Crack open the door to engaging speech and language development with our simple yet effective speech therapy early intervention activity using eggs! All you need are a dozen plastic eggs and small objects to fit inside each one. There’s something magical about finding mini treasures that delights children between the ages of two and five. I’ve used this activity during the spring/Easter season and beyond with great success! For more winning, speech therapy early intervention activities, head to this post.
Communicative Purpose in Speech Therapy Early Intervention
In the world of speech pathology, we often reference: communicative purpose. These are the various ways that we express our intentions to connect with others. The greatest thing about using this simple activity of filling plastic eggs with treasures, is that you can elicit several purposes for social communication. Below is a sample of a speech session from start to finish using eggs filled with objects to tempt communication with young children:
- Requesting object: indicating a choice for an egg with pointing, eye gaze, reaching, or vocalizing
- Requesting assistance: reaching, signing, vocalizing, or expressing “help” to open an egg
- Greeting: waving and/ or saying “hi/ hello, bye/ see ya” as you take objects in and out of eggs
- Requesting action: gesturing and/ or vocalizing to say “go” after a verbal prompt of “Ready, set…” with a wind up toy; matchbox car/ small vehicle; or spring-loaded pop-up toy
- Requesting continuance: gestures, signs, and/ or vocalizes “more”
- Labeling: using a sound/ syllable/ word for famous characters like Elmo, Sponge Bob, and Dora
- Commenting: using facial expressions, sounds (ew), words (yuck, wow) to make comments about sticky, slimy, gooey, messy things
- Responding to questions: Potato Head pieces for naming and/ or identifying body parts
- Protesting: shaking head “no”; pushing object away; placing it in an egg; or vocalizing “no”
- Requesting termination: gesturing, signing, and/ or vocalizing “all done”
Treasure Hunt
- The Dollar Tree typically has a wind up toy or two somewhere in the store or you can find bundles on Amazon. I like having one of these in each sound box because they allow for a little more opportunity for target practice while you play with it. You may also find magnet numbers, miniature animal figures, individually packaged specialty characters, and small Koosh objects at your local Dollar Tree store.
- Target Dollar spots sometimes have mini object erasers in a pack of 4 for $1. I found a fruit one on clearance for 30 cents that had a strawberry, banana, grapes, and a watermelon.
- Party stores often have trinkets for favors or decor for themed parties
- Walmart carries seasonal favors that are fairly priced. I found a collection of stretchy body parts during Halloween a few years ago that the kids love.
- IKEA sometimes carries animal finger puppets in a collection of 5-6 that are fun for varying play during a seek-and-find game.
- Dinky Doodads on Etsy.
Nanette Cote is an ASHA certified speech pathologist, published author, and private practice business owner with 30 years experience.
