The Best Activities to Boost Speech & Language This August
We’ve Made it To August Friends!
August is the perfect time to soak up the last bit of summer fun with your little ones while also giving their speech and language skills a boost before the school year kicks off. For children, every day is an opportunity to learn something new through play. Here are some fun and simple activities to help support your child’s speech and language development this month.
The Best Activities to Boost Speech & Language
1. Nature Walk & Talk
August is a beautiful month to explore the outdoors. Take your child on a nature walk in your local park, garden, or even just around your neighborhood. As you walk, talk about what you see. Point out different objects, like trees, flowers, birds, and insects. Describe them using simple language: "Look at the big tree," "The flower is yellow," or "Do you hear the birds singing?". I love to play “I Spy With My Little Eye” and have our little detectives locate something based on the descriptive language you use. Then its their turn!
Tip: Encourage your child to repeat the words and sounds they hear. If your child is older, ask open-ended questions like, "What color is that flower?" or "What do you think the bird is doing?"
2. Summer Storytime
Reading is one of the best ways to support language development. Create a cozy reading nook outdoors or by a sunny window and enjoy some summer-themed books. Choose books with repetitive phrases, rhymes, and colorful illustrations that will captivate your child’s attention.
Book Suggestions:
"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle
"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
"Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown
Tip: As you read, pause to let your child fill in the blanks or predict what might happen next. This helps with vocabulary building and comprehension.
3. Splash & Learn
Make bath time, water play in the yard, or days at the beach a fun learning experience. Use toys like boats and buckets to practice simple commands like "splash," "pour," "sink," or "float."
Tip: For older kids, introduce concepts like big/small, empty/full, and in/out while playing with water. This builds both vocabulary and understanding of basic concepts.
4. Make PlayDough Creations
Play-dough is a wonderful tool for sensory play and language development. Make your own at home or use store-bought dough. While playing, encourage your child to describe what they are making: "I’m making a snake," or "I’m rolling a ball."
Tip: Introduce action words like "roll," "squeeze," "press," and "flatten." This expands your child's verb vocabulary while they have fun creating.
5. Garden Grocery Store
Turn a small patch of your garden or a section of your yard into a pretend grocery store. Use real or pretend fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Have your child "buy" and "sell" items, practicing the names of different objects.
Tip: This activity is great for role-playing, which helps with social language skills. You can also introduce counting by asking your child to "buy" a specific number of items.
6. August Alphabet Hunt
Go on an alphabet scavenger hunt! Choose a letter of the day and look for objects around the house or outside that start with that letter. For example, if the letter is "B," you might find a "ball," "book," or "banana."
Tip: For younger children, focus on the sound of the letter. You can say, "B is for ball," and emphasize the "buh" sound. Older kids can try to find as many items as possible that start with the chosen letter.
7. Sing-Along Summer
Music is a great way to introduce new words and sounds. Have a daily sing-along session with summer-themed songs. Classics like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," "The Wheels on the Bus," and "If You’re Happy and You Know It" are perfect for this.
Tip: Incorporate actions with the songs. For example, clapping hands during "If You’re Happy and You Know It" or pretending to drive during "The Wheels on the Bus." This helps with motor skills and makes the activity more engaging.
8. Ice Cream Parlor Play
Set up a pretend ice cream parlor at home with toy ice cream cones or by crafting your own with play-dough. Role-play as the "customer" and "ice cream vendor," practicing phrases like "What flavor would you like?" and "I’d like a scoop of chocolate, please."
Tip: This activity encourages your child to use language in a social context, practicing manners and conversational skills. For older children, incorporate number and math skills by having the child pay for their ice cream or provide you with the correct change!
By incorporating these simple yet engaging activities into your August routine, you can help your child develop their speech and language skills while making the most of the summer season. Remember, the key is to keep it FUN and INTERACTIVE. Happy playing!
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