Utilizing Water Play in Early Intervention for Speech Therapy
Hi Friends!
If you follow me on social media, you know I live in Louisiana and during this time of year, it is H-O-T, to say the least 😅
I'm sure all of you are feeling the heat as well, so I wanted to chat about a fun summer activity that incorporates a way to chill down and boost language -- water play! 💦
How to utilize water play all summer long!
Finding ways to do water play with minimal supplies is the goal here. Here are some of my best suggestions:
🌊 Sink and Tray Play: Fill up the sink or a large Tupperware with water and throw in whatever plastic toys are around. Pretend the toys are taking a bath, going to the pool, or set up an ocean scene with toy water animals.
🌊 Water Transfer: Set up two containers (e.g., plastic cups, bowls) filled with water and provide tools like a ladle, small cups, or a turkey baster and use them to move water from one to the other. Increase engagement by adding a bit of food coloring to some!
🌊 Car Wash Station: Set up a car wash station using toy cars or trucks, a bucket of soapy water, and a rinse bucket.
Concepts to Work On
📌 Vocabulary Building: Introduce new vocabulary related to water (e.g., splash, pour, wet, dry, float, sink). Label different water toys and objects, as well as actions as they occur in play (e.g., boat, duck, sponge, cup). Have a particularly young client? Work on exclamatory phrases and environmental sounds for increased language exposure.
📌 Following Directions: Give simple instructions related to water play (e.g., "Fill the bucket," "Pour water into the cup," "Splash in the puddle"). Encourage them to follow directions and reinforce understanding through actions.
📌 Descriptive Language: Describe how water feels (e.g., cold, warm), sounds (e.g., splashing, dripping), and looks (e.g., clear, bubbly).
📌 Concepts and Prepositions: Teach concepts like in, out, under, over, up, down using water play scenarios (e.g., "Put the toy boat under the water," "Pour water into the funnel"). Use spatial words to describe the location of objects and actions in relation to the water.
📌 Narrative Skills: Create stories or sequences of events involving water play (e.g., "First we fill the bucket, then we pour water into the cups, and finally we splash in the puddles"). Encourage toddlers to retell their experiences with water play using sequential language.
Kids LOVE to play with water, especially during the hot summer months. With the help of these tips and strategies, you can use one of their favorite things to keep them growing and strengthening their language skills during the dog days of summer ☀️
Happy speeching!
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