As school is beginning and life starts becoming more hectic, August is the perfect month to remember the importance of the family’s role in your child’s development. Family time isn’t just about making memories, it strengthens bonds, builds confidence, and helps children develop important life skills! For kids in speech, occupational, or physical therapy, these fun family moments can also be great practice for therapy goals. Family activities don’t need to be fancy or expensive, it is about having fun and showing up for your children.
Here are some fun activities for the family that also target different therapy goals:
Speech Therapy:
- Color Walk: While at a park or around your neighborhood, either pick one color and collect everything you see of that color, or try and find one item representing each color of the rainbow on your walk. Then describe the objects using all five senses.
- I Spy: Choose a category (colors, shapes, things that start with B, etc.) and take turns spotting items and saying the word or describing them
- Story Builder: Create a silly story with each family member adding a sentence one at a time. The sillier the better!
Occupational Therapy:
- Bake A Dessert: While baking, have your child be in charge of mixing all the ingredients together, kneading dough, or pouring the batter
- Make A Paper Craft: Find a craft with pieces of all sizes and have your child practice using scissors and gluing materials together
- Make A Friendship Bracelet: Provide your child with string and beads and see what beautiful creations they can make
Physical Therapy:
- Create an Obstacle Course: Include elements of balance, coordination, and movement
- Animal Races: Race your child while acting like a variety of animals (walk like a crab, hop like a bunny, waddle like a duck, slither like a snake, etc.)
- Balloon Volleyball: Don’t let the balloon hit the floor! Make it extra challenging by adding additional rules such as balancing on one foot or only using your non-dominant hand.
If you need more examples of activities you can do with your child, do not hesitate to contact our office at (630) 347-1702.
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