St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching! Get ready to sprinkle some magic into your home with a leprechaun trap adventure! As a speech-language pathologist, I know this isn’t just a fun craft; it’s a golden opportunity to tap into new and unique vocabulary words, speech sound practice, while working on an interactive family project. Let’s transform the excitement of catching a leprechaun into St. Patrick’s Day speech activities for your toddlers, preschoolers, and young school-aged children!
The Magic Begins: Setting the Stage
Before diving into the construction phase, create an atmosphere of anticipation and wonder. Start by reading a story about leprechauns. This provides a shared context and introduces key vocabulary like “leprechaun,” “gold,” “rainbow,” “trick,” and “trap.” Here are a few book recommendations: How to Catch a Leprechaun, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover, Pete the Cat; The Great Leprechaun Chase, The Berenstain Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day
- For Toddlers: At this stage toddlers are engaged by bright illustrations and simple narratives. Focus on pointing and naming objects.
- Script: “Look! A leprechaun! He’s wearing a green hat. Green! Can you say green?”
- For Preschoolers: Opt for stories with more detailed plots and descriptive language. Ask open-ended questions.
- Script: “What do you think the leprechaun is going to do? Where does he live? What does he like?”
- For Young School-Aged Children: Encourage them to retell the story in their own words. Give your child the opportunity to practice their reading. If it is a longer story, take turns reading sections or pages! Also, giving your child the choice between listening to a story or reading a story can be powerful. The most important part of reading is keeping them motivated and engaged!
- Script: “Tell me the story of the leprechaun in your own words. What was your favorite part? Why?”
Building the Trap: A Step-by-Step Guide
Now, let’s get our hands dirty (or glittery!). The basic idea is to create a tempting trap that will lure the leprechaun into a container, box, or whatever you create!
Materials:
- A box or container (shoebox, cereal box, plastic container)
- Green construction paper or paint
- Rainbow-colored craft supplies (paper, pipe cleaners, glitter, pom-poms)
- Gold coins or chocolate gold coins
- String or yarn
- Scissors and glue
- Optional: Glitter, stickers, small toys
Step 1: Decorating the Trap
- For Toddlers: Focus on sensory exploration. Let them tear green paper, stick pre-cut shapes, and finger paint.
- Language Focus: Introduce action words like “tear,” “stick,” “paint,” and “touch.”
- Speech Sound Focus: Target early developing sounds like /p/, /b/, /m/, and /h/ in words like “paint,” “box,” “more,” and “hat.”
- For Preschoolers: Encourage them to use scissors (with supervision) and create patterns with rainbow colors. Here are different scissor options that can help work on the skill of cutting: Regular Kid Scissors, Scissors that open back up automatically, Fiskar Scissors (best for kids just starting to cut)
- Language Focus: Use positional words like “on,” “under,” “next to,” and “behind.”
- Speech Sound Focus: Target later developing sounds like /k/, /g/, /f/, and /s/ in words like “color,” “glue,” “find,” and “stick.”
- For Young School-Aged Children: Allow them to design and build more elaborate traps with multiple compartments and mechanisms.
- Language Focus: Encourage them to use descriptive language and explain their design choices. Have your child give you directions and explain their thoughts and ideas.
- Speech Sound Focus: Target complex sound combinations and multisyllabic words like “construction,” “decoration,” and “leprechaun.” You can word on consonant blends like “squeeze”, “squirt”, “squirt”, “square”
Step 2: Creating the Rainbow Lure
- For Toddlers: Provide pre-cut rainbow strips and let them glue them onto the trap.
- Language Focus: Name the colors of the rainbow and count the strips.
- Speech Sound Focus: Focus on producing words with early developing sounds like /p, b, m, t, d, h, w/. “Push”, “pat”, “big”, ‘box”, “more”, “top”, “tap” “tub”, “dot”, “wet”, “wow”, “cap.”
- For Preschoolers: Help them create a rainbow using pipe cleaners, pom-poms, or paper chains.
- Language Focus: Use sequencing words like “first,” “next,” and “last.”
- Speech Sound Focus: Focus on producing words with early developing sounds like /p, b, m, t, d, h, w/. “Push”, “pat”, “big”, ‘box”, “more”, “top”, “tap” “tub”, “dot”, “wet”, “wow”, “cap.” You can start to add in words for /k/ and /f/ as well. “Cage”, “cut”, “shake”, “back”, “fit”, “funny”, half”, “enough.”
- For Young School-Aged Children: Challenge them to create a 3D rainbow or a rainbow that leads directly into the trap.
- Language Focus: Encourage them to use problem-solving skills and explain their reasoning.
