3 Holiday Speech Therapy Ideas for your Little Elves
Updated: Aug 25
Christmas and the holidays are a jolly time. But let's be honest, this time can also be hectic and tiring. With kids at home more often than usual and the burden of keeping up on skills falling on parents and caregivers, any shortcuts or ideas are welcome!
That's why we asked our Better Speech elves to come up with their top 3 at home, low/no prep speech therapy activities. Each activity can be modified to address your child's speech goals and we give a few ideas for each item.
Do you have questions on how to use these activities to address your speech goals? Feel free to contact our clinical director at Better Speech, Michelle. She's happy to chat. Reach her at michellel@betterspeech.com.
1. Christmas Story Books for Speech Therapy
Head to the library (are those still open!?!?) or your local bookstore to pick up a favorite holiday story. Can't find a hard copy? You can always watch a read-aloud with your child on You-Tube.
Here are some for pre-school and elementary school students. You can target some of the following speech or language goals:
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
- Articulation: the L sound
- Rhyming
- Feelings (we all get frustrated!)
Snowmen at Christmas by Carolyn Buehner
- Colors and other adjectives (we love the illustrations in this book)
- Articulation: S blends (Snowmen, snowballs, scarf)
- Verbs: walking snowmen, flying snowmen, laughing snowmen
Christmas activities for you and your child.
Pete the Car by Grandma's House
- Articulation: K sound (cat, cold)
- Opposites & Other Concepts: big/small, up/down, day/night
- Idioms: What does "Give it your all" mean?
You can also check out a digital copy from your local library from Overdrive Media Console. With one of the largest collections, it is used by more than 30,000 libraries so there is a good chance your library is listed there.
2. Holiday Countdown Calendar
You probably have one around anyway right? Or even the one from last year. Take a moment to repurpose it by filling each pocket with a card or photo that targets your speech or language goal. Your speech therapist can give you a printable with articulation or language target (like pictures of words starting with the /s/ sound or /g/ sound, or pictures showing action words like 'run' or 'sleep').
Just cut them out and put inside each pocket. Every day your child can take one out and practice their speech goals.
To motivate your child and keep the practice going, you can offer them a prize every 7 days. It can even be in the form of a clue as to what they may get as a holiday gift. Simple clues can also be a great way to practice inferencing for older kids.
3. Sensory Stockings
These are our favorite at Better Speech, and so many of our Better SLPs end up taking a session to put on together with little elf and their parent.
Just grab a stocking (from this year or on left over from last year) and stuff it with objects targeting your child's speech goals. Let your child feel around inside without looking at the object. They can describe what they feel and try to name it. Then they can pull it out and see if they guessed correctly. Depending on the objects you gather, you can work on:
- Articulation: S words like snowflake, Santa, string
- Language goals: put any objects you find in your child's room like small animals (dog, cow), cars, blocks
- Adjectives: blue/red/yellow cars, big/little cat, soft/hard ball
- Sensory items: for those kids that love to feel the texture of different items, stuff the stocking with all the goodies around during the holidays like string, wrapping paper shreds or tinsel.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should I start doing speech therapy activities with my child during the holidays?
You can start incorporating playful speech and language activities as early as 12 months, using simple holiday songs, picture books, and naming objects on a tree or table. The holidays naturally create rich opportunities for vocabulary building at any age. If you have concerns about your child's development, a licensed speech-language pathologist can help you understand what milestones to watch for.
How do I know if my child's speech delays are serious enough to need professional help?
Some common signs include difficulty being understood by unfamiliar adults, limited vocabulary for their age, trouble following simple directions, or frustration when communicating. If you notice these signs, it is worth getting a professional evaluation sooner rather than later. Better Speech offers licensed, insurance-ready care with no waitlists, so you can get answers quickly without a long wait.
Can holiday activities really make a difference in my child's speech development?
Absolutely. Themed, engaging activities hold a child's attention longer and create emotional connections to new words, which supports retention. Singing holiday songs, narrating gift-wrapping, and playing simple holiday card games all target real speech and language goals. Consistency and repetition during fun moments like these can meaningfully reinforce skills your child is working on.
What if my child gets frustrated or refuses to participate in speech activities?
This is very common and completely normal. Keep sessions short, low-pressure, and game-like so the activity feels like play rather than work. Follow your child's lead by choosing themes they already love, whether that is reindeer, cookies, or fairy lights. If refusal is frequent or your child seems unusually discouraged, a speech-language pathologist can suggest strategies tailored to your child's personality and needs.
Are online speech therapy sessions as effective as in-person ones for young children?
Research consistently shows that teletherapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person sessions for most speech and language goals, especially when parents are actively involved. Young children tend to adapt quickly to screens since digital interactions are already part of their daily lives. A skilled therapist will use engaging visuals, games, and interactive tools to keep little ones motivated throughout each session.
About the Author
Aycen Zambuto
I’m a seasoned educator in speech therapy with over six years of experience helping people navigate challenges in communication. Throughout this time, I’ve found joy in guiding individuals through a variety of therapeutic journeys, from toddlers with apraxia to seniors with dysphonia.
I’m passionate about demystifying this complex world of speech therapy and helping readers around the globe achieve clear and effective communication. When I’m not writing about speech, you’ll often find me reading, traveling or spending time with friends and family.
