Indoor Play Activities | Speech Therapy for Autistic Children in NYC

Indoor Play That Builds Communication for Autistic Children: A NYC Speech Therapist’s Suggestions & Recommendations for Rainy Day Play

The month of April can often be filled with frequent rainy and chilly days.

All this wet weather will slowly make way for all the spring flowers and trees to blossom in Central Park. The city is readying itself for a full spring bloom.

During this time of year, your little ones may be wishing for warmer days, and you may be stuck wondering, “How on earth will I occupy them?”

Don’t fret. This blog is jam-packed with ideas that we use in speech therapy for autistic children in NYC. These activities are designed to help brighten those rainy days!

Board Games to Boost Communication Skills

Here is a list of some of my favorite classic board games to encourage communication, collaboration, and engagement:

Candy Land – targets following directions, counting, and colors
Guess Who – works on asking and answering questions
Operation – develops reading fluency, following directions, counting money, and fine motor skills
Don’t Wake the Daddy – targets building vocabulary and sound identification
Checkers – targets critical thinking, reasoning, flexibility
Twister – targets left and right, colors, and body parts
Hoot Owl Hoot – encourages cooperation and patience
Apples to Apples – targets vocabulary building, reasoning, and categorization
Connect Four – targets visual processing, turn-taking, and critical thinking skills
Scrabble – develops spelling skills, visual spatial awareness and turn-taking skills

All these classic games encourage foundational language skills. These skills include following directions, asking questions, using collaboration, flexibility, critical thinking, and vocabulary building skills. Pretty cool, right?

So grab a board game and have some fun with your little ones. The next time you look out the window and it’s raining!

Encourage Creativity & Imagination Through Dramatic Play

Rainy days are also a great time to explore your child’s creativity and imagination through dramatic play and games.

Here are some fun drama games to keep your child talking, laughing, and exploring!

Tongue Twisters: Try saying silly tongue twisters together like: Sally Sold Sea Shells by the Sea Shore. Bonus points for acting out the tongue twister.
Telephone: Whisper a message and see if your child can repeat it back to you, and then give your child a turn to report a secret message to you.
Pass the Sound: Invite your child to make up and pass along a silly sound. Practice taking turns imitating the silly sounds you create together.
Freeze Frame: Practice holding a visual frame (picking flowers).
Alien, Tiger, Cow: On the count of three, choose one creature to act out and embody.
Charades: Act out a target vocabulary word that the other players have to guess.

Stories & Fairy Tales Recommended by a NYC Speech Therapist

Lastly, rainy days are a perfect time to explore your favorite classical fairy tales!

Here are some of my most beloved classical stories to read with your children on those chilly spring days!

The Tale of Peter Rabbit – By Beatrix Potter. This story is about a mischievous rabbit who does not listen to his mother and gets into all sorts of trouble in his neighbor’s garden. This story explores the importance of listening to guidance and mindfulness.

The Trumpet of the Swan – By E.B. White. This book tells the story of Louis, a swan born without a voice. He learns to overcome this challenge by learning to play a trumpet. This book explores themes about creativity and building confidence.

The Little Red Hen – By Paul Galdone. This classic tale brings to life a hardworking hen and her lazy housemates, who include a cat, dog, and mouse. A valuable lesson is learned about determination, perseverance, and the importance of sharing and cooperation.

As you explore this classical literature with your child, invite them to explore the story further by:

Acting out the story
Becoming one of the characters in the book
Interview your child as the character. Ask them how they feel?

Combining literature, drama, and creative play is a wonderful way to ignite a love for reading, learning, and expression.

Ready to Learn More About Speech Therapy for Autistic Children in NYC?

Do you need support to help your child’s communication skills and creativity grow?

Chatty Child is here and ready to help your child and family blossom this Spring!

I invite you to consider exploring help today. Your child does not have to struggle to communicate anymore!

We can help your child become a calm and confident communicator!

Are you looking for personalized care from a team that has navigated your path?

Our experienced speech therapist and occupational therapists can assess your child’s therapeutic needs. This is while providing the personalized and tailored support that your child needs to grow and thrive!

Chatty Child is a personalized, boutique, neurodivergent-affirming speech, language, feeding, and occupational therapy clinic.

We are here to support all your child’s speech, language, learning, feeding, and occupational therapy needs.

I invite you to schedule a tour to discover the support waiting for your child at Chatty Child.

We are here to help and support your child through speech therapy for autistic children in NYC!

Let’s create excellent communicators, confident voices, calm minds, and limitless possibilities – together!

Sincerely,

Heather Lynn Boerner, MA CCC/SLP

Support Communication Growth Through Speech Therapy for Autistic Children in NYC

At Chatty Child, we support autistic children through sensory-informed, play-based strategies that build communication, regulation, and connection, especially during indoor or rainy-day routines.

Our approach to speech therapy for autistic children in NYC focuses on how communication develops through play, shared attention, and meaningful interaction, not just structured drills. We look at how each child engages, processes sensory input, and connects during everyday indoor activities.

Here’s how to begin:

Call 347.491.4451 or reach out online for a free 15-minute conversation.
Complete a comprehensive evaluation with our NYC speech therapist team.
Begin individualized speech therapy focused on communication and regulation.
Learn simple indoor play strategies to support language, turn-taking, and connection at home.

With support from our NYC speech therapists, children build communication skills through play, while caregivers gain practical tools for everyday routines.

Where Communication, Learning, and Regulation Come Together

At Chatty Child, we take a whole-child approach, supporting development across communication, learning, emotional regulation, and daily functioning. We understand that speech, behavior, relationships, and confidence are interconnected and evolve together across home, school, and community settings.

Our services include:

Speech Therapy – Personalized, play-based support focused on language development, speech clarity, social communication, and confidence in everyday interactions.
InterAct – A storytelling and play-based program that builds language, imagination, and connection through shared narrative experiences.
Occupational Therapy – Support for sensory integration, motor skills, and independence in routines like self-care and daily activities.
Hum Studios – Mindfulness- and compassion-based classes that support emotional awareness, regulation, and accessibility for children of all ages.
Teletherapy – Convenient virtual speech and occupational therapy services available across New York State.
Tutoring – Individualized academic support in reading, writing, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.
Functional Nutrition – Guidance that supports regulation, attention, and overall developmental well-being through nutrition-informed strategies.
Consulting – Collaborative support for parents, caregivers, and educators to strengthen carryover across home, school, and community environments.
Group Programs – Small-group sessions that build communication, cooperation, and social-emotional skills through guided peer interaction.

About Heather: Speech Therapist for Autistic Children in NYC

Heather Boerner, MA, CCC-SLP, is a New York–licensed and nationally certified speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of experience in pediatric communication support. Her work blends clinical expertise with mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and a neurodivergent-informed perspective.

She is the founder of Chatty Child Speech, Occupational & Physical Therapy, PLLC, offering individualized services that support children’s communication, confidence, and daily functioning. Heather is also the author of Carrie the Colorful Chameleon, a children’s book about self-expression.

She provides in-person sessions in Tribeca and virtual therapy across New York State, helping children build practical communication skills and confidence.