Snow Day Speech & Language Fun: Simple Activities to Boost Communication Skills at Home

Snow days are magical opportunities for family fun, and they’re also a perfect time to sneak in some speech and language practice. Whether you’re cozy inside or bundling up for snowy adventures, you can turn everyday moments into learning opportunities. Here are some practical ideas to boost your child’s communication skills during your snow day.

Inside Activities

1. Hot Chocolate Conversations

   
   

   • What to do: Make hot chocolate together and talk about the steps. “First, we pour the milk. Next, we heat it up.” Use sequencing words like “first,” “next,” and “last.”

   • Targets: Vocabulary, sequencing, following directions.

     
     

2. Winter Storytime

   
   

   • What to do: Read a favorite winter-themed book or make up a snowy story together. Encourage your child to describe the pictures, predict what happens next, or retell the story in their own words.

   • Targets: Storytelling, vocabulary, answering questions.

     
     
     
     

3. Snowflake Crafting

   • What to do: Create paper snowflakes together. Talk about shapes, sizes, and colors, and practice describing words like “big,” “small,” “round,” or “pointy.”

   • Targets: Descriptive language, following multi-step directions.

Outdoor Adventures

4. Snowman Building

   
   

   • What to do: Build a snowman and discuss the steps as you go. Use positional words like “on top of,” “next to,” and “under.” Encourage your child to label body parts and describe your snowman’s outfit.

   • Targets: Positional concepts, descriptive language, following directions.

     
     

5. Snowball Toss

   
   

   • What to do: Create a target such as a hula hoop or bucket and take turns throwing snowballs. Practice counting how many you get in or use action words like “throw,” “toss,” “score,” and “hit.”

   • Targets: Verbs, turn-taking, counting.

     
     

6. Treasure Hunt in the Snow

   
   

   • What to do: Hide colorful objects in the snow and give clues to help your child find them (e.g., “It’s near the tree” or “Look under the bench”).

   • Targets: Following directions, spatial concepts, problem-solving.

     
     

7. Planning Cold-Weather Outfits

   
   

   • What to do: Before heading outside, have your child plan the outfit or layers they’ll need for the cold. Ask them to think about what keeps them warm (ex: “What goes under your coat?”, “Do you need gloves or mittens?”). Let them gather and organize the items in the correct order to put them on.

   • Targets: Executive functioning, problem-solving, sequencing, clothing vocabulary.

Back Inside for Cozy Fun

8. Snow-Themed Snack Time

   
   

   • What to do: Make a snack together like popcorn “snowballs” or marshmallow treats. Talk about the ingredients and steps, and use describing words like “sticky,” “sweet,” and “soft.”

   • Targets: Vocabulary, sequencing, sensory descriptions.

     
     

9. Sing Winter Songs

   
   

   • What to do: Sing songs like “Frosty the Snowman” or make up your own snowy tune. Use gestures and encourage your child to fill in missing words or phrases.

   • Targets: Imitation, rhythm, expressive language.

Snow days offer a unique opportunity to connect with your child while supporting their communication growth. With these simple activities, you can bring joy to your day and encourage speech and language skills naturally. Have fun, stay warm, and make the most of your snowy adventure!