How to Start Speech Therapy at Home

Children with speech problems require a considerable amount of special attention. While they are usually blessed with individualized attention at school, it's often difficult to keep up with speech therapy programs in the home, especially when there is no speech therapist available. You can start your own in-home speech therapy program by following these steps.

Things You'll Need

• Your child's IEP report
• Speech therapy textbook
• Professional language tools, such as books and games

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Instructions

• 1

  Find a textbook that talks about speech therapy. As a parent, you'll want to have access to the same types of educational materials your speech therapist is using. The textbook "Teach Me How to Say It Right" is popular and well known (see Resources), but there are others on the market. Ask your child's speech therapist to recommend a book for you to use.

• 2

  Get the IEP evaluation for your child. If your child is involved in a formal speech therapy program he or she has likely received an IEP evaluation. Obtain a copy of this report and read it as often as possible. The report will outline exactly how your child's speech and language difficulties are perceived, what goals have been set for your child and what skills your child should be working on.

• 3

  Order a few professional speech and language therapy tools. These include books, games and other tools often used by professional therapists in order to make this type of therapy fun for children. Ask your child's therapist for recommendations. It is often helpful to have some of the same tools in the home that are used in the school. Doing so will ensure your child isn't set back by having to learn a new routine.

• 4

  Make sure your child is learning about figures of speech and how to use them. It's important for children to understand that people don't always literally mean exactly what they are saying. Understanding what metaphors are, why people use them and how they are used will ensure your child isn't confused as he learns to communicate more effectively. This is an important aspect of a home therapy program as most professional therapists do not spend as much quality time in this area.

• 5

  Speak to your child as much as possible, even if it sounds silly. Use words to describe every action or object you encounter. Do not let your child point to an object he wants, but make sure he repeats the words and names as well. Read books, play games and ask tons of open ended questions. The more you talk, the more your child will learn about communication.