As the holidays are fast approaching and our schedules are becoming hectic, I wanted to remind everyone of the importance of home practice. You may often receive “homework” activities and recommendations from me at the end of your child’s session. While I recognize this may seem overwhelming, I wanted to provide some education on how important it is that your child participates in home practice. Research shows that children who participate in home practice activities (along with their weekly/biweekly speech therapy session) progress significantly faster in speech therapy, as opposed to children who only attend their weekly/biweekly speech therapy session (Roberts, M. Y., & Kaiser, A. P., 2012). While I only see your child once or twice a week, you as a parent see them every day and know them best! Children learn best from their parents & caregivers, which is why it’s so important that you’re a part of their speech home practice.
Home practice does not have to involve sitting at the table and completing a worksheet. You can complete home practice during your everyday tasks! It can happen during playtime, reading, bathtime, mealtime, bedtime, or even on the car ride home from therapy. For example, say your child is working on producing the /l/ sound. While at the grocery store, find items that contain the target sound and practice them with your child (lemons, balloon, apple, etc.). I recommend aiming for at least 10-15 minutes of practice a day (that’s better than nothing!). If your child responds well to praise/rewards, provide a reward (treat, sticker, screen time, etc.) after the child has completed their speech home practice. Get creative! Here are some more examples of how to implement home practice during everyday routines:
- Cooking/Mealtime: set a timer for your child (10-15 minutes) while you’re cooking or after a meal. Have them repeat the target words provided or words you chose yourself with the target speech sound. Aim for 3-5 accurate repetitions of each word until the timer is up.
- Bedtime: during reading, find words within the book that contain the child’s target speech sound. Have them practice producing the sound accurately in the word.
- Morning routine: during breakfast, getting dressed, or even the car ride to school, provide a list of 5-10 words containing the child’s target speech sound. Have them repeat each one 3-5x accurately.
- After school: choose a “word of the day” containing your child’s target speech sound. Have your child repeat the word of the day 10x accurately. You can also give them the opportunity to use the target word in a phrase or sentence to make it more complex.
Overall, home practice is a critical component for your child’s success in and out of the therapy room. I am here to provide support and collaborate with you to ensure your child succeeds. I have attached a link to a website to learn more about the importance of parent involvement in speech therapy. This website also provides more ideas for how to implement home practice during everyday tasks. Remember that practice makes perfect!
Best,
Emily Myler (M.S., CCC-SLP)
https://www.expressable.com/learning-center/tips-and-resources/the-importance-of-parental-involvement-in-speech-therapy
