Using Puzzles to Promote Speech-Language

Use puzzles as home or cut up a box.

Articulation/Speech Sounds:

o Have your child produce the sound in isolation to get a puzzle piece (/f/ or /k/)o Have a list of 5-10 words that contain the target sound (/f/-initial ‘fish, fin, fit, feet, feed…’) using your model

have your child say each word to get the puzzle piece. For example, your child says “fish” and you give him/her the puzzle piece.

o Have your child use the target word in a phrase or sentence to get the puzzle piece. The sentence can be modeled for children who need the help. If possible find a way to use the target sound in a verbal communication:

o /f/- I will find the piece.o /k/- Can I have one?o /s/- Let’s search for it

Receptive Language (understanding language):

o Have your child point to colors, items on the puzzle pieces (e.g., “popcorn”, “yellow”, “red”).o Understanding descriptive words:

o “Find the green piece, find the big piece, find the piece that has spots” or combine descriptive words “Find the piece that is all purple, Find the piece that is red and yellow, or find the small white car that has a siren.”

o Understanding spatial concepts:o Give instructions to your child on where to place each piece (“put that piece over the other piece” or

“put it between those pieces”). Ask your child to put one piece in the puzzle before or after another piece or place pieces in order “put the green piece in first, the yellow one second, and the red piece third“.

o Quantitative conceptso When you are putting the pieces out or cleaning up use words like “some, all, few, etc. “Put a few piece

here and the rest over here.”, “take all the pieces out”, “Take one out at a time.”

Expressive Language (verbalizing):

o Have your child use sign, augmentative communication, and/or verbalize requests such as ‘more’ or ‘please’. o If your child is working on single words have them name something about the piece (e.g., “popcorn”, “yellow”,

“red”)o If your child is combining two or three words together, have then say “more piece please” or “I want more”. o Build vocabulary by having your child talk/name the attributes of the puzzle pieces: size, shape, color, function,

location, and anything else you can think of! o If your child has difficulty putting the piece in, encourage your child to ask for help.

Thank you for your help at home and enjoy playing with your child while helping them learn their speech sounds and language and motor skills!

Warmly, Dr. A.