How do we fit homework into our already full schedules – Part 1 Homework on the Go

Where did summer go? Wasn’t it just June? How is it time for school to start up again? Are you ready?? With the school year quickly approaching, our schedules are about to ramp up! With that comes the school pick-ups and drop-offs, soccer practice, hockey games, dance class, homework, cooking dinner, school night bedtime routines, and so much more. How are we supposed to fit in our speech homework on top of all the crazy? Over the next few weeks I will share some tips about how you can fit in your speech practice during activities you are already doing, because you are so right sometimes it does not feel like there is even a second left in the day. Hopefully, some of these tips will help you see that even just subtle shifts in our activities can open a whole new world of practice for our kids!

First, we are going to discuss activities that you can complete in the car. We spend a lot of time in our cars and sometimes even have downtime in them (think pick-up lines or the 5 minutes before piano lessons start). Below I have some activity options separated by goal targets. Not all options will apply to your kiddo so choose the one that fits best. If you don’t see something that looks like a good match for your child, reach out and we can help you brainstorm new ideas! (Disclaimer: No distracted driving! Try these when your car is stationary not on the busy freeway!).

• Is your child working on describing items or answering questions?
  • Play I-Spy! This classic game cannot only be used to pass time but also can help work on some language targets. You can modify the rules to better fit your child’s skills. For example, if they are working on describing things have them list out the characteristics: “I see something big! It is brown and green. There are leaves on it!” If your child struggles when answering questions make it more of a quiz game: “See if you can read my mind! What is something that is very big and has lots of wheels?” “Where are we going that has a red and white sign shaped like a circle?”
• Is your child working to increase the number of words they are saying?
  • You see so many different places, people, and things while in the car. These are great language-growing opportunities. Use the time to talk to your child about the things that you are seeing. Keep the phrases short a sweet! For example, “It’s sunny out,” “A big truck!” “Bye car,” “A puppy!”
  • Music is also a great car activity. Crank up those  nursery rhymes or Disney hits and sing along! Don’t be shy, I am sure your child loves your singing voice and is happy to hear it! If it is a song they really know, try to pause the music every now and then and see if they will fill in the blank.
• Is your child working on specific sounds or groups of sounds (think S, L, R, S-blends, etc)?
  • Good old-fashioned flashcards! Some of my students who do not like to work on their target words at home love to do them when they are offered in the car! Give your child cards to flip through and listen as they read them to you!

As your speech pathologist, I really want you to do your weekly homework, but I understand that life gets busy. I know it can be a sacrifice to fit it in but carryover at home is the fastest route to progress. Homework doesn’t have to be boring or burdensome or even done at home! Hopefully, these tips and the upcoming blog posts help you see that you can target those speech and language goals during activities you are already doing!

-Hannah-