Speech Therapy Exercises Parents Can Do at Home to Support Their Child’s Development
We understand that parents play a powerful role in nurturing their child’s communication journey. While structured sessions with a qualified therapist are essential, the moments that happen at home — during play, mealtimes, and even bath time — are just as impactful. That’s why our team, made up of highly experienced, AHPC-registered speech-language therapists, works closely with families to ensure they feel empowered to carry therapy into their daily routines.
Our commitment to individualised treatment plans means that each child’s therapy is tailored not just to their communication needs, but also to their interests and personality. By offering flexible settings — including home-based sessions, centre visits, school support, and teletherapy — we ensure every child thrives where they feel most confident. Most importantly, our holistic approach places parents and caregivers at the heart of the process, making them collaborators, not bystanders.
Understanding Speech Therapy Exercises for At-Home Practice
Speech therapy exercises refer to intentional, play-based activities that help children improve their speech clarity, language comprehension, and ability to express themselves. These exercises are carefully designed to align with the goals set out in therapy sessions.
Doing these at home isn’t about replacing your therapist. It’s about reinforcing what your child is learning in a warm, familiar setting. Whether your child is experiencing speech delay, difficulty with certain sounds, or challenges with expressive language, regular home practice can help speed up progress and boost confidence.
You might be wondering:
“How do I do speech therapy with my child at home if I’m not a therapist?”
The answer is: You don’t need to be perfect. You only need to be present. That’s where we come in — to guide you every step of the way.
When and Why to Practise Speech Therapy at Home
Knowing when to practise is just as important as knowing what to practise. Some common signs that indicate a need for extra home support include:
Limited vocabulary for age
Difficulty producing certain sounds (e.g., /r/, /s/, /th/)
Trouble following instructions
Frustration when trying to express needs
Parents often ask:
“Should I do speech therapy at home with my toddler even if we’re already seeing a therapist?”
Absolutely. Short, frequent practice sessions at home (5 to 10 minutes a few times a day) can complement in-clinic work and improve carryover skills. Plus, when communication happens naturally — during play, meals, or routines — your child is more likely to stay engaged and relaxed.
Daily Speech Therapy Exercises Using Common Household Activities
Incorporating speech and language exercises into your family’s daily routines doesn’t need to be complicated. Below are simple but powerful ways to boost your child’s communication at home.
Talk During Mealtimes
Use mealtimes to label items (“spoon”, “rice”, “cup”), describe textures (“crunchy”, “sweet”, “soft”), and offer choices (“Do you want apple or banana?”).
This encourages:
Vocabulary expansion
Decision-making
Sentence formation
Name Objects Around the House
Turn a walk around your home into a language treasure hunt. Ask your child to find and name:
Clothing items
Toys
Kitchen utensils
You can also give clues and describe the function of the item to build understanding.
Narrate Daily Routines
Bath time, getting dressed, brushing teeth — these are ideal for modelling language. Use action words:
“Wash your hands.”
“Dry your hair.”
“Put on your socks.”
Even if your child doesn’t speak yet, they are absorbing structure and vocabulary.
Use Mirror Play for Articulation
Sit with your child in front of a mirror and practise simple sounds like:
/b/ (as in “ball”)
/p/ (as in “pop”)
/m/ (as in “mama”)
Children can see how your lips and tongue move, which helps them imitate more accurately.
Fun and Effective Speech Therapy Games for Toddlers
Here are some speech therapy exercises you can play with your child using things already at home:
| Game | Speech Skill | How to Play |
|---|---|---|
| I Spy | Vocabulary, descriptive language | Say “I spy something red…” and let your child guess |
| Simon Says | Following instructions, verbs | Add actions: “Simon says jump!” |
| Sound Bingo | Phonemic awareness | Match sounds (e.g., animal noises) to pictures |
You can also create your own flashcards or print online templates to make the games even more fun.
Encouraging Two-Way Communication with Your Child
Many parents ask:
“How can I help my child talk more at home?”
Here are a few therapist-approved strategies:
Pause and wait: After asking a question, count silently to 5 to give your child time to respond. This technique encourages speech therapy exercises by giving your child space to form their response.
Expand and repeat: If your child says “car,” you might say, “Yes, the red car is fast!” This not only models the correct language but also reinforces speech therapy exercises focused on sentence structure.
Use parallel talk: Describe what your child is doing: “You’re building a big tower!” This encourages language development by modelling relevant vocabulary.
Use self-talk: Describe what you’re doing: “I’m pouring the juice into the cup.” This helps with vocabulary acquisition and reinforces speech therapy exercises at home.
These small changes can greatly encourage conversational turns and help with sentence structure.
Visual and Sensory Tools That Support Language Development
Children learn best when multiple senses are engaged. Try these tools:
Picture Cards and Storybooks
Use books with repeated phrases (e.g., “Dear Zoo,” “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”)
Point and name objects on each page
Encourage your child to finish familiar lines or make sounds
Sensory Play
Use textured toys, sand, slime, or water
Describe how things feel (“cold”, “slippery”, “rough”)
Build vocabulary through sensory-rich play
This supports both descriptive language and engagement, especially for sensory-seeking learners.
Songs and Rhymes: Building Language Through Music
Music is more than just fun — it's a powerful speech therapy exercise that supports your child’s communication development in meaningful ways. Singing songs and reciting rhymes help children grasp the rhythm and flow of language, making it easier to understand sentence structure, improve memory, and build sequencing skills.
