Caregivers will take paper boats and sail it in a tub/bucket. The learner will blow on the boat with a straw in order to move it forward.

PURPOSE

This activity will help to improve stamina for speech production and feeding.

• Step 1

  Create 2-4 paper sailboats and fill up a tub or bucket with water.

• Step 2

  Model blowing the sailboat across the water. Then instruct the learner to do so.

• Step 3

  Repeat until satisfied.

Accept oral stimulation over a large surface in and around the oral cavity

PURPOSE

This activity helps the learner normalize awareness within the oral cavity in order to improve speech and feeding development. Also helpful to decrease drooling, mouth stuffing, and/or the need to chew objects.

• Step 1

  Place your index finger just above the learner’s upper front teeth. Slide it along the gums to the back right molars and back to where you began. Repeat about 3 times. Then repeat the same motion on the lower gums.

• Step 2

Read aloud to the learner every day and multiple times in the day.

PURPOSE

This activity helps the learner train their ears to different sounds, voices and tone.

• Step 1

  Any reading material around the home can be used for this activity, such as newspapers, magazines, books, pamphlets. Preferably in a language that is frequently used around the learner.

• Step 2

  Read aloud short pieces to the learner and change your tone, emotion, expression, volume, speed as much as possible.

• Step 3

The caregiver creates a simple set of sounds which has claps, whistles or hums in a pattern.

PURPOSE

This activity allows the learner to focus and concentrate by making sure the learner is not missing out on the noises that would help them repeat the set of sounds.

• Step 1

  Start clapping/whistling/humming in a specific pattern. Do 5 whistles/hums and stop. Have the learner repeat the same pattern until they learn it.

• Step 2

  Do another 5 whistle/hum pattern and have the learner repeat until they learn it.

Shake a pair of maracas in time with the beat of the song. If this percussion instrument is not available, then bottles filled with dry beans, lentils, rice or pebbles can be used.

PURPOSE

This activity facilitates rhythm in the learner and also helps to focus and concentrate. This activity is great for working on auditory sensitivity to sounds.

• Step 1

  Find an empty bottle to fill. Put some dry beans or pebbles in the bottle. (As many as you want, but not the full bottle!)

• Step 2

Identify common sounds in their environment. The learner may close their eyes and listen to environmental noises (i.e., birds, air conditioner, cat purring) or sounds from an audio or video recording (i.e., YouTube).

PURPOSE

This activity helps improve sensitivity to sound as well as perception of non-speech sounds.

• Step 1

  Play a variety of sounds one at a time for the learner. Some examples of sounds that can be used include but are not limited to: planes, trains, cars, children playing, birds chirping, and animal noises.

Read rhyming words aloud. Supplying words with the same final sound as the stimulus word.

PURPOSE

This activity is important for reading and spelling. It helps the learner to recognize words that share common sounds and often share common letter sequences. This activity is also useful for developing word recall skills and auditory closure ability.

• Step 1

  Sit with the learner and explain that you will be rhyming words together for example cat and mat.

• Step 2

The learner along with the caregiver will be in a quiet environment

PURPOSE

This activity helps to develop patience and consciousness in the learner. Also, to improve sensitivity to sound as well as perception of non-speech sounds.

• Step 1

  Look for a quiet room or location where you can sit for 100 seconds.

• Step 2

  Sit with the learner for 100 seconds in quiet.

• Step 3

Attending for sound patterns. The learner will imitate the pattern of clapping/tapping which is done by the parent or caregiver.

PURPOSE

This activity will facilitate auditory attention and auditory memory.

• Step 1

  Have the learner close their eyes or sit facing away from you. Clap hands, play a drum, bounce a ball, etc.

• Step 2

  Have the learner imitate your clap pattern (i.e., 1-2 fast, 3-4-5 slow)

• Step 3

  Have the learner say out loud how many counts there were.

The caregiver makes different sounds - made by vehicles, animals and the learner has to detect it.

PURPOSE

This activity will help the learner to differentiate between similarities and differences when listening to sounds. It helps teach learners to improve listening skills.

This is a continuation of Activity 2: Listening For Sounds

• Step 1

  Have the learner close their eyes or sit facing away from you. Clap hands, play a drum, bounce a ball, etc.

• Step 2