Helping Kids Stay Engaged Indoors: Playful Speech Therapy Activities in NYC for Winter
I know. Winter can just drag on forever.
It often feels like the season that never ends.
Kids are bubbling with energy, and it’s so cold outside – often nowhere to go.
What can parents do to help their children stay engaged and spend quality time this winter season?
Here is a fun and engaging indoor game we use in speech therapy in NYC to keep all your little ones moving, grooving, and communicating all winter long!
As a speech therapist in NYC, one of my favorite movement games to play at my clinic during this cold winter season is called “Animals Walk and Talk!”
Speech Activity for Kids: Animals Walk and Talk
I ask the child what type of animal or creature they would like to talk about, and then embody and pretend to be.
We explore the attributes of the chosen animal:
- What’s its name?
- Where does it live?
- What does it like to eat?
- And what makes it special?
- How does it move?
- What sounds does it make?
- Who are their friends?
Next, in speech therapy sessions, we creatively act out the animal walk or movement together.
At home, each child is encouraged to enact their own personal interpretation of the animal walk or movement.
You may also encourage your child or student to draw a picture of their chosen animal. Or create a special collage from different colored prints.
As an extension activity, you can gently help your child research pictures. You can also help them find videos and facts about their chosen animal.
Bonus points: they can present their findings to the whole family or class. They can do this while performing their own unique chosen movements and sounds!
I hope you have so much fun exploring activities like the “Animals Walk and Talk” game this winter season!
Until next time!
Sincerely,
Heather Lynn Boerner, MA CCC/SLP at Chatty Child
Keep Learning Playful, Even in Winter: Speech Therapy Activities in NYC
Cold weather often means more time indoors. For many children, that shift can bring restlessness, communication challenges, or emotional overload. At Chatty Child, we offer speech therapy activities in NYC that are designed to keep kids engaged, regulated, and connected during the winter months.
Our approach centers on play, movement, and child-led exploration. Instead of rigid drills, our therapists use cozy, creative, and sensory-aware indoor activities that support language development. We do this while honoring how each child naturally communicates and engages.
Here’s how families can get started with speech therapy support:
- Schedule a complimentary 15-minute call to talk through your child’s communication goals, attention needs, and how indoor speech therapy activities can support them during colder months.
- Book a personalized evaluation to better understand your child’s strengths, interests, and how they respond to play-based learning indoors.
- Begin individualized sessions that incorporate engaging winter-themed speech therapy activities, movement breaks, and sensory-friendly strategies tailored to your child.
- See confidence grow as your child builds communication skills, stays engaged during indoor routines, and feels supported in expressing themselves year-round.
Winter doesn’t have to slow your child’s progress. With thoughtfully designed speech therapy activities in NYC, your child can continue developing communication skills in ways that feel playful, affirming, and developmentally supportive, even on the coldest days.
Integrated Speech and Developmental Support for Children in NYC
At Chatty Child, we support children as they grow into confident communicators who can connect, learn, and navigate daily life with greater ease. Our speech therapy services take a whole-child approach, recognizing that communication development is deeply connected to emotional regulation, social experiences, and learning readiness.
We partner closely with families to design personalized care plans that nurture self-expression and developmental progress at home, in school, and throughout the community.
Our offerings include:
- Speech Therapy – Individualized, play-based support to strengthen expressive and receptive language, articulation, social communication, and confidence across everyday settings.
- InterAct – A creative, play-based storytelling program that encourages language development, social engagement, and confidence through imagination and shared interaction.
- Occupational Therapy – Services focused on sensory processing, fine motor development, and building independence in everyday activities.
- Hum Studios – Interactive, accessible meditation, mindfulness, and compassion-based classes designed for all ages and abilities.
- Teletherapy – Convenient virtual speech and occupational therapy services available to families throughout New York State.
- Tutoring – One-on-one academic support designed to strengthen literacy skills, written expression, and critical thinking.
- Functional Nutrition – Thoughtful nutrition support to help promote focus, regulation, and overall developmental wellness.
- Consulting – Collaborative guidance for parents, caregivers, and educators to support children across environments.
- Group Programs – Small-group opportunities that foster communication skills, cooperation, and social-emotional learning.
By combining evidence-informed practices with individualized, creative care, Chatty Child helps children develop their voices and move forward with confidence.
Meet Heather, Speech Therapist & Founder of Chatty Child
Heather Lynn Boerner, MA, CCC-SLP, is a New York–licensed, nationally certified speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of experience providing pediatric speech therapy in NYC. Her work is informed by mindfulness practices, trauma-aware care, and her lived experience as a neurodivergent, differently-abled individual.
Driven by both personal and professional experience, Heather founded Chatty Child Speech, Occupational & Physical Therapy, PLLC, an inclusive practice focused on creative, individualized support. She is also the author of Carrie the Colorful Chameleon, a children’s book that encourages confidence, curiosity, and connection.
Heather and her team offer in-person services at the Tribeca clinic and virtual therapy across New York State, helping children build communication skills and express themselves with confidence.
