Summer is often a busy time full of travel, pool days, and spending time with family and friends. A busy schedule means speech and language skills may be left behind. But, building communication skills while on summer break doesn’t have to be hard or boring! We often travel to new or old places for vacation, with different sights to see. Or new sounds to hear while at the pool or spending time with family. Just thinking about your five senses while on vacation can help you to incorporate speech and language into everyday conversation. Here are some examples for different times and ways to increase communication skills during summer break.
While traveling in a vehicle
Whether you are traveling somewhere old or new, by car or by plane, you can increase language skills on the day of travel and while there! Let’s use going to the beach as an example. During the car or plane ride, you and your child could imagine what sights, sounds and tastes you may find once you get to your final destination. Use this time to have a conversation with your child and see what they can come up with and then use their responses to build upon. For example, you could ask your child what kind of animals they think you will see while at the beach. If they say a dolphin, you could expand by talking about what dolphins look like, how they swim and the sounds they make.
If imagining is too advanced for your child, you could talk about things you see outside the window while driving. Playing “I spy” is a great way to build descriptive language skills. You can describe items by color, sounds, and feelings. Take turns alternating who will guess the item with your child. This helps increase turn taking skills and their understanding and use of language.
While playing at a pool
The pool is such a great place to work on early communication skills- especially for increasing imitation of sounds and big movements. If you think about it, there are always splashes and different ways to make silly sounds while at the pool. Being in front of your child and gaining their attention, allows you to model sounds and movements. You can tap the water with your hand a couple of times and then pause with an expectant look on your face, to see if your child will hit the water after you. If not, continue to model and then pause again. This lets your child know you want them to copy you. You can also make play sounds, like “splash!”, “kick!”, “whoosh!” during play time in the pool. Kids often love silly play sounds, and will enjoy being extra silly with you. You can model the words 3-5 times and then pause with a smile to let your child know you want them to try it next.
While playing at the park
Most kids love playing at the park because it allows for freedom to run and explore. There are often slides, swings and jungle gyms to play on, which can be the perfect time to interact with your child. Many times, you are able to be face to face while on a slide or swing, which is the best way to increase language development. Model exclamatory sounds during play, such as “wee!”, “woah!” and “woosh!”. You can also model phrases like, “ready, set, go!”, “we’re walking up!”, and “down we go!” to incorporate directions and verb based vocabulary into play.
While working on specific speech sounds
Articulation skills are slightly more difficult to target without a list of words in front of you, but it’s not impossible to do. Speech sounds can be practiced through use of silly words that may not have a meaning. For example, if /g/ is a speech sound goal, you could have your child make up a word that has the /g/ sound in it. They may say something silly like gargoo, but it will keep their skills fresh and practiced. You could also ask your speech therapist if they have a list of words that relate to where you may be traveling to, in advance. Most therapists would be willing to compile a small list to keep speech sound goals fun and relevant to wherever you may be.
As you can see, speech and language skills don’t have to be left at home when on summer break. Communication can be increased anywhere, and with any activity you choose to do. All it takes is being willing to interact and talk with your child. The connections built with you, are the memories and skills that will last forever!