Speech Sound Practice at Home—Made Fun! Creative (and Low-Stress!)
Creative (and Low-Stress!) Ideas for Parents from a Speech-Language Pathologist
As a speech-language pathologist, one of the most common questions I get from parents is: "How can I help my child practice their speech sounds at home?"
Let’s face it: flashcards and worksheets aren’t always motivating and fun for children and that’s totally okay! The good news? The best kind of practice happens when kids are engaged and having fun.
If your speech therapist has sent home a word list, or if your child has target sounds from school-based therapy, you’re in the right place. Here are some fun, low-cost (or no-cost!) games and activities that turn practice into play!
No-Cost or Low-Cost Home Ideas
Dice Roll Challenge
Got a pair of dice? Perfect!
Each time your child rolls the dice, they say their target word that many times. Create a scoreboard and race to a target (we aim for 50 trials!).
Bonus Tip: Say a word “wrong” and let your child be the speech detective! They’ll love correcting you—and it helps build their awareness of the placement of their articulators.
Goldfish Card Game
Turn this classic game into speech fun!
Each time your child draws a card, they say their target word as many times as the number on the card.
DIY Matching Game
Use index cards or scrap paper to make your own speech sound memory game. Write or draw words with your child’s target sound. When they flip a card, they say the word—get a match, and they say it in a phrase or sentence!
No printer? No problem: Drawing or finding pictures together is extra practice!
Tic-Tac-Toe
Play tic-tac-toe with a twist: write a target word in each square. Before claiming the square, your child has to say the word 5 times, or use it in a sentence.
Magnetic Wand Game
Lay out speech cards. Every time your child says a target word (or sentence), hand them a magnetic chip. Once they collect a bunch (aim for 30–50), let them scoop them all up with a magnetic wand! Get your magnetic wand here!
Games for Speech Practice
Before your child picks a sword, they say their target word. Want more practice? Have them say it 5x before grabbing the sword.
Each burger has a number. Your child says their word that many times before feeding the pig. (At phrase/sentence level? Have them use the word in a phrase/sentence before feeding the pig)
Use the spinner to decide how many teeth to press—but before each push, your child says their word that many times! Who knew articulation work could be this suspenseful?
Generate numerous speech sound repetitions with UNO. A simple method: when playing a card, produce your target word the same number of times as the card's value. Want more UNO-based activities? My free speech sound UNO guide is available! Download it here!
Practicing speech sounds at home doesn’t have to feel like homework—for you or your child. With a few simple tweaks to games you already own (or quick DIYs using materials around the house), you can turn speech therapy into meaningful, fun-filled playtime.
A few minutes a day—while laughing and playing—is the best way to keep speech progress going strong.
If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s speech sound development—Schedule your free consultation today!
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This blog post contains affiliate links to the resources that I use in my own therapy room.
