Speech Therapy Activities & Exercises for Kids

Speech therapy is a journey that helps children develop strong communication skills, fostering confidence and meaningful connections. Whether your child is working on articulation, language development, fluency, or social communication, engaging and research-backed speech therapy exercises can make all the difference.

Examples of Speech & Play Therapy Exercises

Speech and play therapy is an effective way to help improve speech delays in kids. See examples of speech activities you can do at home with your toddler.

1. Articulation Exercises

For children working on clear speech sounds, articulation exercises are designed to improve pronunciation and clarity. Activities may include:

  • Repetition Drills: Practicing specific sounds in isolation, syllables, words, and sentences.

  • Mirror Work: Encouraging children to watch their mouth movements while saying target sounds.

  • Play-Based Practice: Using toys and games to elicit target sounds naturally in conversation.

2. Language Development Activities

Strong language skills are essential for learning and socializing. Therapy focuses on expanding vocabulary, improving sentence structure, and enhancing comprehension. Activities include:

  • Storytelling & Picture Descriptions: Encouraging children to describe scenes, retell stories, and answer "wh" questions (who, what, when, where, why).

  • Following Directions Games: Using fun, multi-step instructions to enhance listening and comprehension skills.

  • Categorization & Sorting: Helping children recognize word relationships by grouping items based on characteristics.

3. Fluency & Stuttering Exercises

For children experiencing dysfluency, therapy aims to build smooth, confident speech. Strategies include:

  • Paced Speech & Slow Rate Practice: Encouraging slower, more deliberate speech patterns.

  • Breathing Techniques: Teaching diaphragmatic breathing to promote fluency and reduce tension.

  • Easy Onset & Light Articulatory Contacts: Practicing gentle starts to words and sentences.

4. Social Communication (Pragmatic) Activities

Building social skills helps children navigate conversations and relationships. Targeted exercises include:

  • Role-Playing Scenarios: Practicing greetings, turn-taking, and conversational topics.

  • Emotion & Perspective-Taking Activities: Using stories and visuals to discuss feelings and different viewpoints.

  • Board Games & Group Play: Reinforcing appropriate social interactions in a fun setting.

Supporting Speech & Language Growth at Home

Parents play a vital role in reinforcing therapy goals.

Engaging in daily conversations, reading together, and encouraging play-based learning are excellent ways to support progress.

At Beech Street Speech & Language, we create individualized therapy plans that make learning enjoyable and effective. If you're looking for personalized speech therapy services for your child, contact us today!