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Boost speech therapy with group time

Most speech therapy takes place one-on-one. This is ideal, because it allows the therapist to individualize each child’s treatment. However, there are benefits to adding group time to individual sessions. Group speech therapy can work wonders, because many children acquire skills in one-on-one sessions, then struggle to demonstrate those skills in social situations. Group time allows children to practice with peers under the guidance of their therapists. This can help connect the dots and maximize skill-building.

According to Karyn Lewis Searcy, a Speech Language Pathologist, author and consultant, children should be grouped by skill level. It is best to start with paired peers, then move up to groups of three or four.

“Ideally, you put the kids together for 15 minutes after individual sessions to help generalize a skill they are working on,” Searcy says. “The group gives more synergy to the therapists and provides children with successful peer interaction.”

Another way to ensure success is to center group time around a shared interest. The team could bring out a kitchen set for kids who love to cook, or gather kids who love LEGOs and let them build together. With a little support from the therapy team, children can begin to practice successful peer interaction. Hopefully their parents can watch, too!

“Parents should always be encouraged to observe,” says Searcy. “Many of them have had limited opportunities to see their children engaging in joint play.”