Five Simple Summer Activities to Boost Your Child's Speech and Language Skills
By Christine Hinkle, M.A. CCC-SLP
When school is out and the sun is shining, it’s easy to assume learning takes a backseat—but the truth is, summer is full of natural opportunities to support your child’s speech and language development. You don’t need fancy flashcards, workbooks, or rigid routines. Everyday activities like swimming, heading to the library, and going out for ice cream with family can offer rich experiences that help them grow their communication skills.
Below, you’ll find five simple and fun (very important!!) summertime activities that can be adapted to your child’s interests and abilities. Whether you’re working on speech sounds, expression and comprehension, or social communication skills, these ideas are easy to fit into your summer plans—and might be just as enjoyable for you as they are for your child.
1. Water You Waiting For? Dive Into Swimming and Water Play
Summer water fun is a hit with kids—and it’s also packed with communication opportunities. Whether you're at the pool, splash pad, or just playing with a hose in the backyard, water play naturally invites interaction, problem-solving, and language-rich moments.
Skills You Can Target: Speech sounds, spatial concepts, vocabulary, turn-taking, requesting, descriptive language
What to Do:
Narrate your child’s actions using simple phrases: “You’re splashing!” or “The water is cold!”
Introduce new action words like pour, float, dive, and drip during play
Offer a favorite water toy and encourage requesting with words, gestures, or signs (“Ball, please!”)
Practice tricky sounds in words like swim, spray, and slide
Use spatial words (in, out, under, over, through) during play to boost comprehension
2. Dig Into Sand Play
Whether you're at the beach or playing in a sandbox, sand play is a rich, sensory experience that naturally encourages conversation, creativity, and exploration. It’s the perfect setting to slow down and practice communication skills in the moment.
Skills You Can Target: Descriptive language, following directions, sequencing, requesting, pretend play, turn-taking
What to Do:
Describe textures, actions, and shapes: “It’s dry,” “You’re digging,” “That’s a big scoop!”
Narrate the steps of building a sandcastle to practice sequencing (first, next, then)
Encourage pretend play with small figures or animals in the sand (“Let’s make up a beach adventure!”)
Take turns using tools like shovels and buckets to support social communication and cooperation\
3. Enjoy Some Sweet Moments with Yummy Summer Treats
Popsicles, ice cream, lemonade—summer snacks offer more than just a cool-down. They’re a great way to promote communication skills through shared routines, play, and real-life conversations.
Skills You Can Target: Requesting and choice-making, speech sounds, following directions, descriptive language, social routines
What to Do:
Let your child make choices and practice requesting: “Do you want the red or green popsicle?”
Use describing words for texture, temperature, and flavor: cold, sticky, sweet, sour
Practice taking ice cream “orders” and following the “customer’s” directions
Model social phrases like “please,” “thank you,” and “your turn”
Practice tricky sounds in words like ice cream, popsicle, and lemonade
4. Camp Out and Connect Outdoors
Whether you’re camping for real or just roasting marshmallows in the backyard, outdoor adventures invite storytelling, shared routines, and sensory-rich experiences. It’s a great way to unplug and connect.
Skills You Can Target: Narration, sequencing, pretend play, asking and answering questions
What to Do:
Tell or create stories around the campfire (real or pretend)
Talk through camping routines like setting up a tent or making s’mores using sequencing words like first, next, and last.
Use flashlights for shadow play or guessing games
Encourage back-and-forth conversation with open-ended questions (“What should we do next?”)
5. Book It Over to Your Local Library
Summer reading programs—especially those at local libraries—are perfect for encouraging a love of books and language. Whether you’re reading aloud, choosing books, or attending library events together, there’s plenty of opportunity for growing communication skills.
Skills You Can Target: Listening comprehension and wh-questions, vocabulary, retelling, print awareness, speech sound production
What to Do:
Pause while reading to ask questions (“What do you think will happen next?”)
Point out and talk about new vocabulary words as they come up
Encourage your child to retell the story in their own words or act it out with toys
Show your child how to hold a book, read from left to right, and identify titles or words
Conclusion
Supporting your child’s speech and language skills this summer doesn’t need to be boring or inconvenient. With a little intention and awareness, summer fun can become speech and language practice. From sandy play or library trips, small and consistent moments of connection can make a big difference.
Remember, progress doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from showing up, tuning in, and communicating with each other.
Curious about how to support your child’s specific speech and language needs this summer? Reach out to connect with our team at Columbia Pediatric Therapy—we’re here to help!
