Toddler Speech Therapy Games

The first function of speech therapy for toddlers is to find the cause and develop treatment for speech deficiencies and impediments to speech development. Problems with toddlers' speech often involve their fluency and volume. The earlier a speech problem is identified, the more effective speech therapy can be as treatment.

  1. Picture Flash Cards

    • After a speech therapist has been consulted and problem sounds identified, the therapist will often recommend that the parents play speech games with their child at home for a few minutes each day. For toddlers who do not yet read, picture flash cards work well. It is not necessary to buy flash cards. Parents can make their own by drawing a pictures of familiar objects or by printing cards from free online sources. The names of the objects in the pictures should contain the sounds that the toddler is experiencing difficulty pronouncing. The parent and toddler can then play a game where the toddler identifies the object by calling its name. The game should be fun and helpful for parents as well as children.

    Choices Game

    • Gather a number of your child's toys, and put them in a box or a basket. Find a comfortable place to sit. Take out two toys, and ask your child to choose which toy he would like, encouraging the child to say the name of the toy. Offer choices like, "Do you want a truck or a bear?" The child may reach for the toy without verbalizing which one he wants. Gently withhold the toys and ask again, "Do you want a truck or a bear?" Don't withhold the toy so that the child becomes upset or starts to cry, but rather encourage the child to tell you which toy he wants. Another way to play the game is to ask the child which toy he would like to have before bringing the toy out of the box.

    What Sound?

    • This game is simple to play with stuffed animals, a See and Say animal game, or pictures the child can color. Select a number of toy animals that the child is familiar with, and ask her "What sounds does the ___ make?" If a child is having problems pronouncing certain sounds, choose animals that require her to mimic those sounds. Don't forget to praise the child for her efforts, even if she doesn't say the sound correctly.

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