Introduction

Speech therapy isn’t just limited to the clinic. In fact, some of the best results come when therapy continues at home, too — especially for children.

Whether you’ve already started sessions with a speech-language pathologist or are just looking for ways to get started, there are a few simple speech-related activities you can try at home to support communication development.

These are not a replacement for professional therapy — but they work beautifully as support exercises that can speed up progress.

1. Blowing Activities (For Oral Motor Strengthening)

   
   Blowing bubbles, candles, paper balls, or even using a straw to blow cotton balls across a table — these games help strengthen lip, cheek, and breath control.
   
   Pro tip: Try blowing bubbles and popping only the ones that match a colour, shape, or number — to build both articulation and comprehension.
   
   

2. Mirror Work (For Pronunciation and Lip Movements)

   
   Let your child (or yourself) practice specific sounds or words in front of a mirror. This gives visual feedback and helps correct tongue and lip placement for tricky sounds like /s/, /sh/, /l/, /r/, etc.
   
   Say the sound slowly and clearly — then ask the child to repeat it while watching their mouth.
   
   

3. Repetition Drills with Picture Cards

   
   Simple cards with pictures (cat, sun, ball, etc.) can be used to practice target words. Say the word, ask them to repeat, and give feedback gently. Keep it playful — you can even create a small reward system.
   
   For kids with delayed speech, repetition builds confidence and helps connect sounds to objects more easily.
   
   

4. Sound Sorting (For Clarity and Sound Awareness)

   
   Gather 5–10 items or pictures starting with different sounds — for example:
   “S” items – sun, soap, spoon
   “B” items – ball, bat, banana
   Ask your child to sort them into sound groups. This builds sound discrimination and helps them become aware of how sounds differ.
   
   
   

5. Reading Aloud Together (For Fluency and Vocabulary)

   
   Choose short storybooks with pictures and simple text. Read aloud slowly, and let your child repeat phrases or finish the sentence.
   
   This supports fluency, comprehension, and also word recall.
   
   For adults recovering from stroke or working on fluency issues, reading out loud helps regain rhythm and word flow — especially when combined with breathing exercises.
   
   

6. Turn-Taking Games (To Build Communication Skills)

   
   Any game that involves back-and-forth — like passing a ball, role-playing, or even simple board games — can help improve conversation skills, especially in children with autism or social communication issues.
   
   Use short phrases like “My turn,” “Your turn,” “Go,” and encourage eye contact and gesture use.
   
   
   

7. Story Telling from Pictures (For Sentence Formation and Confidence)

   
   Show your child a picture (like a dog chasing a ball), and ask them to describe what’s happening.
   
   Start with helping them say single words — then expand into full sentences.
   
   For example:
   Child says: “Dog”
   You say: “Yes! The dog is running.”
   Then ask: “What is the dog running after?” (Let them try “ball” or “toy”)

Important ReminderThese activities are not a replacement for therapy, but can greatly support the work your speech therapist is doing.
At our clinics, we often guide parents on how to continue therapy goals at home — and these types of exercises make a real difference.

Conclusion

Speech therapy works best as a team effort — between therapist, family, and the person undergoing therapy.

With a few fun, daily exercises, you can build consistency, confidence, and faster results.

If you're unsure which exercises are suitable, your speech therapist can always customise a plan that fits your (or your child's) specific needs.