Repetition is key in both speech and language therapy, and music naturally encourages it. As children hear the same lines again and again, they begin to predict what comes next — a critical skill in conversation and storytelling. Singing also slows down the pace of language, allowing children with speech delays to catch sounds, syllables, and patterns more easily.
Some classic songs that work beautifully for language enrichment include:
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” – Supports pitch variation, simple sentence structure, and vocabulary.
“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” – Reinforces animal names and associated sounds (great for phonemic awareness).
“If You’re Happy and You Know It” – Encourages expressive language, emotions, and following multi-step directions.
To make these speech therapy activities even more effective:
Add gestures, claps, or simple dance moves
Emphasise action words like “clap”, “stomp”, “spin”
Pause before key words to let your child fill in the blanks (“If you’re happy and you ____ it...”)
Use props or visual aids (e.g., toy animals for Old MacDonald)
These strategies increase your child’s engagement while reinforcing both expressive and receptive language skills. And because the experience feels like play, your child is more likely to participate willingly — an essential element in successful speech delay therapy.
At Wonder Words, therapists often incorporate music into both structured and informal speech and language therapy sessions, knowing how valuable it is for children across developmental stages.
Tracking Progress and Knowing When to Seek Extra Help
Speech therapy is not a quick fix — it’s a journey. But with the right support and clear benchmarks, parents can feel confident that progress is happening. That’s why it’s important to regularly monitor how your child is responding to both professional speech and language therapy and your at-home speech therapy exercises.
One of the most effective tools you can use is a home communication log. This doesn’t need to be complicated — even a simple notebook or phone note can help. Try to jot down observations like:
New words your child attempts or masters
(e.g., “Said ‘banana’ clearly today during breakfast.”)Improvements in pronunciation or sound clarity
(e.g., “Now says ‘cat’ instead of ‘tat’.”)Ability to follow multi-step directions
(e.g., “Picked up shoes and put them by the door when asked.”)Increased confidence in speaking
(e.g., “Started greeting others without prompting.”)
These notes are incredibly useful when communicating with your therapist. They give a fuller picture of your child’s growth in natural settings, beyond the clinic.
It’s also crucial to know when to reach out for extra guidance. While every child progresses at their own pace, you should contact your therapist if you notice any of the following:
Regression in skills — your child was using words or sounds previously but suddenly stops
Frequent frustration or withdrawal during attempts to speak or interact
Lack of improvement after several weeks of consistent speech therapy exercises at home
Remember, early action makes a difference. If you’re unsure whether what you’re observing is part of typical variation or a red flag, don’t hesitate to ask. Therapists at Wonder Words are here to listen, evaluate, and adapt.
When you partner with our team, you’re not navigating progress alone. Our therapists will review your notes, assess developmental milestones, and adjust the individualised treatment plan if needed. Whether that means shifting focus in therapy sessions, integrating more play-based activities, or adjusting goals, every recommendation is rooted in evidence and compassion.
Progress in speech delay therapy doesn’t always follow a straight line. There will be peaks and plateaus — and that’s okay. What matters most is that your child feels supported, and that you're empowered to take small, consistent steps alongside a team who understands your child’s unique path.
Tips for Staying Motivated as a Parent-Caregiver
Let’s be honest — carrying out speech and language therapy exercises at home isn’t always easy. Between juggling work, school routines, and family life, it can be hard to find the energy or headspace to practise articulation drills, word games, or language prompts. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, uncertain, or exhausted, please know this: you are not alone, and those feelings are completely valid.
Consistency, not perfection, is what truly matters in your child’s communication journey. Every time you pause to sing a nursery rhyme, narrate a daily routine, or wait patiently for your child to form a sentence, you are building the foundations of stronger communication — even when it doesn’t feel like much at the moment.
Here are some gentle, realistic strategies to help you stay motivated and feel supported:
Celebrate small wins: These moments are golden. The first time your child clearly says a new word, correctly uses a pronoun, or tries a new sound — no matter how small — is a victory worth celebrating. A smile, a cheer, or even a dance party can turn practice into joy.
Use positive reinforcement tools: Sticker charts, token boards, and reward jars are effective ways to motivate younger children. You could offer a high-five, a favourite book at bedtime, or a few extra minutes of play as a reward for engaging in speech and language therapy exercises.
Create a calm, no-pressure environment: Short, frequent activities work best. You don’t need to schedule long practice blocks — a few focused minutes during snack time or while getting ready for bed can be just as impactful.
Reach out when you feel unsure: You’re not expected to have all the answers. If you ever feel stuck or discouraged, connect with your speech and language therapist. At Wonder Words, our team welcomes your concerns and will happily offer ideas, reassurance, or adjustments to your home programme.
Remind yourself why you started: It’s easy to lose sight of progress when you’re in the thick of daily life. Keep a note of the changes you’ve seen in your child over time — a log of first words, clearer sounds, or growing confidence. These serve as powerful reminders of how far you’ve both come.
Be kind to yourself: Life is unpredictable, and some days will be harder than others. If you miss a day of practice, that’s okay. What matters most is showing up again when you can — because even small, repeated efforts add up over time.
Surround yourself with encouragement: Connect with other parents navigating speech and language therapy for their toddlers. Whether through online forums, local support groups, or even friendly conversations at the playground, knowing you’re not alone makes a big difference.
Support Your Child’s Communication Journey with Wonder Words Today
At Wonder Words, speech and language therapy doesn’t end in the clinic — it continues with you, at home. Our experienced AHPC-registered therapists create personalised plans, collaborate with parents, and offer flexible settings tailored to your child’s needs.
Take the first step towards confident communication. Book a consultationwith Wonder Words today.
