As the school year comes to an end, we want to recognize the growth, effort, and perseverance we’ve seen in students across our schools. Every learner has made meaningful progress in their own way, and it has been a privilege to support their communication along the way.
Summer is a time to rest, connect, and enjoy a change of pace. It’s also a great opportunity to support speech and language skills in simple, natural ways. Everyday moments, talking, playing, and exploring together all offer powerful learning opportunities without the need for formal practice.
Chat & Connect
- Talk during everyday routines like meals, walks, or errands
- Ask open-ended questions (e.g., “What was the best part?”, “Name one highlight and one lowlight of the day”, “Why do you think that?”)
- Pause and give your child time to respond
💡 Tip: Follow your child’s interests. Engagement leads to better communication!
Expand on what they say to model longer sentences
- Read, Tell & Imagine
- Read anything of interest (books, comics, signs)
- Take turns telling a story
- Ask questions like “What might happen next?” or “How did that character feel?”
- Encourage retelling of events or creating new endings
Play with Language (Simple Games with Directions)
- I Spy (builds describing and vocabulary skills)
- One person says, “I spy with my eye something that is…” and gives a clue (colour, shape, or category).
- Others take turns guessing the object.
- The person who guesses correctly takes the next turn.
- 20 Questions (builds questioning, reasoning, and categorizing skills)
- One person thinks of an object.
- Others ask yes/no questions (e.g., “Is it alive?” or “Can you eat it?”).
- Players have up to 20 questions to guess the object.
- Would You Rather…? (builds conversation and explaining ideas)
- One person asks a question with two choices (e.g., “Would you rather swim in a lake or a pool?”).
- Others choose an option and explain why.
- Category Game (builds vocabulary and word retrieval)
- Pick a category (e.g., animals, foods, things at the beach).
- Take turns naming items in that category.
- Try not to repeat and keep going as long as possible.
Support Speech Sounds
- Model correct speech naturally in conversation
- Keep practice time brief and positive
- Use real-life situations to notice and practice sounds
- Focus on encouragement rather than correction
Build Emotional Language & Flexible Thinking
- Name and talk about feelings (“You seem excited/frustrated”)
- Problem-solve together (“What could we try instead?”)
- Highlight flexible thinking when plans change
Get Outside & Explore
- Talk about what you see, hear, and feel
- Go on a “word hunt” (find something loud, soft, or tiny)
- Encourage storytelling about your experiences
Encourage Independence & Problem Solving
- Support your child in asking questions and expressing needs
- Give them time to try solving problems
- Encourage explaining ideas to others
💛 A gentle reminder that summer learning doesn’t need to be structured or perfect. The most important thing is connection. Small, meaningful interactions (e.g., talking, playing, and sharing experiences) support communication in lasting ways.
Thank you for partnering with us this year in supporting your child’s speech-language development.
We wish you a relaxing and enjoyable summer filled with connection, exploration, and great conversations!
Have a happy summer!
As we are spending so much time at home, we are facing the dilemma of how to keep our children entertained.