WHy Play therapy is so important & How to use chomper champs with a play based approach to speech therapy
When it comes to pediatric speech therapy, a play-based approach is one of the most effective ways to engage children and promote communication development. Meaningful play varies from child to child, and play-based does not always mean the child leads the whole session! Play based therapy really started to click for me as an early clinician when the kids I saw were happier in sessions where we targeted our goals through play and not a bunch of pre-planned structured activities! Chomper Champs and the Chomper Champs Speech Therapy Kits are an excellent addition to your play based speech therapy materials for LOW PREP/EASY CLEAN UP speech therapy sessions!
Why Play is Crucial for Speech and Language Development
Engages and Motivates Children
Traditional drill-based therapy can sometimes feel repetitive or overwhelming for young children. Play makes learning fun and keeps kids engaged, increasing their willingness to participate in therapy sessions.Supports Natural Language Learning
Play-based speech therapy mimics real-life interactions, allowing children to practice language in meaningful contexts. Through play, children naturally use new vocabulary, sentence structures, and conversational skills.Encourages Social Communication
Many children with speech and language delays also struggle with social skills. Play-based activities create opportunities for turn-taking, eye contact, and joint attention, all of which are essential for effective communication.Reduces Anxiety and Builds Confidence
A structured yet playful environment helps children feel at ease, allowing them to take risks with their communication without fear of failure. This boosts confidence and fosters a positive attitude toward speech therapy.
Combining Chomper Champs with your Speech Therapy Supplies for Play-Based Learning
How to use Chomper Champs with play-based materials you already have in your therapy closet!
Mini Objects & Sensory Bins – Small items can help with vocabulary development, categorization, and following directions. Use your mini objects as snacks for Chomper Champ - hide them in the Chomper Champs drawstring bag, toss them in a sensory bin, or have an egg hunt where Chomper Champs eats all the minis you find!
Play Food & Kitchen Sets – Great for practicing sequencing, requesting, and social communication. Prepare a meal for Chomper Champs to eat with your play food items! If the food is too big to fit into Chomper Champs’ mouth, feed him small photo cards with the food items on them for his snacks!
Board Games & Card Games – Help reinforce turn-taking, problem-solving, and expressive language skills. Many game pieces are the PERFECT size to feed your Chomper Champ! Use the Clue board to sort items into rooms, or feed Chomper the body parts you extract in Operation! Chomper Champs is a fun addition if you’re working on board game skills to keep it silly and engage more language.
Picture Books & Storytelling Props – Support literacy, comprehension, and articulation goals. Chomper Champs is an EXCELLENT addition to picture book reading! If you have mini objects associated with the book items, or print photo cards with target vocabulary in the book to feed to Chomper Champs. Some of my favorites are The Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly books and The Very Hungry Caterpillar to use with Chomper Champ!
How to Incorporate Play into Therapy Sessions
Follow the Child’s Lead
Let children choose toys or activities that interest them, I usually like to set out 4-5 activities and let the child show me which one they like best (It’s often Chomper Champs!!). This increases motivation and engagement while providing organic opportunities for communication.Use Open-Ended Questions
Instead of yes/no questions, ask “What happens next?” or “How does that work?” to encourage conversation and critical thinking.Model Language
Narrate what’s happening in play to expose children to new vocabulary and sentence structures. Don’t be afraid to be repetitive of course!Integrate Speech Goals Naturally
Whether targeting articulation, receptive language, or expressive language, embed goals into fun activities rather than using flashcards or worksheets alone. Use your Chomper Champ to incorporate core vocabulary they may be using at home, for example at mealtimes or when they’re getting ready for bed time!
Planning for a day full of sessions can be demanding on an already-busy slp. choose speech therapy materials like chomper champs for low-prep/easy clean up speech thearpy sessions for children of all ages! Order your Chomper Champ Speech Therapy Companion Tool today for a high quality, fan-favorite addition to your speech supplies!
Stephanie Feero, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Creator/Owner
Chomper Champs LLC