Winter is a magical time filled with opportunities to engage children in activities that can enhance their speech and language skills. Here are six fun and effective winter activities that can help elementary-aged students develop their communication abilities, inspired by strategies from speech-language pathologists. 

1. Baking Holiday Treats 

Baking is not only a delightful winter activity but also a fantastic way to work on language skills. Following a recipe helps children practice sequencing and following directions. You can also introduce new vocabulary related to ingredients and cooking actions. For example, ask them to describe the texture of the dough or the taste of the cookies. 

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/kids-baking-recipes 

2. Winter Storytelling 

Encourage children to create and tell their own winter-themed stories. This activity promotes creativity, narrative skills, and vocabulary development. You can provide prompts such as “Imagine you are building a snowman that comes to life. What happens next?” This helps them practice structuring their thoughts and using descriptive language. 

https://woojr.com/christmas-ad-libs/ 

https://www.imagineforest.com/blog/winter-writing-prompts/ 

3. Holiday Scavenger Hunt 

Organize a scavenger hunt with winter-themed items. Provide clues that require children to use descriptive language and follow multi-step directions. For example, “Find something that is white and cold” or “Look for an item that jingles.” This activity enhances listening skills, vocabulary, and the ability to follow instructions. 

4. Carol Karaoke 

Singing holiday songs can be a fun way to work on articulation and fluency. Discuss the lyrics to help children understand the meaning of new words and phrases. This activity also encourages expressive language as children sing and perform the songs. 

5. Building a Snowman 

Whether you have real snow or use craft materials, building a snowman can be a great language activity. Have children describe each step of the process and the materials they are using. You can also incorporate social skills by having them work together and communicate their ideas. 

https://pjsandpaint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Build-your-own-snowman_Pjs-and-Paint.pdf 

 6. Winter-Themed Role-Playing 

Set up role-playing scenarios such as a visit to Santa’s workshop or a holiday market. This allows children to practice conversational skills, use new vocabulary, and understand social interactions. Role-playing helps them develop pragmatic language skills in a fun and engaging way. 

These activities not only make the winter season enjoyable but also provide rich opportunities for language development. By incorporating these fun and festive ideas, you can help children enhance their communication skills while celebrating the joys of winter. 

Activities: 

https://woojr.com/christmas-ad-libs/  

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/kids-baking-recipes  

https://iheartcraftythings.com/christmas-coloring-pages.html  

https://www.communicationcommunity.com/christmas-themed-scavenger-hunt/ 

https://www.communicationcommunity.com/hanukkah-themed-scavenger-hunt/ 

https://www.imagineforest.com/blog/winter-writing-prompts/  

https://pjsandpaint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Build-your-own-snowman_Pjs-and-Paint.pdf