Here are some speech, language and OT activities for the summer season…
SUMMER SPEECH ACTIVITIES
Summertime is a great opportunity to explore different textures with your child. Set up a sensory bowl with different materials like sand, water, and rice. Then place different seasonal items like toy boats, ducks, frogs and fish. Practice labeling the different items as you take them in and out of bowl. Introduce the concepts in and out, rough, smooth, wet and dry.
Collect seashells and/or rocks. Have your child place the items he or she is collecting on the beach into a colored bucket.
At the end of the day have your child remove each rock and shell from his or her bucket. As each item is removed from the bucket have them describe how the items feels. For example, this rock is hard, this rock is smooth, this shell is pointy or sharp.
Have them describe each item they take out, and at the end of the activity have your child pick their three favorite items.
You can also have your child make a picture out of rocks and seashells by pasting the collection onto poster-board.
Fishing Activity
Place different ocean-based animal toys in the bath water. Then, have your child scoop the animals out of the water with a shovel, naming each animal.
Sink or Float Activity
Place objects with difference weights into the water. Have your child guess if the object is going to sink or float. For older children, have them explain why an object might float or sink.
HAVE FUN COLLECTING!
OT SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Go Bananas!
Pretend you child is a Monkey and he needs to hang on the “trees” to get his bananas. Using playground equipment, railing or fence, find a safe place for your child to hang from. Be ready to catch your child if he falls and make him feel safe while hanging. With arms straight, as he holds on tight, count out loud how many Bananas he earns as he hangs. To make it more challenging, have your child lift his knees up.
Chalk It UP!
Side walk chalk is always fun but why not add an educational piece to it?
Water, Water, Water!
Summer time is the best time to get wet and play in the water. Here are a few different things to do with water that will challenge your child’s strength, coordination and skills. These activities can be done outside, in the bath or at a table.