How to Practice Speech Therapy at Home (Without the Stress)

trumpet player

Practice: eight little letters that require discipline and dedication. Eight little letters that can enrage and irritate the most patient of souls. But also, eight little letters that have a profound effect on a life.

Whether you’re learning a new skill yourself or helping a loved one master one, the time and dedication required can feel overwhelming. But practice isn’t about perfection—it provides a safe space to try, stumble, and start again. It’s part of the journey, not the end goal.

Making Speech Practice Feel Natural

Practicing speech and language skills can sometimes feel unnatural. For many, these skills happen automatically while communicating and engaging with the world. In fact, neurotypical children “practice” constantly every time they play with a toy, talk to a friend, or interact with family.

However, some children need targeted support with specific elements of communication—skills that are easy to take for granted, such as:

  • Making comfortable eye contact or alternative engagement

  • Turn-taking and sharing

  • Anticipating social cues

  • Requesting needs and wants clearly

3 Simple Tips on How to Practice Speech Therapy and Integrate into Daily Routines

You don’t need dedicated hours at a desk to see progress. The secret to practicing speech therapy at home is weaving it naturally into your day:

  1. Pick Specific Daily Moments: Clearly identify where and when practice will happen (e.g., during snack time, bath time, or car rides). Knowing the plan ahead of time reduces stress for everyone.

  2. Start Small: Set manageable expectations for your child and yourself. Five minutes of focused interaction is better than 30 minutes of frustration.

  3. Build Gradually: Increase your expectations in small, steady increments. You’ll be amazed at how quickly these small moments compound into real progress.

The Takeaway: While the old saying claims “practice makes perfect,” we prefer a different motto: practice builds permanence.

Keep going, keep building, and remember to give yourself grace along the way.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC

Play Time!

play blocks

2019 is underway….OK – 2 weeks into the New Year.  The rest of the holiday decorations are put away and celebrations are at an end.  Although there are 256,894 new toys in the house, the children are ‘bored’. The question of the day is, are the children really bored and do they need to be taught how to play?  For some of our loved ones, play is NOT as innate as it is for others. Play is definitely a skill that needs and should be taught from a very young age. Parents need to ‘teach’ and be part of the art of play.

Play is the ‘work’ of childhood.  Play is the official format of therapy for the majority of children as well.  The reasons are many but here are a few examples of how teaching to how play benefits a child’s language and overall development.

Play increases a child’s ability to process and practice emotions. Through imaginative play children can act out emotions of fear, anger, etc. as well as practice empathy and understanding.  Play also provides children with a sense of accomplishment and self-satisfaction, which help to build confidence and self-esteem.

Play increases a child’s social skills.  Through the art of play, a child learns to navigate turn-taking, sharing, and overall group dynamics.  Play provides the opportunity to develop friendships and practice compromise.

Play increases a child’s cognitive ability and brain development.  Through play a child gains reasoning, attention, and memory skills as well as problem solving skills – all important and crucial for success academically and socially.

Play increases a child’s communication skills.  Plays provides a safe, unassuming venue to practice sentence structures, sound effects and overall listening skills.  Plays helps to facilitate initiating, maintain and concluding conversations – with real or imaginative friends. Play also provides children with the opportunity to work on recognizing non-verbal cues and body language.

So much goes into playing.  It can be exhausting for both child and adult, but worth every glorious moment.  Now stop reading and get out there and PLAY!

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC

One Size Does NOT Fit All : Finding the Size of the Problem

shoes

Baby New Year has arrived!  The season of parties and changed schedules is coming to its end.  Back to the ‘normal’ routine! But what about those resolutions? The promises you make to yourself that come with the fine print that reads, “I maintain the option to not follow through with these resolutions because while I mean well, life truly gets in the way.”

A close friend shared her New Year’s resolution; she was NOT going to ‘sweat the small stuff’. My response was true to the bestie code: ‘Great idea!  That’ll really make a difference! I support you!’ And when we parted ways, I got to thinking how as adults we want our children to know and recognize the difference between small, medium, and large problems however lose sight of those as we become adults.

Sometimes we need to step back and take an inventory of how we categorize problems or issues.  While the resources I am using are predominately for children, it may be worth the extra 3 minutes to read through the rest of this post to reset your personal inventory and help your loved one manage his/hers.

Small Problems:

  • Affects 1-2 people
  • No one was physically hurt
  • Feelings were minimally hurt
  • Takes 5 – 15 min to ‘fix’
  • Problem can be solved by the individual OR can be ignored completely

Medium Sized Problems:

  • Affects 3-5 people
  • May be a small physical injury
  • Feelings were hurt, person/people upset
  • May take 15 min to a couple of hours to ‘fix’
  • Problem may need another adult to be solved

Large Sized Problems:

  • Affects 6 or more people
  • May be a significant physical injury
  • No easy or quick solution to ‘fix’ hurt feelings
  • May take days to weeks to ‘fix’
  • Assistance of other adults is required to solve the issue.

