Fun Articulation Activities For Toddlers (+ Signs That Speech Therapy May Help!)

Fun Articulation Activities For Toddlers (+ Signs That Speech Therapy May Help!)

Every child learns to talk on their own timetable. Even Albert Einstein famously didn’t speak in full sentences until the age of five. 

That said, it’s important to track your child’s speech milestones. The sooner you address any delays, the better. After all, early intervention can help your child overcome the frustration and isolation of speech difficulties. 

Here we’ll discuss common signs that your toddler may need some extra help developing their speech. Additionally, we’ll go over effective articulation activities for toddlers that you can do at home. 

Signs Your Toddler May Benefit From Speech Therapy 

No parent is thrilled by the idea of a speech delay or disorder. Yet, taking a clear-eyed approach is often the most helpful to address any difficulties and fully support healthy speech development. 

Overall, your child may benefit from speech therapy if you notice the following signs. 

1. Your Toddler Gets Frustrated When Trying to Communicate. 

By the age of two, the average toddler can handle basic communication. They regularly follow directions and pick up new words. 

If you notice your toddler getting frustrated – especially if they stop talking or distance themselves – this may be a sign that they need some extra help with speech. Specifically, if you observe your kid is struggling with:

  • Limited vocabulary and sound production

  • Following verbal instructions or understanding simple statements 

  • Social isolation due to frustrated interactions with others 

2. Your Toddler’s Language Is Often Unintelligible (Even to You!)

Toddlers have their own unique way of expressing themselves that mom/dad tend to understand best. But if you find that your kid’s language is unclear or unintelligible to you, this may be a clue that speech therapy could be helpful. For example, if your kid mumbles, stutters or otherwise finds it challenging to articulate words. 

3. Your Toddler’s Speech Isn’t Progressing

Another indication that your kid may benefit from speech therapy is if their talk doesn’t seem to be progressing. This is especially the case if your kid doesn’t often:

  • Babble or imitate

  • Make very many sounds 

  • Pick up on new words

  • Combine new words

  • Use gestures 

How Speech Therapy Can Support Your Child’s Development

Speech therapy isn’t as scary as it sounds – and it can be highly effective with young children. Sometimes speech therapy is only needed for a few sessions; other times for months or years. 

Overall, speech therapy involves personalized sessions to identify your child’s needs and address them through play-based learning. Speech therapists use fun activities to help your child practice sounds/words, build their vocabulary and foster stronger language skills overall.

Why Are Articulation Activities for Toddlers Valuable?

Articulation exercises are a major part of speech therapy, particularly in cases where children need support in developing the use of new sounds/words. Key advantages of undertaking articulation activities for toddlers include: 

Fun Articulation Activities for Toddlers At Home

Articulation activities are the bread and butter of speech therapy. While we recommend working with a professional speech therapist, it’s also worth practicing articulation at home. (Just keep in mind these expert tips when doing so!)

As you put together articulation activities for toddlers, keep in mind your kid’s age and speech challenges. Ideally, you can design the activities with your child’s interests and hobbies in mind, so that they’re more likely to engage. 

Types of Articulation Activities for Toddlers

  • Games using target cards. Target cards include a picture of a word that your child needs to practice. There are oodles of ways to incorporate target cards into existing games (see below for ideas)!

  • Picture searches. You can sound out words that your child finds in “I Spy” books, Spot the Difference posters, puzzles, etc.

  • Songs, rhymes and tongue twisters. These fun exercises help get kids talking and socializing with others. 

  • Crafts. For example, activities such as alphabet playdough, sensory bins and more. 

  • Building activities. You can use blocks or legos to build target words or scenes.  

  • Make-believe. Enjoy role-playing scenarios together such as going grocery shopping or on a trip. 

  • Outdoor play. You can take advantage of hopscotch or sprinklers as a “reward” for speaking a target word. 

Games You Can Adapt With Target Cards 

Getting a set of picture/word flash cards is key to do articulation activities for toddlers at home. Target cards can be easily integrated into games you already have. For example, you can add them to activities such as:

  • Word Jenga (hide cards between pieces or write on the sides)

  • Word toss / egg carton toss (add a card to each egg slot)

  • Match the cards 

  • Catch (i.e. draw a card, say it, then toss the ball to another player)

  • Fortune tellers (draw directly or hide in the panels)

  • Treasure hunt (pro tip: use a flashlight or camera to make finding the cards extra fun)

At ThinkPsych, we have a variety of picture play flashcards available for purchase. You can use them on their own to practice target words, or combine them with other games!

Improve Your Kid’s Speech & EQ With ThinkPsych

Know the signs for when professional speech therapy may be right for your child. At the same time, bolster your child’s speech at home by trying out our list of fun articulation activities for toddlers. 

At ThinkPsych, we're big believers in the importance of emotional intelligence for kids’ well-being. Developing strong speech is a cornerstone of communicating and forming relationships. Get more tips to enhance your kid’s EQ on our blog here! 

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