Speech and language therapy should not be something you have to fight to fit into your schedule. Speech and language activities for the car make it easy, because practice can happen anywhere, especially on the road. Car rides are a great option for families who are always on the move, and here are ideas you can try with your child.
Speech and Language Activities for the Car
I Spy
I Spy is one of the easiest activities for the car, and it targets vocabulary and categorization. Choose a category for each round, such as colors in the first round, textures like bumpy or smooth in the second, and sizes like small or gigantic in the third. It also works for speech sounds, especially /s/. Ask your child to focus on their good speech sounds while saying, “I spy with my little eye, something…” When they are the one guessing, have them focus on their sound as they ask questions.
Storytelling
Create stories together. One person starts with a sentence, and then each person in the car takes a turn adding to it. For a twist, pick billboards along the way and take turns telling a make-believe story or a real memory about each one. This builds story grammar (characters, setting, problem), vocabulary, sentence structure, sequencing, listening, and turn-taking. For speech practice, remind your child to use their good sounds, and let them know you will help if a sound needs fixing.
Search for Your Sound
This is one of the easiest speech and language activities for the car, and it needs no materials. Look for objects in or outside the car that include your child’s target sound. If your child is working on /r/, for example, look for a tree, road, store, red stop sign, or car. If your child likes a little competition, see who can find five objects with the target sound fastest.
20 Questions
One person picks a mystery word, and the others have 20 yes or no questions to guess it. This builds categorization, reasoning, question asking and answering, vocabulary, and turn-taking. To make it easier, pick items from a category such as animals, food, or things you wear. To make it harder, ask for guesses in WH question form (what, when, where, why, how).
3 in Common
Take turns making riddles in which three items have something in common. For example, “What do soccer, basketball, and tennis have in common? They are all types of balls.” Working backward from the answer helps you pick the three items. You can also work together if it is too hard. This game builds categorization, vocabulary, abstract thinking, and teamwork.
A to Z Game
Watch for letters on signs and license plates, and call them out in order from A to Z. Add a twist: when you spot a letter, say the sound it makes and a word that starts with it. If anyone questions where a letter was seen, the finder has to describe where they saw it. This targets phonological awareness, reading, direction words, and articulation.
Simple Speech Sound Practice
If you want something more straightforward, have your child practice their sounds in words, sentences, or conversation, depending on their level. If your child is working on /g/, play copycat with words like game, green, bug, and frog, or sentences like “the girl gave me grapes.” You can also say, “Make a silly sentence using the word goat.” For conversation, ask your child to think about their sound while you talk, and tell them you will gently remind them to fix it if they forget. Once the ride is over, they are done for the day, which keeps speech and language activities for the car light and fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should we do speech and language activities for the car?
Short bursts of 5 to 10 minutes work well, and you can stop sooner if your child is tired or frustrated. Keep it playful so the car stays a happy place.
Can these activities replace speech therapy homework?
They support it. Ask your child’s SLP which sounds or skills to target, and then use these games to practice them. Our guide to practicing speech sounds at home has more ideas.
What if my toddler is too young for these games?
Try songs, rhymes, and narrating what you see. Our post on making car rides language rich is written for toddlers. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association also shares speech and language milestones so you can see what to expect at each age.
How ETLC Can Help
If you want to make sure your child is on track for speech and language development, our speech-language pathologists are here to help, and we offer free screenings. Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center has locations in Johnston and North Liberty, IA, with virtual services also available.
Learn more about speech-language therapy at ETLC or schedule a free consultation to talk with a member of our team.
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About the Author
Sonia Strueby, M.A., CCC-SLP, is the founder of Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center. With over 25 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist, Sonia has dedicated her career to helping children overcome complex communication and academic challenges. She has advanced training and a special focus on treating dyslexia and childhood apraxia of speech, and she is passionate about providing families with a clear path to success.
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