While these are definitely oversimplified for some of life’s problems, they do provide a pause when thinking of day to day situations.  Food for thought to start the New Year.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Boxing Day!

empty-cardboard-boxes-

Here’s to the success and survival of the big day!  Given the millions of new toys that may now ‘live’ in your home, nothing is quite as exciting for some children as the boxes that once housed those toys. Why is that a thing? Generation after generation have been stymied by the same question.

Who are we to question? Turn those hours of climbing in boxes into therapy opportunities.

Large or small, playing with boxes, or any toys, is a wonderful way to practice shared attention, turn taking, and sharing. These exchanges, for a moment or a while, are so important to developing conversation skills, play skills, and social skills.

Large boxes – let the creativity go wild. Large boxes are ideal for creating a playhouse, cave, tent, or castle. Add a few blankets and pillows and a flashlight and you have the makings of hours of imaginative play.  Not only are these great vessels to take imaginations to the outer limits, these are wonderful oases of quiet. The language opportunities are never ending. Every empty box needs decorations. A few crayons and stickers and a masterpiece is born. Requesting crayon colors or stickers or continuation of the activity are all ways to get a little language practice in with no one being the wiser.

Medium boxes aren’t just for sweaters or shirts anymore. Line the floor with opened boxes and create games of moving in and out of the boxes – lily pad jumping, indoor hopscotch.  These games can incorporate vocabulary and language concepts of in, out, go, stop, more, waiting for your turn, etc. All important skills for developing and practicing language.

Small boxes – the gems of the box family. Tape these closed and use as building blocks – great for individuals with dexterity issues. Build box towers. Up, on top, bottom, more, help, crash, boom, uh-oh – vocabulary and language concepts waiting to be part of the tower construction.  

Once the boxes lose their charm, it’s off to the recycling bin! However,  the opportunity to practice language and social skills will never lose its charm!

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Simple Holiday Social Skills Practice for Families

christmas

It’s the final countdown until the big day (cue Europe’s 1986 hit song)! The lists have been checked twice, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and all that’s left is the wait… the long wait until we can rip open those gifts!

And when those gifts are torn into, we wait with bated breath, hoping our loved ones not only enjoy the presents, but also remember to say “Thank you”—or at the very least, acknowledge the others in the room.

Nothing derails holiday fun faster than demanding your child say “Thank you” to Auntie dear for footie pajamas, only for them to erupt into a stream of whining excuses about how hot those PJs make their feet.

Give yourself an early gift this year: take a few moments before the festivities begin for some simple holiday social skills practice. Setting clear behavioral expectations ahead of time helps everyone—big or small—know what to expect.

1. Practice Holiday Greetings

For the most part, saying hello is simple. However, given the excitement of the day, gentle reminders go a long way.

  • Roleplay entering the room: Practice walking through the front door and saying “Hi” together.

  • Eye contact alternatives: If direct eye contact is challenging, coach your loved one to look at the person’s chin or forehead instead.

  • Non-verbal greetings: Practice waving, using the ASL sign for “Hi,” or sharing a simple smile.

  • Set clear boundaries: Spell out unexpected behaviors clearly ahead of time (e.g., hiding behind adults or running straight under the table).

2. Offer Alternatives to Hugs and Handshakes

For some children, physical touch can feel overwhelming. Provide your child with comfortable alternatives to hugging:

  • Fist bumps

  • High fives

  • A friendly wave

Pro-Tip for Relatives: If you have family members who might feel hurt without a traditional hug, reach out before the gathering. Briefly explain why physical boundaries are important for your child and tell them how they can support you.

3. Prepare for Gift-Opening Disappointment

Disappointment when opening gifts isn’t unusual, but practicing reactions in advance makes a world of difference:

  • Practice with silly items: Wrap up everyday items like spoons, rocks, or paper towels. Practice unwrapping them, smiling, and saying “Thank you!”

  • Create a secret signal: Make a plan for duplicate gifts. Channel your inner baseball coach and establish a subtle gesture (like tapping your shoulder) that communicates: “I know you already have this. We will exchange it later—just smile and say thank you for now.”

Social Skills Practice Makes Permanent

In all of these scenarios, remember: practice doesn’t make perfect—practice makes permanent.

Through it all, whether behaviors go as expected or not, try to find the joy. Find something to laugh about, and cherish those small moments that fill your heart.

Happiest of Holidays!

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC

Programs Available Starting January 2019

snowman

Lakeshore Speech Therapy is as busy as the North Pole this time of year! We are excited to share upcoming programs starting in January.

