Snow Day Fun...INDOORS!

Leena Bhopale, MS, CCC-SLP

3 min read

Some of us are thrilled when we see those first flakes come down at night and we know by morning there will be a thick blanket of white fluff. Others, skip right over the images of serene beauty, straight to the grey slushy mess, with puddles of questionable depth awaiting you at every crosswalk. Me, I'm in the former, and while I used to cancel most snow days because staying on schedule and making it through unplowed streets was not always possible, now with tele-therapy I don't have to. Instead, I'm encouraging parents to bring the snow in! Yes, you read that right. Bring. The snow. IN! Relax, it won't get all over the floor and ruin your hardwood...well maybe, but thats what old sheets and newspaper is for. After your see how much fun your child is having WITHOUT having to wrap them up in layers and layers of clothing, you'll be right there with Marie Kondo!

Seriously though, I'll walk you through it. You'll be fine! Ready?

Step 1: Find a container

Step 2: Scoop up some freshly fallen snow.

Step 3: create an area where your kids can play with the snow, either on the floor, in their high chair, at the table, it is completely up to you.

Step 4: Play! Have FUN!

Yes, it's that simple. You can target receptive and expressive vocabulary, and sensory skills all at once. If you keep the activities and materials simple, you can spend more time focusing on the what is important. That is targeting speech, language, social and sensory goals.

Here are some activity ideas and vocabulary lists to get you started. Use the vocabulary lists as fringe vocabulary options to create activity overlays for communication devices, picture symbol activity boards, and program voice output communication devices. Remember, fringe vocabulary is what can be changed to fit the activity and specific target objectives for the immediate session. In this case, "snow", "roll", "scoop", "cold" and "put on", for example. Core vocabulary is what does not change, like "I want", "yes", "no", "all done", and "more". This category of vocabulary stays consistent across activities.

Build a snowman

Roll out 3 snowballs and decorate with tiny twigs, googly eyes, and a baby carrot nose

Hide and seek - scoop up some snow in wide container and bury objects in the snow. Let your child dig through the snow and discover what is buried beneath. Use magnetic or plastic letters, shape sorter pieces, play food, any thing that won't warp from the moisture.

BONUS: Add a functional skill by keeping a small washcloth or paper towel to the side, and when all the pieces have been found, ask your child to help you wipe them down. Using a phrase like " Help me wipe these" can make it feel less like a chore and more like they're deciding to do you a solid. You're the adult, you don't get manipulated! You DO the manipulating! Just kidding...kinda.

Vocabulary lists for varying levels:

Emerging verbal- Consonant (C)-Vowel(V), VC, VCV, CVCV

Me

Uh-oh

Oh-no

Up

Whoa!

Tada!

Simplified word shapes (acoustically sound like the actual word but easier to imitate initially. Always provide additional models of the correct pronunciation. Simplified word shapes are used to initiate the skill of verbal imitation for children who are not yet consistently using sounds in various combinations).

Ro --> roll

Baw --> ball

Apo --> apple

Verbal 1-3 words ( can be used for communication devices, picture symbols and activity boards)

Nouns:

Snow Letters

Ball Foods

Towel Shapes

Spoon

Body parts

Verbs:

Roll

Pick up

Dig

Scoop

Poke

Wipe

Adjectives:

Big/Small

Hot/Cold

Wet/Dry

Examples of phrases:

Gimme+object

I do

I want+ object or I want + action

I see + object

I see+Big/Little+ ball

Action+object ( Roll ball, Scoop snow, Wipe + Letter).

These activities can be taken in so many different directions. For example, if you use a shape sorter, place the actual sorter 3-4 feet away, line up the shapes that were dug out of the snow and have your child go back and forth picking up a named shape and putting in. Adjust it according to gross motor goals. Just remember to keep it simple, plan the vocabulary your want to target and most importantly...