Fun & Easy October Speech Therapy Ideas for SLPs

Hey SLP friends! 👋

October is here, which means pumpkins, costumes, and a little extra energy buzzing around our therapy rooms. If you’re looking to sprinkle in some spooky fun without breaking the bank—or your prep time—I’ve got you covered!

Sometimes, it’s nice to just lean into activities that are flat-out fun. Seasonal themes can be a great way to motivate students, tap into their background knowledge, and even learn more about their holiday traditions. Ready for some October inspiration? Let’s dive in!

📚 October Book Ideas

One of my favorite ways to bring the season into therapy is with books. They’re flexible, easy to adapt for multiple goals, and repetition is your friend (don’t worry if a child has already read it—familiarity helps with comprehension and lets you focus on new targets).

Here are a few tried-and-true October reads:

• Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell
  Perfect for older students—you can talk about the pumpkin life cycle, sequence events, and hit vocabulary goals.

• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
  A classic for a reason! The predictable text invites participation, plus it’s great for sequencing and retelling.

• The Spooky Wheels on the Bus by J. Elizabeth Mills
  Younger students love this Halloween twist on the familiar song. Great for participation, rhythm, and articulation carryover.

Pro tip: check your school or local library first before purchasing!

🧪 October Activities

1. Science: Potion Making

Set out clear cups and a few everyday items (vinegar, baking soda, oil, soda, candy like Skittles or Pop Rocks). Have students choose a couple to combine and predict what will happen. This is a goldmine for vocabulary, sequencing, and making inferences!

2. Sensory: Pumpkin Washing

Grab a bin, soap, and real pumpkins and let kids scrub away! You can target words like more, all done, clean, or help. Don’t want the mess? Cut out paper pumpkins, slip them into sheet protectors, “dirty” them with dry-erase markers, then let kids spray and wipe them clean.

3. Craft: Halloween Speech Therapy Stuffer Craft

This one’s a hit for mixed groups. Students decorate or cut while you pull kids individually. Targets articulation and language—and you can use it again and again. To add extra fun, hide target words or sounds around the room so students get to “hunt” for their speech sounds.

Want it for yourself?

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🏠 October Homework & Carryover

We all know how important carryover is. That’s why I love sending students home with fun, seasonal activities they’ll actually want to share with their families.

Some ideas:

• Homework sheets tied to your session’s goals.

• Sending home the Halloween Stuffer Craft so kids can practice their words on the “candy.”

• Encouraging families to read one of the October books together and retell the story.

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These little touches keep parents in the loop and give students more chances to practice outside your room.

October is the perfect time to mix things up and bring some seasonal excitement into therapy. Whether you’re reading pumpkin-themed books, making “potions,” or scrubbing pumpkins, your students will love the change of pace—and you’ll love how easily these activities can be adapted for multiple goals.

Here’s to a month of fun, laughter, and spooky-good therapy sessions!

Happy speeching!

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