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Written by: SpeechTree
5/14/2010 8:21 AM 

 The warm weather is here! Make therapy fun and “think outside the house or classroom”.   Kids love to explore and what’s more exciting than the outside world?  As therapists we have “carryover” instilled in our minds. Outside and community based activities are natural ways to facilitate speech and language, incorporate movement and sensory experiences and overall cognitive, cultural and social development.

Top 10 list of “think outside the house/classroom”

1. Backyard fun

   1. Sandbox, grass, water table
   2. Bubbles
   3. Easter Egg hunt with articulation pictures
   4. Swing, slide, playset, trampoline
   5. Scavenger hunt
   6. Bug hunt (different types of plastic insects and sort them)
   7. Gross motor activities
   8. Teaching simple games

2. A trip to the local park

   1. Engage your child with another child
   2. Choice making and vocabulary building
   3. Safety awareness and boundaries
   4. Turn-taking, waiting your turn in simple games/play
   5. Gross moror activities

3. Zoo trip

   1. Naming animals, animal sounds, word finding, categorization
   2. Socialization with peers
   3. Colors, naming and matching
   4. Initiaion of conversation, development of "wh" questions; asking and answering

4. McDonald's/Burger King Playland

   1. Giving food and drink choices
   2. Table manners
   3. Vocal intensity
   4. Delayed gratification (e.g. you have to finish eating before you can go play)
   5. Socialization
   6. Gross motor activities

5. Have a picnic

   1. Imitation of new words
   2. Choice making
   3. Categorization
   4. Food play and sensory experiences
   5. Gross motor activities

6. Attend a park district class with the child/family

   1. Facilitate conversation with a peer
   2. Ask open ended questions
   3. Encourage child to follow verbal directions
   4. Incorporate fine motor activities with language based experiences
   5. Gross motor movement and coordination

7. Participate with kids at School Field Day

   1. Recall of activities
   2. Fine and gross motor experiences
   3. Team building and turn-taking opportunities
   4. Promoting positive behavior
   5. Following along with the group
   6. Labeling, asking and answering questions

8. Visit a museum or children’s activity center

   1. Gross and fine motor activities
   2. Opportunities for new vocabulary
   3. Incorporating school curriculum activities
   4. Hands-on exploration
   5. Encouraging following directions, facility rules, boundaries, safety awareness

9. Collaborate with Daycare Providers

   1. Work with teachers to carry out goals
   2. Provide examples on ways to implement strategies
   3. Teach a lesson to the class
   4. Provide handouts
   5. Encourage group participation

10. Organize a play group by going to a community based facility

    1. Parent education, collaboration and support
    2. Promoting socialization among peers
    3. Turn-taking in simple gamesuilding confidence
    4. Allowing for good peer models
    5. Encouraging positive separation from parents

 What are your favorite "think outside the house/classroom" things to do?

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