…and fun ways to target speech and language
The holiday season brings festive lights, cozy family time, and a welcome break from busy school routines. With kids home and more time together, it’s the perfect opportunity to slow down, unplug, and connect through play. Whether you’re looking for thoughtful gift ideas or fun ways to spend screen-free time at home, games can be a wonderful way to keep your child engaged and learning.
As a speech therapist, we love using games in our sessions because they make learning fun and meaningful. Play is one of the most powerful ways to support speech, language, and overall development and it doesn’t have to stop when therapy ends. Below are some of our favorite games that bring joy and skill-building together this holiday season along with goals you can target while you play!
Pop the Pig (ages 4+, 2-6 players) 
- Turn taking
- Two step directions (e.g., roll the dice, then feed the pig; feed the pig, then press his head)
- Speech sounds (e.g., say a word before every turn)
- Simple “what” questions (e.g., what color did you get?; what number is it?)
Feed the Woozle (ages 3-6, 2-5 players) 
- Following directions
- R words in phrases (e.g., chocolate covered flies, moldy macaroni, spider egg pudding)
- L words in phrases (e.g., liverwurst popsicle, lemon flavored underwear, iced garlic
- S words in phrases (e.g., sugar coated sardines, baseball sandwich, soggy sausage)
Zingo (ages 4+, 2-6 players) 
- Naming objects in pictures
- Turn taking
- Answering yes/no questions for facts (e.g., do you have a tree?)
Tell Tale (ages 5+, 1-8 players) 
- Using story telling elements
- Maintaining conversation topic
- Answering wh- questions
- Retelling stories
I Spy Eagle Eye (ages 5+) 
- SP blends in phrases (e.g., I spy…)
- Naming objects in pictures
- Where questions (e.g., where is it?)
By Jess Wi MS, CCC-SLP
The holidays are the perfect time to reconnect, play, and make meaningful memories together. Whether you choose a game that encourages conversation, teamwork, or problem-solving, each moment of play can support your child’s speech, language, and developmental growth in a natural, joyful way.
At SmallTalk Pediatric Therapy, we believe that learning happens best when it’s fun. If you’d like more ideas for play-based learning or have questions about your child’s progress, our teams in La Mesa, Mission Valley, and Scripps Ranch are here to help.