By: Sarah Denman, M.A. CCC-SLP
Colorful leaves, juicy apples, spooky ghosts, smiling jack-o-lanterns – it can only mean one thing… fall is here! Take advantage of this special time to target speech/language skills in creative, easy ways.
Go on a leaf hunt!
Early Language
Adjectives: colors (red, green, yellow, orange, big, small, smooth, rough, bumpy, dry
Prepositions: under, on top, below, above, next to, in front of
Action words: jump, rake, find, look, stomp, march, walk, pick
Articulation: /l/ in “leaf”, “collect”, and “look”; /f/ in “find” and “leaf”
Social skills: Take turns showing leaves, ask others questions such as “Which one is your favorite?”
Make a leaf person! Target requesting (e.g. “glue please”) and body parts
Pumpkins and Gourds!
Early Language
Vocabulary: pumpkin, patch, stem, seed, vine, leaves, body parts (eyes, nose, mouth when carving)
Adjectives: heavy, light, smooth, bumpy, bright, dark, orange, prickly, slimy, sticky
Articulation: s-blends in “stem,” “small,” “smooth,” “slimy,” “sticky”
Social Skills: Staying with the family or group when looking for questions, ask questions to others (“Do you like this one?”)
Costumes!
Early Language
Adjectives: sparkly, bright, long, short, spooky, colors
Action words: dress up, put on, take off, put on your __ (e.g. head)
Nouns: pants, shirt, dress, hat, body parts (e.g. arms, legs)
Articulation: Practice your sounds while talking about your costume!
Social skills: Pretend to be the character that you dressed up as! What would they say? What would they do?
Want more ideas? Check out these websites and CSHC’s Autumn Activities Pinterest page for more fall fun activities.
• Speech and Language Kids.com-autumn
• Speech and Language Kids.com-Halloween
• Playingwithwords365.com- 5-playful-fall-activities-for-your-toddlers • Howweelearn.com-halloween-sensory-play