By: Lindsay Barret MS, CCC-SLP

At CommuniKids, our speech- language therapists usually assign homework to promote generalization of skills learned during therapy beyond the walls of our treatment rooms, whether the goals are language, articulation, or feeding based. Our aim is always to create confident and effective communicators outside of our structured, individualized therapeutic settings. But, we know that homework can be a stressful and challenging time for both children and caregivers, particularly for children with language learning and communication difficulties. For young children, homework is a novel idea that may seem overwhelming or intimidating. For older children, they must balance school assignments and extracurricular activities with speech-language therapy at-home activities.

Below are 10 tips to make homework a little more fun and a little less daunting for kids, parents, and caregivers.

  1. Use games or projects: If your homework involves practicing sounds/words/sentences to improve articulation skills, looking at pictures, or answering questions, alternate these activities with a turn during a fun board game, art project, or scavenger hunt. Making it fun and providing positive praise is key!
  2. Change the name: Don’t call it homework if that term doesn’t sit well with your child. Come up with a creative name and let the child take ownership of the task. Call it home practice, speech at home, bonus speech, or weekly words, for example.
  3. Involve others: Practice the work with a sibling, caregiver, or parent so it feels less daunting and more like a team effort. This can also make it more fun and varied.
  4. Learn from an older sibling: Try doing homework with an older sibling if possible. We find that many of our younger kids who haven’t yet been assigned homework through school, look up to their siblings and want to complete homework because it is what their siblings do and makes them feel grown up.
  5. Use rewards: Use a reward system/reinforcement chart to encourage participation. Make sure your child is motivated by the reward. Offer options for rewards so your child feels like they were part of a decision making process.
  6. Consistency, consistency, consistency!: Create a homework schedule and do your best to keep it consistent. This helps the child feel a sense of control and helps to set expectations.
  7. Plan ahead: Kids, especially those with communication challenges, often thrive when routines are in place and expectations are known. Planning ahead so homework isn’t rushed or a child’s routine isn’t thrown off unexpectedly can go a long way when it comes to making homework a little less overwhelming.
  8. Take advantage of routines: We suggest building homework into a preexisting routine. This will help you find time to fit the homework into your busy schedule and promote consistency. Plus, the child is already familiar with the routine and how it fits into their daily schedules.
  9. Make it fun: Be creative and silly, as long as you’re being productive, and the child remains focused. Homework should be enjoyable!
  10. Take small steps: Try not to bite off more than you can chew. It is okay to complete short, more frequent spurts of speech- language work rather than infrequent, longer blocks of time dedicated to homework. This will likely help your child sustain their attention and remain motivated to participate, especially for younger children.

Need articulation homework ideas or help supporting your child with sensory processing deficits? Learn more about articulation therapy homework activities and sensory diets during homework time. If you have any questions about these tips or want to learn more, please contact our office today!