When targeting fluency with a child there are many points to consider. It is important to consider the level of sensitivity a child expresses towards his or her stuttering when selecting activities.
- Does the child become anxious in the presence of others?
- Does the child’s speech improve when in a one-to-one setting?
- Has the child progressed to speaking fluently around others?
These factors can drive activity planning. As many can relate, finding super cool and fun activities that take all facets of stuttering therapy into consideration can be a challenge. I have found that scavenger hunts can transform fluency activities into adventures to help lessen the stress of speech therapy for children. Scavenger hunts are exciting adventures that children can come to anticipate (Note: Always remember HIPAA regulations and clinic/school/home safety guidelines, precautions, and measures. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Set up a scavenger hunt around your office, classroom, school, clinic, and even a home health setting.
- If a safe area is available, consider having a scavenger hunt outside.
- Personalize each search with a fluency, target, strategies, exercises, or opportunities to speak with others.
- Simplify the activity to be one–on–one or incorporate peers or other staff.
- Incorporate a few or many searches depending on the child:
- Utilize puzzle pieces or potato head parts for a child to find and assemble
- Search for clues to a song or riddle
- Create cards that provide items they have to find by color, size, or description
- Search for small prizes to build excitement for the child
- Use picture cards or game cards
- Become a pirate and utilize a map to find fluency treasures
- Travel the world, see attractions, or become a part of a sporting event by basing each clue/search on a theme
If you or someone you know needs the services of a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, please be sure to discuss your concerns with a physician, a speech-language pathologist, or another qualified provider. You can also find a provider through the ASHA ProFind service or visit us at www.bilingualspeech.org for more information. Additional information on this topic can be found at stutteringhelp.org or at asha.org. NOTE: This article is intended only as a general source of information, i.e, it is not intended to replace information given to you by a qualified health professional that is familiar with your particular circumstances. Lastly, if you have an urgent medical need, please seek immediate medical attention.