Reading aloud to children is an effective means of providing speech therapy for children. As you read aloud to a child, he is able to hear how specific words are formed, build his vocabulary and help with speech delays or problems with forming words. When reading aloud to children, point to pictures that illustrate words in the story. For example, if the word "cat" is in the story and there is a picture of a cat, point to the picture of the animal. Ask children to point to the pictures in the story and coax them to name the pictures. Enunciate words that contain specific sounds and encourage children to repeat the sounds.
Art is an ideal tool to use for speech therapy, as children seem to be naturally drawn to art and enjoy creating things. Provide children with art materials and encourage them to use the materials to make specific items. For example, provide them with specific directions, which they must follow, to create a work of art, such as, "Roll yellow clay into a small ball," "Glue a blue feather onto a piece of paper," etc. As children hear and follow the directions, they hear the pronunciation of specific words and apply meaning to the words. Alternatively, have children use art materials to create their own art pieces; as they are creating their artwork, ask them to explain what they are doing, providing them with an opportunity to use language in a meaningful way.
Singing can help preschool children overcome speech problems. Children of this age enjoy singing simple and repetitive songs, and doing so can actually help them learn how to properly form words. Sing familiar children's songs, such as "If You're Happy and You Know It," "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "The Wheels on the Bus." Sing the songs several times over again and enunciate the lyrics as you sing. The more children hear the words in the song, the more apt they are to use them and properly form them themselves.
For preschoolers, playing is more than just a means of entertainment; it is also a tool for learning. Use play as a speech activity for students. Encourage children to use props for dramatic play. Dramatic play presents opportunities for conversations, helping children develop their speech and language skills. Use specific toys to provide children with practice forming sounds that they have trouble making. For instance, if a child exhibits difficulty forming the "R" sound, set out a variety of toys that begin with the letter "R" and ask the child to name the toys as he plays with them, providing him with practice making this letter sound.