- Ash
- Blog
At our clinic, we understand that repetition is a key component in improving speech and movement skills. However, repetition alone isn’t enough. For real progress to happen, practice needs to have a purpose, especially when working with children. One of the best ways to make practice feel purposeful is by incorporating fun activities into speech therapy sessions. And what could be more enjoyable during the holiday season than a Christmas craft?
This week, we’ve been using reindeer decorations as a fun motivator for our clients to practice speech. One particular client, who is focusing on improving her jaw movement in 2-3 word phrases, absolutely loved creating her reindeer. As she decorated her project, she practiced saying the following phrases:
- “Around my hand”
- “Wow”
- “Do da nose”
- “I want more”
- “Not enough”
- “Mouth/eye/antler/other eye on”
- “On my deer as well”
- “Inner ear/outer ear”
- “Nose/mouth on snout”
- “Under/on top”
These phrases helped her practice important movements, especially vertical jaw movements, over and over again. Each time she repeated these phrases, she was not only enhancing her speech skills but also having fun!
But the benefits don’t stop there. Using simple holiday tasks like reindeer craft can also help with:
- Sequencing (deciding what comes next in the process of making the reindeer)
- Pronunciation (getting those sounds just right!)
- Explaining (describing what she’s doing during the craft)
- Following directions (listening and acting on what is asked of her)
The possibilities are endless when you combine creativity with speech therapy. Christmas crafts like reindeer decorations are just one example of how we can make therapy more engaging, meaningful, and effective. Whether it’s learning new words, improving sentence structure, or strengthening speech movements, incorporating fun, seasonal activities can make all the difference in achieving speech goals.
Happy crafting, and happy practicing!
Eastside Speech is a vibrant private speech therapy practice centrally located in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.
Operating since 2001, our team of dedicated speech pathologists are passionate about helping the world to communicate better.
The practice is an approved NDIS service provider. We are registered with Medicare and are able to see clients using the Chronic Disease Management referral scheme. All our therapists are PROMPT trained.
