4 Practical Tips to Increase Parent Carryover in Speech Therapy

Hey, speech friend! 👋🏼

If you’ve ever wrapped up a great speech session and thought, “I hope this actually carries over at home…”—you’re not alone.

Parent carryover is one of the most important (and most challenging) pieces of speech therapy. We can model strategies all day long, but real progress happens when families feel confident using those strategies outside the therapy room.

The good news? Increasing parent carryover doesn’t require more paperwork, longer sessions, or complicated home programs. Small, intentional shifts can make a big difference.

Here are four realistic tips to help boost parent carryover in speech therapy—without overwhelming families or yourself.

1. Keep it simple (really simple)

When it comes to carryover, less is more.

It’s tempting to give parents everything: multiple strategies, detailed explanations, and lots of examples. But too much information can actually stop follow-through altogether.

Instead, focus on one skill or strategy at a time.

Choose something functional, easy to remember, and directly tied to the child’s goal. Explain it in plain language—no therapy jargon—and show exactly what it looks like in real life.

If a parent can explain the strategy to someone else after your session, you’ve nailed it.

Simple strategies used consistently will always beat complex plans that never get used.

2. Build carryover into daily routines

Families are busy. If a strategy doesn’t fit naturally into their day, it probably won’t happen.

The best carryover happens when therapy strategies are woven into routines families already have. Think:

• Mealtime

• Bath time

• Getting dressed

• Playtime

• Bedtime routines

Instead of assigning “practice,” help parents see opportunities that already exist. For example, modeling language during snack time, offering choices while getting dressed, or pausing during play to encourage communication.

When parents realize they don’t need extra time or materials, carryover feels doable—and that’s when consistency improves.

3. Show parents what to do (don’t just tell them)

Verbal explanations are helpful, but modeling is powerful.

Whenever possible, show parents the strategy in action. Narrate what you’re doing during the session:

• “I’m waiting here to give them time to respond.”

• “I’m repeating what they said and adding one more word.”

• “I’m following their lead instead of directing the play.”

This helps parents connect the dots between theory and practice.

If parents can observe even a few minutes of effective modeling, they’re far more likely to try it themselves. Seeing success in real time builds confidence—and confident parents are more likely to follow through.

4. Provide clear, supportive carryover tools

Sometimes parents want to help—they just forget what to do once they get home.

That’s where simple carryover tools come in.

A short handout, visual, or quick reminder can make all the difference. The key is keeping it brief and practical. Think bullet points, examples, and reminders rather than long explanations.

Carryover tools should answer three questions:

• What should I do?

• When should I do it?

• What does success look like?

When parents have something tangible to refer back to, they’re more likely to use strategies correctly and consistently.

Grab this free guide to share with your families as an easy carryover/at home resource! 

⭐️ CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IT OR SHARE WITH FAMILIES ⭐️

The bigger picture

Increasing parent carryover isn’t about expecting families to “do therapy at home.” It’s about empowering them to support communication in ways that feel natural, manageable, and successful.

When parents feel confident and supported, they become true partners in the therapy process—and that’s when progress really takes off.

Small changes in how we explain, model, and support carryover can lead to big gains for our students.