The holiday season brings cozy vibes, excitement, and the perfect chance to make speech therapy sessions even more engaging! For speech-language pathologists working in schools, winter-themed activities can add a festive touch to therapy while keeping students motivated and focused.

Consider trying out these fun and effective winter therapy activities with your students this season!

1. Snowball Toss for Articulation Practice

Bring the outdoors in with a “snowball” toss game!

• Create soft snowballs using white socks or paper and write target words on them.
• Place buckets at different distances for students to toss the snowballs into, each labeled with specific sounds or phonemes.
• Students can toss the snowball into the correct bucket as they practice their sounds, making articulation practice feel like a game.

This activity combines speech goals with movement, great for kinesthetic learners and for helping students release extra holiday energy.

2. Holiday Story Sequencing

A storytelling activity perfect for narrative skills.

• Choose a classic holiday or winter story and break it down into simple sequences.
• Have students retell each part using visuals, props, or illustrations.
• For an added challenge, ask them to create their own winter story with beginning, middle, and end sections.

Sequencing activities build essential narrative skills while allowing students to express creativity and imagination.

3. Gingerbread Cookie Descriptions

Boost vocabulary and expressive language with a tasty twist!

• Show pictures of decorated gingerbread cookies (or use actual cookies if allowed) and have students describe them.
• Challenge students to use descriptive words, focusing on adjectives and sensory language.
• Students can even make up stories about their “cookie character.”

This activity works well for expanding vocabulary and engaging students with sensory details – plus, it’s bound to be a hit!

4. Winter-Themed Bingo for Social Skills

Practice turn-taking and listening skills with a winter bingo game.

• Use a bingo board with winter-themed images or words related to holiday vocabulary.
• Encourage students to practice taking turns, asking for help, or cheering on their peers.

Bingo is a timeless activity for teaching social communication in a relaxed, fun environment.

With a little creativity, winter-themed activities can make speech sessions memorable and effective. These ideas bring warmth and excitement to the season, creating a festive and supportive learning space for students to thrive.

Are You Looking for a New In-School SLP Career?

Spotter Staffing is always hiring for SLPs in Chicago and DFW! If your speech-pathology career could use a change, or your current setting is leaving you out in the cold, Spotter can help. Click this link to see the positions we’re currently hiring for, or connect with a recruiter for help that’s always confidential and tailored to your unique personal and professional goals.