Speech Therapy Carry-Over at Home: 5 Practical Strategies for Parents

If your child is working on speech sounds in therapy, you might notice something confusing.  They can say the sound beautifully in the therapy room… but at home it disappears.  This is completely normal — and it doesn’t mean therapy isn’t working!

Learning a new speech sound is like learning a new motor skill (just like riding a bike or tying shoes). Children need lots of practice in different places before the skill becomes automatic in everyday talking.  The good news?  Small, simple routines at home can make a HUGE difference in carry-over.

Here are easy, age-appropriate, evidence-based ways to help your preschooler use their “good speech sounds” outside of therapy.

1. Create a “Speech Practice Folder” (Paper or Digital!)

One of the biggest challenges for parents is remembering what to practice — especially when activities are sent through text or email. Here’s a simple fix - create one place where all speech practice lives:

✔ A physical folder or binder for printed materials 

✔ OR a digital speech folder on your phone

Easy digital options include: a screenshot photo album labeled “Speech Practice”, a folder in Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox, or saving practice texts/emails in one dedicated place.

Whenever your SLP sends a word list, activity, or visual, just save it to that folder.  Then when you have a free minute — in the car, waiting in line, or at the table — you can quickly pull up something to practice.

2. Make Everyday “Good Speech Zones”

Instead of setting aside formal practice time, build speech into routines you already have.  Great speech zones for preschoolers include: the car, the kitchen table, bath time, bedtime stories, pretend play.  Pick one or two places where you’ll gently focus on good speech. Short bursts (2–5 minutes) often are more effective than long drills.

3. Use Simple Visual Reminders

Preschoolers learn best when they can SEE what to do.   An easy visual: fold a piece of paper into a little tent and write your child’s target sound on it. Place them around the house - on the dinner table, the play table, the counter, even in the car!  This acts as a visual reminder: “Oh yeah — we’re using our good speech sound!” You can also add a simple picture of the mouth shape for that sound.

SLP Tip From Our Home: Making Carry-Over Click

(My real-life example of how small changes can make a big difference)

Right now, I’m working with my own 6-year-old son on his /s/ sound. Like many children, self-monitoring is hard for him — especially because he’s easily distracted. When I ask him to make a good /s/, he can produce a perfect sound. But during everyday talking, unless he’s reminded, he naturally slips back into a frontal lisp. To help bridge that gap, I put little paper “speech tents” around our kitchen with the letter S written on them. Nothing fancy — just folded index card placed where we sit and eat. Those simple visual cues have made a big difference. He’s now using his good /s/ sound on his own more often — without me prompting.

We also turned our one-on-one drives to and from TaeKwonDo into our special “good speech time.” With his brother and sister not in the car sharing the talking time, he gets lots of natural practice in a fun, relaxed way.  And the progress has been amazing — he’s so close to using his good /s/ sound all the time!

4. Catch and Praise Good Speech

One of the most powerful carry-over tools is positive feedback.  When you hear your child use their target sound correctly during their day, say something!  “Great ‘s’ sound in ‘yes’!” or “I loved how you said ‘cookie’ with your good sound!”.  When praising for good speech try to do it right away, specifically naming the sound you heard, and be enthusiastic!  This helps the brain lock in the new motor pattern faster.

5. Use the “Little and Often” Rule

Instead of one long practice session, try 10 minutes a day, or 1-3 minutes several times a day.  Even 5 words in the car, then 5 words at lunch, and 5 words before bed adds up to powerful progress!

A Few Quick Tips for Success

✔ Keep practice positive and fun

✔ Avoid correcting every mistake in everyday conversation

✔ Model the sound correctly instead of saying “no” or stopping them

✔ Celebrate effort — not just perfection

Remember, carry-over and progress happen with consistency, not pressure. Your child’s brain is building new speech habits, and every little bit of practice helps those good sounds become automatic in everyday talking. By keeping practice simple, playful, and part of your daily routine, you’re giving your child the best chance for long-lasting speech success.

References:

• Maas, E., et al. (2008). Principles of motor learning in treatment of motor speech disorders. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.

• Williams, A. L. (2012). Intensity in phonological intervention: Is there a prescribed amount? International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.

• Baker, E., & McLeod, S. (2011). Evidence-based practice for children with speech sound disorders. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools.

• ASHA Practice Portal: Speech Sound Disorders — Treatment (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)