Teen Social Skills Group: This social skills group is designed specifically for teens. The purpose of our group is to practice expanding and building social skills in the areas of communication, problem solving, social media, friendship, fitting in, empathy and leadership skills.

And

Assistive Technology for Executive Functioning: High School students can drop in for an hour session on how to use assistive technology to increase organization, work completion, and ultimately independence. Skills necessary for college and the workplace.

Please click on the links above for more information about both of these great opportunities.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Gift Guides – Loved Ones with Special Needs

presents in a bag

As I sit and watch  the movie ‘Buddy the Elf’ I can’t help but think that I really should be making a list, checking it twice and comparing prices.  Lists and lists of gift ideas are everywhere this time of year. People fall into two categories – easy to buy for and difficult to buy for. Our loved ones that experience communication difficulties may fall into the later category.

Below are links to articles and lists  that are available online that may assist in making and suggesting purchases for our loved ones.

Gift Giving Guide – TheraPlay

How to shop for Special Needs Children

500+ Gift Ideas for Child/Teen with Special Needs

2018 Holiday Gifts / Autism and Special Needs Christmas Gift Ideas

2018 Mom Approved Gift Ideas For Special Kids

Holiday Gifts for Kids with Neurobehavioral Disorders

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR SENSORY PROCESSING GIFT IDEAS

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC. does not endorse any specific toy company or vendor, this is merely our attempt at saving you time in researching ideas so you can get back to the important parts of this time of year, being with loved ones.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Adventures & Memories

lights

In the midst of sorting through your Black Friday deals and your Cyber Monday steals, you may be interested in some Winter Holiday activities in the greater Cleveland area.  This list is just the start of all the area has to offer; please share via Facebook or email if you find others that provide you and your family some fun adventures and treasured memories.

  • November 25th & December 2 – Soothing Santa at Great Northern Mall. 
  • November 28: Sensory Friendly “Carol”  – A very special event for children/adults on the autism spectrum and their families. More information at https://www.greatlakestheater.org/event/sensory
  • December 1: The Nutcracker Ballet – Sensory Friendly Performance. More information at http://www.northpointeballet.org
  • December 1: Christmas Party for Individuals with Special Needs and Their Families. More information at 
  • December 1 – 16: Santa at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Accessibility requests can be made in advance.  
  • December 2:  Sensitive Santa at Great Lakes Mall.
  • December 2: Soothing Santa Photos at South Park Mall. 
  • November 17 – December 28: Toy Train Town & Gingerbread Village at Crocker Park.
  • The Children Museum of Cleveland has sensory friendly rooms and resources.  
  • December 7: Near West Theatre’s Sensory Friendly Performance Beauty and the Beast.
  • December 9: Adapted Story Time: For You and Your 3 to 7 Year Old Child – Lakewood Public Library.  
  • December 13: Sensation Stations – Westlake Porter Library. 

Remember most city centers (especially downtown Cleveland at Public Square have lovely light displays as well as many neighborhoods.  

 Share adventures and build memories!

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC

Holiday Prep – Make the Holidays Memoriable – Part I

AAC and Communication Tips for a wonderful Thanksviging

Preparing Loved Ones for the Holidays is the Best Gift of all!

The weather reminds us the season of Holidays is at hand. Cooler days and nights, leaves and snowflakes falling.

While your are prepping your house for the Holidays, don’t forget to prep your friends and family as well. Earlier this year, we suggested ideas for making your loved one’s time celebrating the 4th of July more enjoyable. Now is the perfect time to begin preparing for you and your family to create an environment during these Holidays that supports your loved one as much as possible.

Location of celebration.

While your family may have always celebrated the Holidays at Aunt Millie’s house, is it really the best place? Does Aunt Millie’s house have enough room so your loved one can comfortably participate in the festivities? Does Aunt Millie’s house have a place where your loved one might be able to ‘escape’ the whirl of activity? You may need to suggest a different venue for the Holiday celebration, a venue that better supports your loved one. If a venue change is not possible, you may need to suggest or abridge the time you spend at Aunt Millie’s to a time frame that better supports your loved one.

Time of celebrate.

Is there a law stating all Holidays must be celebrated at dinner time? This year you may need to suggest a different time of day to celebrate the Holidays, a time of day when your loved one is at her/his best. Holiday brunch? Holiday lunch? Holiday snack time? You know your loved better than anyone. When she/he is at their best, YOU are able to relax and enjoy the festivities as well.

Timing of events.

Is the best part of the celebration held for later in the day or evening? Can the highlight of the day be the first thing that happens? Relieving the anticipation of the highlight will decrease unexpected behaviors, which better supports your loved one.

This is not a finite list of considerations.  These are examples to get you thinking of the best plan for you and your family. These are examples to begin your prepping for the Holidays to best support your loved one so ultimately everyone can enjoy being together for the Holidays.

 

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.