- Speech Sound Focus: Make note of sounds your child has difficulty with and write them down. Incorporate them into this activity. Have them practice the word alone and then add it to phrases and sentences.
Step 3: Adding the Gold
- For Toddlers: Let them drop gold coins into the trap and count them.
- Language Focus: Introduce the concept of “more” and “less.”
- Speech Sound Focus: use simple words and early developing sounds. “Drop”, “in”, “out”, “down” “up”, “done.”
- For Preschoolers: Hide gold coins around the trap and create a treasure map.
- Language Focus: Use spatial concepts like “in,” “out,” “around,” and “through.”
- Speech Sound Focus: Focus on producing words with early developing sounds like /p, b, m, t, d, h, w/. “Push”, “pat”, “big”, ‘box”, “more”, “top”, “tap” “tub”, “dot”, “wet”, “wow”, “cap.” You can start to add in words for /k/ and /f/ as well. “Cage”, “cut”, “shake”, “back”, “fit”, “funny”, half”, “enough.”
- For Young School-Aged Children: Create a trail of gold coins leading to the trap.
- Language Focus: Encourage them to write a note to the leprechaun explaining why they want to catch him.
- Speech Sound Focus: Encourage them to use their target sounds in sentences when they are writing the note to the leprechaun.
Step 4: Setting the Trap
- For Toddlers: Help them place the trap in a visible location.
- Language Focus: Use simple sentences to describe the location.
- Speech Sound Focus: Practice the /s/ sound in “see” and “set.”
- For Preschoolers: Discuss the best place to set the trap and why.
- Language Focus: Encourage them to use reasoning and prediction skills.
- Speech Sound Focus: Target consonant clusters and multisyllabic words.
- For Young School-Aged Children: Create a “caution” sign or a “do not disturb” sign to protect the trap.
- Language Focus: Encourage them to use persuasive language and write detailed instructions.
- Speech Sound Focus: Practice fluency and intonation when reading the signs aloud.
St. Patrick’s Day Speech Activities: Strategies Throughout the Activity
- Modeling: Use clear and concise language, modeling correct pronunciation and grammar.
- Expansion: Expand on the child’s utterances, adding details and complexity.
- Example: Child says, “Green paint.” You say, “Yes, you’re using green paint to make the trap look like grass.”
- Repetition: Repeat target words and sounds frequently.
- Positive Reinforcement: Praise and encourage the child’s efforts.
- Open-Ended Questions: Ask questions that require more than a yes or no answer.
- Following Directions: Give multi-step directions to improve listening and comprehension skills.
- Turn-Taking: Encourage turn-taking during conversations and activities.
- Storytelling: Encourage the child to narrate their actions and create their own stories about leprechauns.
Adapting the St. Patrick’s Day Speech Activities for Different Needs
- For children with articulation difficulties: Pre-select target words and sounds related to the activity. Model the sounds correctly and encourage the child to repeat them.
- For children with language delays: Use visual aids, simplify instructions, and provide extra support.
- For children with sensory sensitivities: Provide a variety of textures and materials, but allow the child to choose what they are comfortable with.
- For children with attention difficulties: Break down the activity into smaller steps and provide frequent breaks.
The Morning After: Discovering the Results
The excitement doesn’t end with setting the trap! The next morning, it’s time to investigate.
- For Toddlers: Look for signs of the leprechaun (e.g., gold coins, glitter, a note).
- Language Focus: Use exclamatory phrases like “Wow!” and “Look!”
- Speech Sound Focus: Practice early developing sounds in words like “find” and “gold.”
- For Preschoolers: Discuss what might have happened during the night.
- Language Focus: Encourage them to use imaginative language and create their own stories.
- Speech Sound Focus: Target later developing sounds in words like “leprechaun,” “trick,” and “escaped.”
- For Young School-Aged Children: Write a journal entry or draw a picture of their leprechaun adventure.
- Language Focus: Encourage them to use descriptive language and express their feelings.
- Speech Sound Focus: Practice fluency and articulation during reading and writing.
So, whether your trap catches a mischievous leprechaun or just a sprinkle of St. Patrick’s Day magic, the real treasure lies in the shared experience and the St. Patrick’s Day speech activities that fostered the skills along the way. Embrace the opportunity to weave learning into playful moments, turning a simple craft into a vibrant adventure that celebrates both the joy of childhood and the power of communication. Happy leprechaun trapping!
For more information check out these resources:
First Words Bright Futures Facebook Page
First Words Bright Futures Instagram Page
How to Catch a Leprechaun Read Aloud
MDS: Bedtime Language Tips for Kids
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and suggestions. It is not intended as a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment from a certified Speech-Language Pathologist. If you have specific concerns about your child’s speech development, please consult with a qualified professional in your area.
