Generalization in ABA Therapy: How Lakeview Kids Learn to Use New Skills in Real Life
Important Note for Families: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis,…
5 Activities to Kick-Start Your Child’s Literacy Skills
Heather Winegard
Heather Winegard, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a certified speech-language pathologist who brings over 15 years of pediatric expertise to families at Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center. Since joining the clinic in 2017, Heather has helped hundreds of children overcome communication barriers and feeding challenges, empowering them to express their needs, connect with others, and participate fully in daily life. Heather's educational journey began at Butler University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2008. This undergraduate foundation sparked her passion for helping children develop the fundamental human skill of communication. She continued her training at Arizona State University, earning her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2010, followed by successful completion of her Clinical Fellowship Year and ASHA certification. As a CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology), Heather has demonstrated advanced knowledge and adherence to the highest professional standards set by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Her clinical practice addresses the full spectrum of pediatric communication needs, including expressive language development such as vocabulary expansion, grammar usage, and narrative skills; receptive language comprehension including following multi-step directions and understanding complex concepts; functional communication strategies for children with limited verbal abilities; articulation and phonological disorders affecting speech clarity; and feeding and swallowing disorders that impact oral motor skills and safe eating. Heather's therapy sessions are carefully individualized to match each child's developmental level, learning style, and family priorities. She collaborates closely with parents and caregivers, providing coaching and home practice activities that reinforce skills between sessions. Her ability to make therapy engaging and her commitment to celebrating every communication milestone—whether it's a first word, a clear sentence, or successful mealtime—reflect her deep understanding that communication is connection, and every child deserves to be heard.
Read Less →Getting Started
Did you know that children with a history of speech-sound disorders are at risk for reading difficulties? Because of this, it is essential to start working on pre-literacy skills from an early age! Before a child is able to read, there are certain phonological awareness or pre-reading skills that must develop. Phonological awareness refers to the awareness of speech sounds and the ability to reflect on and manipulate them.
Phonological awareness involves skills such as rhyming words, segmenting a word into its separate sounds, blending sounds into a complete word, identifying the first or last sound in a word and changing a sound to make a new word.
Phonological awareness is critical for literacy development, and performance of phonological awareness tasks is a good predictor of future reading ability. Below are 5 activities you can try at home to support the development of these skills!
Phonological Awareness Activities to Enhance Literacy Skills:
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- I-Spy: Play the classic game of I-Spy with a literacy twist! Instead of providing clues based on color, try giving your child the first letter of the word or even a rhyming word. For example, “I spy something that begins with a /b/ sound” or “I spy something that rhymes with fox”
- Blending: Start by presenting the two parts of a compound word, such as “base-ball” or “air-plane” and ask your child to combine them to make one word. Once they have mastered this, try presenting 3 sounds “s-a-t” and see if they can blend them together
- Tip 1: Use stretching sounds
Stretching sounds include s, v, n, z, w, r, sh, h, th, f, m, l and all vowels. These sounds make it easier for kids to learn phonological blending - Tip 2: Make it visual
Use beads, chips or cheerios to represent each sound. Put your finger on a bead, produce the first sound of the word and pull it down. Repeat with the other two beads
- Tip 1: Use stretching sounds
- Flip Book: Write a 3-letter word on a piece of paper. Write a new letter on a post-it note and cover up the first letter. What happens? Sound out the new word. Repeat those steps to make various real and nonsense words that rhyme. Staple the post-it notes to the big piece of paper to make a flip book
- Scavenger Hunt: Choose a sound and tell your child to collect 5 items from around the house that start with that sound or end with that sound.
- Clap your Name: Model saying a word and clapping for each part (ex: “Mon-key. Monkey has two parts!”) Then, have your child clap for each syllable in their name. Repeat with the names of all family members and friends!
Wrapping Up
These are five easy ways to incorporate early literacy into your child’s every day routine. Should you feel that you need more guidance or would like to help your child progress with these literacy skills, please contact one of our early literacy specialists at Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center to schedule an assessment. They can be reached at 773-687-9241 or info@cptwc.com
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