

How to Play:

• Blow bubbles and wait for your child to request "more" or "bubbles"
• Model simple words: "Pop! Pop!" as bubbles burst
• Encourage sounds like "b-b-b" for bubbles or "p-p-p" for pop
• Pause between bubble sessions to create communication opportunities

Targets: Requesting, B and P sounds, turn-taking

2. Animal Sound Safari

Transform your living room into a zoo with toy animals or pictures.

How to Play:

• Hide toy animals around the room
• Search together saying "Where's the cow?"
• Make animal sounds when you find each one
• Encourage your child to copy: "The cow says moo!"

Targets: Sound imitation, vocabulary building, following directions

3. Mirror Magic

Use a mirror to make speech sounds visible and fun.

How to Play:

• Sit together in front of a mirror
• Make silly faces and sounds
• Practice specific sounds: "Look at your lips for 'mmm'"
• Play peek-a-boo using the mirror
• Copy each other's expressions

Targets: Oral motor skills, sound awareness, imitation

4. Sensory Bin Language

Create themed sensory bins for hands-on vocabulary learning.

How to Play:

• Fill a bin with rice, beans, or water beads
• Hide small objects (farm animals, vehicles, foods)
• Name items as your child finds them
• Describe textures: "smooth," "bumpy," "soft"
• Practice categories: "Find all the animals"

Targets: Vocabulary, descriptive language, categorization

5. Musical Speech Sounds

Use instruments or household items to practice speech rhythms.

How to Play:

• Tap syllables on a drum: "ba-na-na" (3 taps)
• Shake maracas for each word in a sentence
• Clap hands for rhyming words
• March to the beat while saying target words

Targets: Syllable awareness, rhythm, word segmentation

Activities for Preschoolers (Ages 3-5 years)

6. Cooking Conversations

Turn meal prep into language learning time.

How to Play:

• Narrate each step: "First we crack the egg"
• Practice sequencing: "What comes next?"
• Introduce new vocabulary: "whisk," "measure," "pour"
• Count ingredients together
• Describe tastes and textures

Targets: Sequencing, vocabulary, following directions, descriptive language

7. Treasure Hunt with Clues

Create picture or verbal clues for finding hidden treasures.

How to Play:

• Hide a favorite toy
• Give 2-3 step directions: "Look under something soft and blue"
• Use positional words: "behind," "between," "inside"
• Let your child create clues for you
• Celebrate finding treasures with target phrases

Targets: Following directions, positional concepts, problem-solving

8. Story Stones

Paint or draw pictures on smooth stones for storytelling.

How to Play:

• Create stones with characters, objects, and actions
• Pick 3-4 stones from a bag
• Create a story using the selected stones
• Take turns adding to the story
• Retell favorite stories using the stones

Targets: Narrative skills, creativity, sentence formation, sequencing

9. Rhyme Time Hopscotch

Combine movement with phonological awareness.

How to Play:

• Draw hopscotch squares with pictures that rhyme
• Call out a word; child hops to the rhyming picture
• Make up silly rhymes together
• Sing rhyming songs while playing
• Create rhyming word families

Targets: Rhyming, phonological awareness, gross motor integration

10. Telephone Talk

Practice conversation skills with play phones.

How to Play:

• Model phone greetings and closings
• Take turns being different characters
• Practice leaving voicemail messages
• Order pizza or call grandma
• Use appropriate voice volume

Targets: Conversation skills, voice modulation, social language

Activities for School-Age Children (Ages 5-8 years)

11. Category Speed Game

Build vocabulary and word retrieval skills.

How to Play:

• Set timer for 1 minute
• Name items in categories (foods, animals, things that are red)
• Take turns being the timer keeper
• Increase difficulty with specific categories (jungle animals, breakfast foods)
• Keep score for motivation

Targets: Vocabulary, categorization, word retrieval, processing speed

12. Tongue Twister Challenge

Make articulation practice fun with silly phrases.

How to Play:

• Start with simple tongue twisters
• Practice slowly, then increase speed
• Create personal tongue twisters using target sounds
• Record attempts and listen together
• Have tongue twister competitions

Targets: Articulation, speech clarity, self-monitoring

13. Would You Rather Questions

Develop reasoning and explanation skills.

How to Play:

• Ask "Would you rather fly or be invisible? Why?"
• Encourage complete explanations
• Create silly scenarios
• Take turns asking questions
• Write down favorite answers

Targets: Reasoning, complex sentences, opinion expression

14. News Reporter Role Play

Practice clear speech and storytelling.

How to Play:

• Create a "news desk" with cardboard
• Report on family events or made-up stories
• Interview family members
• Practice speaking clearly for the "camera"
• Watch playback and discuss

Targets: Articulation, narrative skills, public speaking confidence

15. Board Game Speech Practice

Incorporate speech goals into favorite games.

How to Play:

• Say target sound/word before each turn
• Create sentences about game pieces
• Describe your strategy
• Practice good winner/loser language
• Make up new rules involving speech tasks

Targets: Turn-taking, speech practice in context, social language

Activities for Older Children (Ages 8-12 years)

16. Comic Strip Conversations

Use visual supports for complex language.

