{"id":1910,"date":"2012-11-19T21:30:49","date_gmt":"2012-11-19T21:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/?p=1910"},"modified":"2023-11-08T10:21:09","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T18:21:09","slug":"thanksgiving-dinner-ideas-for-speech-therapy-activities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/speech-therapy-techniques\/thanksgiving-dinner-ideas-for-speech-therapy-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas for Speech Therapy Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Family<\/a>

Image source: Oneinabillionblog.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Looking for Thanksgiving dinner ideas? As you search for new recipes, don\u2019t forget to incorporate speech therapy into the holidays<\/a>. As the parent of a special needs child, it can often be difficult to see the forest for the trees. It\u2019s easy to get so wrapped up in the day-to-day grind of IFSPs, IEPs, and a plethora of other acronyms<\/a> that we lose sight of the more important things in life. While they can be stressful, the holidays also provide an opportunity to step back, take a breath, and cherish your family. And while you\u2019re looking for some Thanksgiving dinner ideas, remember that at-home speech therapy techniques can easily be incorporated into mealtimes, even during the holiday.<\/p>\n

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Being Thankful<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some families like to discuss what they are thankful for<\/a> before beginning their Thanksgiving feasts. Even if this isn\u2019t one of your family\u2019s traditions, consider giving it a chance. Expressing thankfulness during a family mealtime infuses positivity into an otherwise stressful day. And perhaps best of all, it can encourage your speech disordered child to practice a variety of cognitive and speech skills. He\u2019ll have to think about what to say, organize his thoughts, and (ideally) put his thoughts into complete sentences.<\/p>\n

Practicing Narration Skills<\/strong><\/p>\n

Encourage your child to practice his narration skills<\/a> during all dinnertimes, not just Thanksgiving. Ask him to tell you about his day, what he liked about it, what he didn\u2019t like about it, etc. If he struggles with open-ended questions, provide prompts. For example, ask, \u201cJonas, did you do your spelling workbook today in Mrs. Smith\u2019s class? What words did you learn today?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Thanksgiving<\/a>

Image source: Enterthelab.com<\/p><\/div>\n

As well, encourage your child to use descriptive language by asking him about his dinner. Ask him to describe the textures, tastes, scents, colors, and shapes. If your youngster doesn\u2019t appear to become engaged in this, turn it into an \u201cI Spy\u201d game. For example, say, \u201cI spy something orange\u201d for carrots. When your child guesses correctly, it\u2019s his turn to \u201cspy\u201d something on the dinner table.<\/p>\n

Pragmatic Language Skills<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pragmatic language skills<\/a> include making eye contact, taking turns in a conversation, staying on topic, and adapting the use of language to various circumstances. Dinnertime is a great opportunity to practice pragmatic language skills <\/a>with your youngster. Remind each family member that they must take turns in the conversation and avoid interrupting others to set a good example for your speech disordered child. Encourage your youngster to make occasional eye contact during the conversation.<\/p>\n

As well, use dinnertime as an opportunity to build skills like giving and following directions. If your child tends to stare or point at the dish that he wants, encourage him to \u201cuse his words.\u201d Model proper speech patterns by saying, \u201cPlease pass the potatoes, Jonas.\u201d<\/p>\n