How an SLP uses these 5 games to promote speech development

Working on speech skills with your child? These are the favorite games of Nicole Kvist, CCC-SLP! Read on to find out about the unique ways she incorporates speech and language into these go-to's.

HedBanz

I use this game in my own way. I have my clients describe what the other person has. They have to talk about looks, group of objects it is (i.e. insect, food, toy), what it can do, what it’s made of/parts it has, where you find it, or any other facts they know. Then either I guess or have the other child guess once they get all the clues. When used this way, it helps develop the child's ability to describe items and understand descriptions.

HoneyBee Tree

This game is good for any sound target or language tasks when you adapt it in one of these fun ways:

• Have your child say the target sound before taking out the leaf
• Talk about in vs out, comparatives/ superlatives (I have the most bees, you have the least, she has more than me)
• Take turns doing other tasks before pulling out the bees.

Lion in My Way

You are presented with a problem (ogres, bees, fire, etc.) and have to use the tools you are given in order to get past it! It targets skills in the areas of creativity, cognitive flexibility, ability to explain answers, turn-taking, and a lot of problem solving.

I love to use this game with kids and challenge them a bit by questioning how they will accomplish the task with what they are using. For example, how will the radio scare the sheep away? What will you play on it? Are sheep usually scared by loud noises?

Free Online Games:

ABCya!’s Games!

An example of one I love: Fuzz Bug Farm: Consonant Blends

• This game is great for working on speech sounds! You can select which consonant clusters to target and you and your child take turns spinning to see how far you go!
• Can help with sounds L, K, S, TH, R, CH, and more!

Build a Monster Game

Can be used to work on literacy, describing objects (I want the pink hat), location words (is it under the shoes?), and vocabulary development such as body parts, colors, and clothing.

• Kids love being in control and making choices!
• You can choose to turn off the reading aspect and add your own questions.