Speech Therapy Toys & Techniques for Kids and Toddlers: A Singapore Parent’s
Effective communication skills play a vital role in your child’s success academically and in other aspects of life. Speech therapy is often offered in early intervention centres in Singapore, and they can play a significant role in helping children overcome speech and language challenges.
Speech therapists frequently employ speech techniques and toys involving activities done through playing and talking casually to make the experience during speech therapy sessions enjoyable and engaging for children. Some of these techniques and toys can be used at home to complement the therapy sessions and achieve continued progression.
Understanding Speech Therapy in Singapore
Speech therapy, often referred to as speech and language therapy, is a specialized field dedicated to diagnosing and treating speech and language challenges in children. At Bridging the Gap, our therapies are highly personalized, tailoring an intervention plan to meet each child’s unique needs and learning goals.
Effective Speech Therapy Techniques For Kids and Toddlers
Here are some highly effective speech therapy techniques that can make a difference in the lives of children with developmental needs and help them communicate effectively.
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Play-Based Activities
Play-based activities are often highly effective for younger kids and toddlers in Singapore. Speech therapists use toys and interactive games which includes kitchen toys, puppets, toolbox, musical toys , bubbles, etc., to engage children while addressing speech and language challenges to keep them focused and motivated.
Articulation Exercises
Simple articulation exercises that targeting specific sounds and pronunciation can be both effective and fun for kids. During the session, our speech therapists will demonstrate the correct sounds and pronunciations to help children with their articulation, pitch, fluency, and resonance. Visual aids like are often used to help them understand the positioning of their tongue and lips to make the sounds accurately.
Interactive Apps
In the age of technology, numerous educational apps designed to support speech therapy for kids in Singapore are also interactive and fun. At Bridging the Gap, we utilize all the listed ways of communication. These 2 applications are used in our centre to encourage children with speech difficulties (especially children with ASD) to reduce communication barriers.
1. PROLOQUO2GO
A symbol-based application with customized features (layout, size, and icons) to foster communication aside from speaking. The application comes with a set of vocabulary that can be edited and the ability to take photos and use them as icons. The voice output can also be personalized using recordings of a familiar caregiver. Children can choose from the natural voices in dozens of languages and accents they are comfortable with. While the app might not replace traditional forms of communication entirely, it certainly bridges the gap, providing our children with a powerful tool to express themselves and engage with others more effectively.
2. TOUCH CHAT
It is a dynamic application with easy navigation for both the child and the family and care team members and is suitable for early communicators. The application has “ready to go” basic vocabulary choices for emerging to more advanced communicators, easily customized.
These applications can be used at home as alternative options to aid children with developmental and acquired needs to communicate successfully. Find out more about these 2 applications here.
Reading Aloud
Reading to your child is an excellent technique to enhance their language skills and vocabulary while fostering a love for reading and learning.
Get your child to read written text and passages aloud to help them work on these Speech and Language goals:
- Articulation – Pronouncing the words and sounds clearly and accurately.
- Fluency – A structured and controlled environment should be maintained during speech practice to improve stuttering and other fluency disorders.
- Comprehension Skills – Discussing the content of the reading material to improve the child’s understanding and ability to express themselves coherently.
- Confidence: Reading aloud helps build the child’s confidence in speaking, especially when they see improvement in pronunciation and fluency over time.
Sign Language
Introducing basic sign language can be a valuable tool in improving communication and language skills, especially for children struggling with communication challenges, such as hearing impairments or speech disorders.
Parental Involvement
Parents play a pivotal role in their child’s speech development journey Collaborating with the speech therapist and actively participating in recommended exercises and activities at home can significantly enhance speech therapy’s effectiveness. Create a supportive and consistent environment for your child by reinforcing and incorporating speech activities into their daily lives to help your child improve communication skills.
Singing and Rhymes
Singing songs and reciting rhymes is an effective technique to help kids with rhythm, speech development, and vocabulary expansion.
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Toys to Help with Speech Delay in Kids
Toys can be excellent tools to engage and motivate kids while addressing various speech and language goals. Our speech therapists often use a variety of toys to facilitate speech therapy sessions in a fun and interactive way.
Here are some recommended toys that can assist kids facing speech delays:
Building Blocks
Playing with building blocks like LEGO and wooden blocks fosters creativity to build structures and shapes but also helps children describe their creations, expanding their vocabulary.
Puzzles
Solving puzzles provides opportunities for children to talk about the images and pieces they see and promotes discussion with their peers, encouraging language comprehension and articulation.
Board Games
Some popular board games in Singapore, like BINGO, UNO, and Chutes and Ladder, encourage conversation and social interaction when children play together. Discussing strategies and making oral narratives during the game can enhance communication and social skills.
Musical Instruments
Exploring musical instruments like drums, xylophones, or shakers exposes children to various sounds and pitches, helping them recognize and differentiate sounds. It is a fun and effective way to address multiple speech and language goals. It fosters rhythm, sound recognition, and speech development.
Speech therapy in Singapore offers a range of techniques and resources to support children in their speech and language development. Early intervention, individualized treatment plans, and parental involvement are crucial for success in treating speech and language challenges. Patience, consistency, and professional guidance are essential to your child’s speech development journey.
Remember that every child is unique, and progress may vary. Celebrate small victories along the way, and with time and effort, you can help your child achieve their speech and language goals.