How to Play:

• Create comic strips about daily events
• Add thought and speech bubbles
• Practice dialogue and internal thoughts
• Discuss different perspectives
• Create social stories for challenging situations

Targets: Perspective-taking, narrative skills, problem-solving

17. Debate Club at Home

Develop argumentation and persuasion skills.

How to Play:

• Choose fun topics (best superhero, ideal pet)
• Research and prepare arguments
• Practice respectful disagreement
• Use evidence to support opinions
• Switch sides and argue the opposite

Targets: Complex language, reasoning, research skills, persuasion

18. Podcast Production

Create audio content for authentic practice.

How to Play:

• Choose a podcast theme (book reviews, science facts)
• Write simple scripts
• Practice clear speech for recording
• Edit together using free apps
• Share with family and friends

Targets: Speech clarity, organization, technology skills, confidence

19. Recipe Writing

Develop procedural language and sequencing.

How to Play:

• Create recipes for favorite foods
• Include specific measurements and steps
• Test recipes together
• Create a family cookbook
• Film cooking shows explaining recipes

Targets: Sequencing, precise language, written expression

20. Improv Games

Build spontaneous language skills.

How to Play:

• Play "Yes, and..." to build stories
• Create characters with different voices
• Practice "Freeze" - taking over mid-scene
• Use prompt cards for scenarios
• Perform for family members

Targets: Flexibility, creativity, social language, voice variation

Multi-Age Activities (All Ages)

21. Family Story Chain

Everyone contributes to collaborative storytelling.

How to Play:

• Start a story with one sentence
• Each person adds one sentence
• Include target sounds or vocabulary
• Record stories to listen later
• Illustrate favorite stories together

Targets: Turn-taking, narrative development, listening skills

22. Sound Scavenger Hunt

Find objects beginning with target sounds.

How to Play:

• Create lists of target sounds
• Search house or yard for objects
• Take photos of found items
• Create books of sound collections
• Race to find the most items

Targets: Sound awareness, vocabulary, phonological skills

23. Barrier Games

Build descriptive language through hidden picture activities.

How to Play:

• Sit with barrier between players
• Give directions to recreate your design
• Use specific descriptive words
• Check accuracy when complete
• Switch roles of describer and listener

Targets: Descriptive language, following directions, clarification

24. Daily Routine Narration

Transform routines into language opportunities.

How to Play:

• Narrate daily activities as you do them
• Ask prediction questions: "What happens next?"
• Practice time concepts: "before," "after," "during"
• Create visual schedules together
• Review the day at bedtime

Targets: Sequencing, temporal concepts, vocabulary

25. Video Message Exchange

Practice communication with distant relatives or friends.

How to Play:

• Record video messages for grandparents
• Practice organizing thoughts before recording
• Re-record if needed for clarity
• Send weekly updates
• Create video birthday cards

Targets: Organization, speech clarity, technology use, maintaining relationships

Making Practice Successful

Creating a Practice Schedule

Weekly Planning:

• Monday: Articulation focus
• Tuesday: Vocabulary building
• Wednesday: Story/narrative skills
• Thursday: Conversation practice
• Friday: Fun Friday - child's choice
• Weekend: Informal practice during family activities

Tracking Progress

Simple Tracking Methods:

• Sticker charts for completed activities
• Photo journal of activities
• Audio recordings monthly
• Success celebration board
• Progress notes in communication notebook

Motivating Your Child

Engagement Strategies:

• Let child choose activities
• Create reward systems
• Involve favorite characters or interests
• Make it social - include friends or siblings
• Celebrate small victories
• Keep sessions short and positive

Adapting Activities for Different Needs

For Articulation Focus

• Emphasize target sounds in all activities
• Create sound-loaded versions of games
• Use mirrors during activities
• Record and replay for self-monitoring

For Language Development

• Expand utterances naturally
• Ask open-ended questions
• Model complete sentences
• Focus on vocabulary within activities

For Fluency

• Reduce time pressure
• Practice during calm, fun activities
• Model slow, easy speech
• Celebrate smooth speech moments

For Social Communication

• Emphasize turn-taking elements
• Practice eye contact during activities
• Discuss emotions and perspectives
• Role-play social scenarios

Common Challenges and Solutions

"My child won't participate"

• Start with their interests
• Make it less obvious it's "practice"
• Offer choices
• Keep first sessions very short
• Be the silly one first

"I don't have time"

• Incorporate into existing routines
• Use car time for practice
• 5 minutes is better than nothing
• Involve other caregivers
• Weekend batch practice

"I'm not doing it right"

• Perfect practice isn't the goal
• Connection matters more than correction
• Ask your SLP for specific guidance
• Video yourself for SLP feedback
• Trust your instincts

When to Consult Your SLP

Contact your speech-language pathologist if:

• Your child becomes frustrated or resistant
• You're unsure about correct sound production
• Progress seems stalled
• You need activity modifications
• New concerns arise

Conclusion

These 25 activities provide a foundation for supporting your child's speech and language development at home. Remember that the best practice happens when children don't realize they're practicing. Keep activities playful, follow your child's lead, and celebrate progress, no matter how small.

The key to success is consistency, not perfection. Even five minutes of engaged practice daily can make a significant difference. Choose activities that fit your family's lifestyle, adapt them to your child's interests, and most importantly, have fun together. Your involvement and encouragement are the most powerful tools for helping your child succeed.