How to Do Speech Therapy at Home: A Complete Guide for Parents

Helping your child speak clearly and confidently is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.

Trouble with speech sounds is common. Approximately 10% to 15% of preschoolers and 6% of school-aged students have a speech sound delay (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2006; Campbell et al., 2003; Law, Boyle, Harris, Harkness, & Nye, 2000; Shriberg & Tomblin, 1999; Slater, 1992).

If your child struggles with certain speech sounds—like “S,” “R,” or “TH”—you may be wondering how to do speech therapy at home.

The good news is: with the right tools, strategies, and guidance, parents can successfully support their child’s speech development from home. In this guide, I’ll share practical tips from my 33+ years as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), along with step-by-step activities you can start using today.

Why do Speech Therapy at Home?

Speech therapy at home can be very powerful. 

  • You are with your child the most. You know your child best.

  • Working on speech in real-life daily interactions is better than occasional practice with a stranger.

  • Speech therapy at home is affordable. 

When therapy extends beyond the clinic, kids get more opportunities to succeed.

Step 1: Identify the Sounds Your Child Struggles With

Use my free Articulation Screener: Is My Child’s Speech Normal and my free Speech Sound Development Chart to help decide if your child is behind with any of the sounds.

Remember that:

  • These tools do not replace assessment by a speech-language pathologist or any other professional. 

  • While speech sounds tend to develop in a predictable order, every child is different, and there are always exceptions. 

  • It is much better to work on sounds as early as possible. Waiting to break established habits can make it harder for everyone. 

Step 2: Create a Fun Practice Routine

Children learn best when practice feels like play. Try setting aside 5–10 minutes daily for speech activities. Here are some ideas:

  • Game Time Practice – Use my Games for Speech Therapy ideas. To earn a turn at the game, your child needs to say a word. 

  • Story Time Practice – Read books. Have your child watch for and repeat back words that have their sounds. 

  • Fun Images – Find pictures that have the sounds at the beginning, middle and end of words to use in games and activities.

Keep practice short, fun, and frequent. Short consistent practice is much better than a few longer sessions.

Step 3: Consider Using Speech Sound Cues

Some children need more information than just listening to be able to say back sounds correctly. My free Speech Sound Cues makes it easier for children to say sounds and to fully understand them.  Each sound is paired with:

  • A Fun Colourful Image 

  • An Easy Hand Gesture 

  • A Meaningful Label 

These are the most powerful tools I have to help children with speech sounds and early literacy.

Step 4: Move from Words to Real Life

Speech therapy at home is more than just pictures and games. Helping kids use new sounds in daily conversation is the end goal. 

Try these carryover activities:

  • Jokes:  At the grocery store, have your child find and say words with their target sound.

  • Word of the Day – Pick a word that has your child’s sound. Make this word come up lots during the day and encourage your child to say the word correctly.

The goal is to bridge the gap between practice and natural communication.

Step 5: Know When to Seek Professional Support

While at-home practice is powerful, sometimes you need to seek the advice of a speech-language pathologist or other professional. You should consider professional help if your child:

  • Is not making progress

  • Has difficulty with multiple sounds that they should be doing at their age

  • Has difficulty being understood by teachers, peers, and especially family.

👉 The good news is that even with professional therapy, at-home practice is still the key to faster success.

FAQ: How to Do Speech Therapy at Home

Q: Can parents really do speech therapy at home?

A: Yes! With the right resources, parents can provide valuable support. My programs are designed to give step-by-step guidance so you never feel lost.

Q: Is speech therapy at home effective?

A: Very much so. Research found that collaboration between parents and speech therapists results in the best progress (Klatte et al., 2020).

Q: How long should my child practice each day?

A: Short, frequent practice works best—5 to 10 minutes a day is usually enough.

Q: Will home practice replace the need for a speech therapist?

A: My advice and programs are not a substitute for speech therapy or for any other professional help. 

Final Thoughts

Learning how to do speech therapy at home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right strategies and resources, parents can make a huge difference in their child’s speech, confidence, and success in life.

If you’re ready to get started, explore my Step-by-Step Programs for Parents and Teachers.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Email me at SLP@Speech-TherapyAtHome.com

Better speech is the best gift you can give your child. 

Garth Schindel SLPatHome

Written by Garth Schindel, M.S. SLP, Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with 33+ years of clinical experience. Reviewed: September 2, 2025. Evidence-based practices DISCLAIMER: This guide provides educational information only. Always consult with a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist for personalized assessment and treatment recommendations.

References

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2006). 2006 Schools Survey report: Caseload characteristics. Rockville, MD: Author.

Campbell, T., Dollaghan, C., Rockette, H., Paradise, J., Feldman, H., Shriberg, L., Sabo, D., & Kurs-Lasky, M. (2003). Risk factors for speech delay of unknown origin in 3-year-old children. Child Development, 74, 346–357.

Klatte, I. S., Lyons, R., Davies, K., Harding, S., Marshall, J., McKean, C., & Roulstone, S. (2020). Collaboration between parents and SLTs produces optimal outcomes for children attending speech and language therapy: Gathering the evidence. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 55(4), 618-628. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12556

Law, J., Boyle, J., Harris, F., Harkness, A., & Nye, C. (2000). Prevalence and natural history of primary speech and language delay: Findings from a systematic review of the literature. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 35, 165–188.

Shriberg, L., & Tomblin, B. (1999). Prevalence of speech delay in 6-year-old children and comorbidity with language impairment. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 42, 1461–1481.

Slater, S. (1992). Portrait of the professions. Asha, 34, 61–65.