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,…
Play and Language Activities With A Ball
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.
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Interaction, Language Activities, & Development
Whether it’s tucked away in your garage, covered in mud, or somewhere under your couch, we all have one of these in our house: a Ball! Read on to find out how to use it in a Language Activity!
No matter what age, all children and adults alike find some interest in playing or interacting with a ball! Interaction between you and your child while using different household items or objects is a gateway to overall language development!
Here are 5 examples of how using a Ball during Language Activities can enhance language development:
- • Builds understanding of Basic Concepts: Colors, numbers, shapes, size (“GREEN ball!”, “I have ONE RED ball!” “A SMALL RED ball!”)
- • Builds understanding of Action Words: roll, bounce, give, take, throw, turn, hold, look, put, etc. (“BOUNCE the ball up high!”, “ROLL the ball to me!”, “PUT it in the bucket!”)
- • Builds understanding of Prepositional Concepts: up, down, across, in, on, under, above, below (“The little ball is UNDER the couch!”, “Where did the ball go? It’s IN the bucket!” “It’s ABOVE my head!”)
- • Builds understanding of Descriptors: “FAST ball!”, “LITTLE ROUND ball!”, “RED ball is SLOW!”, etc.
- • Builds understanding of Pronouns: “Your”, “My”, “I”, “Mine, “His”, “Hers”
Ways to play with or use a ball:
- • Take turns with the ball: Use pronouns while describing the ball. “It’s MY turn with green ball!”, “I’m bouncing the blue ball!”, “You take the ball”)
- • Hide the ball: Work on prepositional concepts and have your child find the ball. Make sure to provide them with the location of the item (“The ball is UNDER the table!”, “She put it ON the couch!”)
- • Use it outdoors!: This will allow more actions to be worked on. Kick, play, throw, bounce, etc.
Some parents and caregivers (maybe even some therapists!) might feel like they need structured games/toys/activities in order to build the language skills of their child or client. As you can see, there is a multitude of ways to expand a child’s language and enrich their world while playing with a ball!
Questions or Concerns?
Still need help with enhancing your toddler’s speech and language skills? Check out our Speech Therapy Page or call one of our pediatric speech pathologists today for an evaluation to learn more fun ways to encourage your child to talk! They can be reached at 773-687-9241! Does your school age child need further assistance? Take a look at our Therapeutic Academy and see how it can assist is enriching your child’s speech skills and much more!
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