Turn Chores Into Speech Fun!

5 Everyday Chores That Boost Speech & Language Skills

SLPs often look for creative ways to build communication skills with their students. While structured therapy sessions are essential, incorporating functional and real-world tasks can make learning more meaningful. Everyday chores offer excellent opportunities for students to practice language, executive functioning, and social skills in a natural setting. Here are five simple chores that can be powerful tools for SLPs to use (or encourage parents to use) with their students.

🧺 Sorting Laundry: Sort clothes by color, type, or owner. Use adjectives like big and soft and action words like find and fold. Ask questions like “What is an idea to group items efficiently?”

  • 🏷️ Strengthens categorization, sequencing, and descriptive language.
  • 👕 Encourages students to describe items or follow multi-step directions.
  • 🧠 Builds problem-solving skills by requiring logical grouping.

🍽️ Setting the Table: Students follow directions like placing the fork on the napkin next to the plate. Ask questions like “Can you please hand me the spoon?” and have them repeat.

  • 🍴 Reinforces sequencing, spatial concepts, and multi-step directions.
  • 🗣️ Promotes conversation skills through requesting items and turn-taking.
  • ✅ Strengthens independence and comprehension.

🥪 Making a Simple Snack: Find and name ingredients in the kitchen. Use sequencing language (“First, I spread the peanut butter”). Praise student regularly and consistently for their effort.

  • 🔪 Provides a hands-on way to practice sequencing, narration, and vocabulary.
  • 📢 Students can verbalize each step to reinforce language skills.
  • 🎉 Boosts confidence and independence through real-world practice.

🌱 Watering Plants: Use action words like pour and fill and adjectives like wet and dry. Ask questions like “What do plants need to grow?” and “Why is this important?”

  • 💦 Helps students follow directions, use action verbs, and make observations.
  • ❓ Encourages critical thinking with science-related vocabulary.
  • 🌿 Introduces responsibility in an interactive way.

📚 Organizing a Bookshelf or Toy Bin: Sort books or toys by color, type, or author. Use adjectives when giving directions. Ask questions like “Where should the big books go?”

  • 🏗️ Reinforces classification by sorting books or toys.
  • 🔍 Encourages descriptive language, following directions, and problem-solving.
  • 🎒 Promotes independence while keeping spaces neat and organized.

Chores That Teach & Engage!

Chores, when used intentionally, become powerful tools for developing language, cognitive, and social skills in a natural and engaging way. These everyday activities provide hands-on opportunities for students to practice following directions, sequencing events, expanding vocabulary, and improving problem-solving skills.

Real-world experiences help bridge the gap between structured therapy sessions and daily life, making communication and executive functioning skills more meaningful and transferable. By incorporating these tasks into therapy, SLPs can create a more dynamic and interactive learning environment that fosters independence and confidence in their students.

Share Your Thoughts!

Which everyday activities do you use in speech therapy? Share your favorites in the comments!

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