Early Intervention Teletherapy: Arts and Crafts


Welcome to the second post in my series of early intervention teletherapy!  In case you missed the previous post on water play, my hope is to provide SLPs and families some insight into the virtual coaching model for this young population.  In a time when professionals and families are scrambling to provide virtual services by gathering materials and lesson plans, I want to help simplify things for you when it comes to servicing preschool-aged and limited verbal children.  SLPs will need a web camera and schedule for families while parents/caregivers should gather paper and crayons or markers.  If  families have a Magna Doddle, then that could substitute the paper and writing utensils.  Now, onto the good stuff: your goals and targets!

 Imitation:
  1. Draw 2 horizontal lines while saying "ZOOM" leaving a few inches between them.
  2. Now make vertical lines while saying "ZAP".
  3. Enjoy your train track for pretend play!

Early Speech Sound targets:
  1. Have the parent trace his or her hand while singing any tune that the child enjoys.
  2. Repeat step 1 tracing the child's hand either stacked on top or next to the parent's hand.
  3. Model/ demonstrate: me, mine, my, you, big, tiny, hi, and bye while coloring the hands together.

Following directions (varies according to ability):


Pragmatic skills (Using gestures, pictures, sounds, words, or phrases):
  • Greeting and Departures: Practicing "hi" and "bye" during the activity.
  • Requesting objects: Giving choices or placing objects within reach for selection.
  • Responding to questions
  • Protesting
  • Turn taking with the same colored crayon/marker.
  • Commenting: Labeling hand sizes (big/tiny).

Language Skills:
  • What color is this crayon/marker?
  • What do we do with crayons/markers?
  • Where should we hang this picture?
  • Which hand is big/tiny?
  • Did you like this?

If you want to add a sensory experience to this activity, then you could have families use scented crayons/markers and talk about the things you smell.  Another option would be to "paint" the hands with some glue and then sprinkle Jello powder or a fragrant spice.  Most importantly, encourage FUN because that is what will bring out the most communicative interaction!