Enhancing Speech and Language Skills While Trick-or-Treating: A Speech-Language Pathologist’s Perspective
1. Building Vocabulary
Trick-or-treating is an immersive experience, rich with seasonal vocabulary. As you prepare for Halloween, introduce your child to new words like:
- Costume names: witch, ghost, skeleton, pumpkin, etc.
- Halloween actions: carve, scare, fly, creep, etc.
- Sensory words: crunchy (leaves), spooky (sounds), chilly (air).
Encourage your child to use these words in sentences:
- “I see a spooky ghost!”
- “Let’s carve the pumpkin!”
Reinforce these new words by pointing out costumes or decorations while walking through the neighborhood.
2. Social Communication Practice
Trick-or-treating involves greeting others and using phrases like:
- “Trick or treat!”
- “Happy Halloween!”
- “Thank you!”
Use this opportunity to model social communication. Practice these phrases at home, taking turns to build your child's confidence. If your child is non-verbal or uses an alternative form of communication (e.g., picture exchange, speech-generating devices), incorporate those tools into this practice.
3. Sequencing Skills
Halloween activities naturally have sequences, which are great for language development. Talk about the steps of getting ready to trick-or-treat:
- Put on your costume.
- Grab your treat bag.
- Knock on the door.
- Say “trick or treat.”
- Say “thank you.”
Afterward, ask your child to recount the steps. Using sequencing words like “first,” “next,” and “last” can enhance their understanding and communication.
4. Articulation Practice on the Go
Halloween provides plenty of words with sounds that children may be working on in speech therapy. For instance:
- “S” and “Z” sounds: spooky, zombie, ghost.
- “K” sounds: candy, costume, cat.
- “F” sounds: Frankenstein, fun, fall.
As you walk from house to house, try to emphasize these sounds during conversations. You can also carry Bjorem Speech® Sound Cues to help your child visually connect sounds to words while trick-or-treating.
5. Descriptive Language
As you observe costumes, decorations, or spooky sounds, encourage your child to describe what they see and hear:
- “The witch’s hat is black and pointy.”
- “The pumpkin is big and orange.”
This can help expand their use of adjectives and sentence-building skills. Make it a game by challenging your child to use as many descriptive words as possible.
For Those Handing Out Candy: Be Accepting of All Forms of Communication
Not all children will say "trick or treat" verbally. Some may communicate differently, using gestures, pictures, or speech devices. Here are ways you can be inclusive:
- Smile and be patient. Some children may take a bit longer to communicate.
- Respond positively to any form of communication, whether it’s a verbal “trick or treat,” a wave, or a device-generated sound.
- Be mindful of non-verbal cues. A child may reach out their bag or wave hello as their way of engaging.
- Celebrate all efforts equally. Whether a child speaks, signs, or uses a device, they are participating in a meaningful way.
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By creating a supportive and inclusive environment, we can ensure that every child has a positive and enriching Halloween experience, one filled with both fun and communication growth! If you're looking for tools like speech sound cues or minimal pair cards to help your child with speech and language development, visit Bjorem Speech® to explore a wide range of inclusive materials.
