How To Help An Autistic Child With Speech Therapy Through Play
I am just a mom navigating this journey alongside my kids – a mom with Autism, raising a wonderful Autistic child, and also parenting another child who is not Autistic. I share this because I believe that personal experiences, while not a substitute for professional advice, can sometimes provide relatable insights and encouragement.
One of the biggest challenges I have faced as a parent is helping my child find their voice – literally.
Communication is such a vital part of life. I want my child to be able to share their feelings, tell me about their day, and express their likes and dislikes. But it is not always easy, and that is okay.
Progress takes time.
I help my autistic child with speech therapy and social therapy regularly. Sometimes three times a week, sometimes more if group therapy is involved.
I do this because I want my child to have the tools they need to live as comfortably as possible in a world that often does not make sense.
My hope is for them to be able to tell me what they need, how their day went, what they love, and what they dislike – all through words.
If you are a parent or caregiver of an Autistic child with speech delays, I want to share something that has been a game changer for us: play.
Yes, play!
Beyond therapy sessions, I have discovered that play is an incredibly powerful tool for an autistic child with speech development.
Play allows kids to learn in a relaxed, joyful environment. Over time, I have gathered a list of fun, interactive games that have made a world of difference for us.
I want to share them with you because I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to figure out where to start.
Through games and fun activities, you can help strengthen your autistic child with speech improving techniques, improve their confidence, and maybe even find moments of joy along the way.
I will walk you through some fun and simple activities that have worked wonders for us.
Remember, every child is different, so do not stress if it takes time – progress happens one step at a time.
Why Do Some Autistic Children Struggle With Speech?
From my perspective as both an Autistic adult and a parent raising an Autistic child, I have seen first-hand how communication can look different for every individual.
One of the reasons it was hard for my autistic child with speech is that language processing does not always come naturally.
For my child, the connection between hearing a word and being able to reproduce it often feels like a puzzle with missing pieces. They might understand what I am saying, but their brain and mouth does not always align to form the words they want to express.
Sensory overload has also played a big part in my family’s journey.
My child, for example, can find bright lights or unexpected noises incredibly distracting.
When their brain is busy managing these sensory inputs, focusing an autistic child with speech becomes a secondary priority. It is like trying to have a conversation while standing in the middle of a noisy, crowded room – it is overwhelming.
Then there is the motor skill aspect, which I did not fully appreciate until I noticed how much my child struggled with things like blowing bubbles or chewing specific foods.
These activities use the same muscles needed for an autistic child with speech.
Over time, I have realized that my autistic child with speech is not just about understanding language; it is also about having the muscle coordination to form sounds – and for some Autistic kids, those muscles need extra practice and support.
Which Autistic Children Are the Best Candidates to Start Speech Therapy?
When I first considered speech therapy for my child, I was not sure if they were ready or if it would help.
What I have learned along the way is that the right time to start depends on the child’s current abilities and their desire to communicate.
For my child, the decision became clear when they started pointing at objects and making sounds, trying to tell me something but getting frustrated when I did not understand.
They had the intent to communicate, but the words just were not there yet. This was a strong sign that speech therapy could help bridge that gap – and it has, in so many ways.
Another thing I noticed was that my autistic child with speech could mimic certain words but was not able to put them into sentences.
This made them a great candidate for speech therapy because they already had a foundation to build on. The therapist has been able to help them turn those isolated words into meaningful expressions, which has been incredible to witness.
For any family considering speech therapy, my advice is to trust your instincts and listen to your child’s cues.
If they are showing signs of wanting to connect – through sounds, gestures, or even eye contact – it might be the perfect time to introduce them to a therapist who can guide their journey.
And remember, the process is just as much about you as it is about them. When you’re involved and excited, it makes all the difference.
Why Speech Development Takes Practice
For some kids, the muscles around the mouth and tongue can feel “asleep” at first. They are just not as exercised yet as they need to be to form certain sounds.
Think of it like trying to lift a heavy weight without any training – it is tough at first! But with practice, those muscles get stronger.
Helping an autistic child with speech development is a step by step process. Just like how babies learn to sit, crawl, stand, and walk.
Helping an autistic child with speech starts with sounds, then simple words, and eventually full sentences. It does not happen overnight, and that is okay.
The best part is: learning can happen at any age.
Whether your child is just starting out or you are helping them with pronunciation and clarity, it is never too late.
And the best way to practice? – Through games that make it feel fun and natural.
Games That Help Your Autistic Child With Speech Through Play
Here are some of the games I play that have been incredibly helpful for my autistic child with speech development. These activities focus on strengthening mouth muscles, improving vowel and consonant pronunciation, and boosting confidence – all while having fun!
1. Blow Through a Straw
For this activity, all you need is a drinking straw and some small balls of paper (or pom-poms if you have them). Here is how it works:
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Roll up some tiny paper balls and place them on a table.
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Use the straw to blow air and push the paper balls across the table.
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Make it a game—who can blow the ball the farthest?
