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Do you ever wonder how you can make speech and language homework fun, or how you can incorporate speech and language into your family activities? Well, apple picking is a favorite fall pastime, so why not use this time to practice language goals!

Before you go apple picking, teach fall words and concepts in these fun ways:

• Talk about where you are going and what you are going to be doing.
• Find pictures of things you may see while at the orchard (i.e., apple, basket, wagon, trees, mazes, tractor, etc). Use these pictures to target vocabulary and describing.
• Find songs or videos online about apples and/or apple picking.
• Read books about apples and/or apple picking!
• Prepare a list of activities for the day to target sequencing (i.e., first we will pick up bags for the apples, second, we will take a tractor to the apple trees, etc).

While you are at the apple orchard, you can do the following:

• Talk about everything you and your child are seeing around you. Model language. Discuss colors, sizes, tastes, smells, and anything else you think of! The more exposure to language and different concepts, the better!
• Remember the pictures you used to target vocabulary before coming to the orchard? Practice labeling and describing these things when you actually see them. Expand on your child’s utterances and provide them with even more knowledge!
• Discuss what you are doing while you are doing them to target action vocabulary (i.e., walking, pulling and picking apples, etc).

The fun doesn’t stop at the orchard. Here are ways you can continue the fun and learning at home:

• Eat the apples. Describe their color, size, shape, how they taste and feel.
• Cut the apples. Discuss what you are doing with action words. Feel free to repeat yourself during this activity, as more exposure to the concept will make it more concrete for your child.
• Bake a pie! There are so many speech and language goals that can be incorporated into a cooking activity. Practice following directions, practice word recall and memory with names of ingredients, or practice auditory comprehension while reading the recipe.

Remember, speech and language activities should be fun! Don’t stress yourself or child by looking high and low for structured tasks to complete at home. Incorporate your child’s goals into all your fun fall-time activities while still enjoying some family fun!

Sources:

Language activities for apple picking part 1. Speech Connections. (n.d.). https://speechconnections.net/language-activities-for-apple-picking-part-1/.