Not for the weak of heart-More super simple games for the busy SLP.

I'm always looking for quick and motivating activities to use during articulation drill sessions.  I couldn't believe we did the first one but it was really funny for the client with whom I was working.  I kept trying to move on, and they kept asking for more cards.  That's like the best isn't it?  When kids want to keep doing their drill activities-at least when they are accurately saying the sounds.  Do you ever get the client who LOVES to drill but can't say the sound right?  Each time they just keep plugging away saying 20 times incorrectly (Listen to this:  tat, tat, tat, tat, tat.) Inside I just want to scream NOOOOOOOOOO  stop saying it that way.  Instead I use a melodramatic break up routine-"Shhh.." I say gently as I put my finger on their lips.  "No talking."  

Here are four motivating activities to use during the summer-some of which I admit are not for the weak of heart.

1.  Articulation T Ball.  Minnesota is hosting the All Star game this year so we are capitalizing on the excitement with our own version of Arctic T-ball. One of my coworkers had an awesome idea for bringing in a T ball set to play with.   I snagged my son's old T ball set when he wasn't looking and brought it into work.  Most of my materials at work are ones I snagged when he wasn't looking.  I put cards at each base.  We start at the first and they have to say 50 words before they can run to first base.  We continue at each base.  By the time they've scored their "homer" they've practiced their sound 200 times correctly.  Woo hoo!

2.  EET T Ball.  I love Sara Smith's Expanding Expression Tool.  Instead of bases we use the EET steppers.  Before I "pitch" I hold up a picture that they need to describe.  They hit the ball and start defining the words.  I pick 4 that I want to work on.  The student runs to the base and if they are able to give an example using a full sentence they can move on to the next base."  For example, The ball that I am going to pitch is "apple".  You could tape a picture of an apple to the ball but I just hold up the picture.  
The student runs to first base An apple is a fruit.
Second base:  You can peel an apple.
Third base: It is red, and round.  
Home plate:  An apple has seeds and a stem.  

HOME RUN!  

3.  Step on it:  I played this game with a little one.  The child was working on CVCV shapes and I pulled out a few cards to practice with in between some toys.  I had the child step on it and then I made a raspberry noise.  The we both giggled.  My professional term is raspberry noise-the child probably thought it was toots.  And they thought it was hysterical.  So much so that I couldn't go back to any toy activities.  My client just kept requesting "more cards".

4.  Food or not Food:  This is another quick play game.  Just grab an articulation card deck.  I usually play this when I am working on carrier phrases.  I have my client say, "Eat ______."  or "Don't eat ______."  I make sound effects based on what they chose.  For example, if they tell me "Eat cake," I make some eating noises and say "Mmmmm."  If they say "Eat coat," I start to eat it and then make some wretching noises.  For some kids, we work on saying, "I eat _____."  I usually act VERY surprise if they eat non edible items.

What silly games do you use in therapy to address drill types of activities?  I'd love to hear about them below.  If you thought this post was helpful, please consider sharing it with others on Facebook or Twitter by clicking on the buttons below.