Afterward, smile as wide as you can and show those teeth! Trust me, your child will find this hilarious.
How it helps: Blowing exercises the mouth muscles needed for vowels like E, O, and U.
It is also a great way to practice controlled breathing, which helps your autistic child with speech clarity.
2. Suck Through a Straw
This game flips the first one around. Instead of blowing, we are sucking air through the straw:
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Have your child try to pick up small paper balls by sucking air through the straw.
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Challenge them to keep the ball “stuck” to the straw and walk across the room without dropping it.
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Turn it into a friendly competition with siblings or make it a “family challenge.”
Tip: You can also encourage your child to drink their drinks through a straw. It is fun and builds those muscles even more.
How it helps: This activity strengthens the lips, tongue, and cheeks, which are all key for forming clear speech sounds.
3. Bubble Blowing Fun
Who does not love bubbles?
Here is how to make this classic activity a learning tool:
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Take a deep breath in through your mouth.
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Blow bubbles using a bubble wand (or DIY one with dish soap and water).
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Make it silly – who can blow the biggest bubble?
How it helps: The deep breath helps practice A and I sounds, while blowing focuses on O and U vowels.
Plus, it is pure joy for kids!
4. Balancing Challenge
For this game, you’ll need a pencil, pen, or stick:
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Place the pencil on your upper lip and tilt your head back.
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Use your lips to hold the pencil in place, and try to “trap” it there.
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Smile with your mouth closed and see if you can balance the pencil without dropping it.
How it helps: This strengthens lip muscles, which are essential for sounds like M, P, B, and F.
5. Monster Eating Game
Pretend you are a hungry monster, dinosaur, or hippo!
Here is how:
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Open your mouth wide and show all your teeth.
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Pretend to “eat” imaginary food or let someone toss popcorn into your mouth.
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Chew with exaggerated movements, showing your teeth the whole time.
How it helps: This game helps with exaggerated mouth movements, which are great for sounds like A, I, and E.
This game becomes even more fun if someone tries to throw popcorn into your mouth.
As soon as a popcorn lands in your mouth you must eat it like a Monster/Dinosaur/Hippo/Cow etc would.
Wide closed mouth with as many teeth as possible exposed.
6. Fish Face Fun
Make fish faces together:
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Suck in your cheeks so your lips make an “8” shape.
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Smack your lips like a fish and pretend to swim around.
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Add a story line – “e’re fish looking for treasure!”
How it helps: This silly game works in helping your autistic child with speech because nearly every mouth muscle and is especially good for F, P, M, and O sounds.
7. Paper Lips
Cut 1 rectangle of paper, fold it in half and place the two stuck together squares on the edge of your mouth.
Open and close the paper, using your lips only.
Keep your hands behind your back!
The one who drops the paper first, loses!
To make it even more fun place popcorn inside the paper, on the edge of your mouth.
If you drop the popcorn you lose.
This game is great for working on the L sound.
Famously, a lot of children and adults struggle with properly pronouncing the L sound. So this is a great game to play with your child if that is the area they struggle with.
It also helps the mouth muscles be trained to pronounce the B, M, P and R sounds
Warning!
This game is for the older kids and adults. Because this can be a dangerous choking hazard for a younger child.
Keep even your older children supervised during this game.
While it is extremely difficult for the popcorn to get stuck in your throat because the paper has no opening, on the part that is inside your mouth, NEVER take chances.
8. Upper teeth chew
Try giving your child soft foods to chew on only using their upper teeth and their chin.
Yes, it will get messy.
And yes, it will require a decent clean up.
Try things like soft strawberries, mashed potatoes etc.
However,
It is one of the only exercises that develop the F and the V sound.
Consistency is Key
Here is the truth: these games will not work overnight. But the more often you play them, the faster you will see progress.
Try incorporating one or two games into your daily routine – maybe right before dinner or during bath time. Even just 10-15 minutes a day can make a huge difference.
The best part?
You are not just helping your autistic child with speech – you are creating beautiful memories and bonding in a way that feels natural and fun.
My Final Thoughts
Helping an autistic child with speech development is a journey, and every child moves at their own pace. I know how hard it can feel sometimes, but do not give up.
Celebrate the small wins, laugh through the silly games, and keep showing up.
Your love, patience, and dedication are what will make all the difference.
If you are looking for more games or ideas, I highly recommend checking out “Helping an Autistic Child With Speech Therapy: Speech Sounds and Language Development: Delay OR Disorder? Helpful Games and Therapy Ideas for Parents to Try at HOME“ – a great resource filled with techniques you can try at home.
I have other posts on how I helped my autistic child with speech and helped them develop social and speaking skills. – You can read more about that by clicking here, ‘Teaching your Autistic child to be polite.
You have got this.
And remember, you are not alone – We have all had to try to help our autistic child with speech and we are all learning and growing together.
Let us keep playing, laughing, and helping our autistic child with speech and to find their voices, one fun game at a time.