Promoting Speech and Language While at Home: Bowling Set

This week in our continued spotlight of a few of Sol’s favorite games/toys to promote speech and language (especially while stuck at home more than usual)…

Happy Giddy Bowling Set

I was first introduced to the Happy Giddy Bowling Set a couple of years ago while working at an outpatient clinic outside of Washington, DC. After watching another therapist work with a client, I noticed that kids just LOVE to bowl. Plus, it was getting kids moving!

Whether the kiddos were bowling as a reward for great work, or in between practicing correct production of sounds, or just during a language activity, we saw that they had so much fun knocking down pins and could hardly wait for their next turn!

There are plenty of bowling sets out there that you can use, but I was drawn to this set for its fun alien pins, which are great for ages 2-5 years. However, feel free to use any bowling set you can get your hands on, like this one!

Targets Are Endless While Bowling

Whether at home, at school, or in the clinic here’s how you can use this fun game to promote speech and language:

Receptive Language/Auditory Comprehension:

With this bowling set, you can work on receptive language, specifically, processing oral information and following directions. Here’s how to use with your client or child:

Following one- and two-step directions is a common goal amongst therapists when working with

clients of all ages. Once the pins have been knocked down, have your child, or client, listen and

then follow directions such as “get two pins” or “get three pins and stand them up over there.”

While bowling, you can ask your kiddo to “knock down 1 pin,” or “knock down the pin in the

front,” which will also incorporate some spatial concepts/prepositions into your directions.

Expressive Language:

If your child or client has a developmental or language delay, with weaknesses in oral expression, you can use this game for a variety of expressive language tasks. Here are some practical examples:

Before getting a turn, have the child verbally request using a one- or two- word utterance or a

complete sentence, depending on age. For example, a 2-year old may be prompted to use a

two-word utterance such as “my turn” or “more ball.” A 5-year old may be asked to use a

complete sentence or question such as “I want to bowl please” or “Can I have a turn?”

You can also use the bowling pins to encourage use of basic concepts, such as counting the

pins they’ve knocked down/are still standing and/or naming the colors on the pins.

Articulation:

If your child is working on a specific sound, you can practice several trials of that

sound and then allow him/her to take a turn knocking down pins. Go back and forth like this until

you’ve completed all of your trials or words on your list.

Reward:

You can also use bowling as an incentive or reward during a different language activity. For

example, have your kiddo follow directions, use a complete sentence to describe a picture

scene, answer questions, or write a sentence. Then reward them by giving them a turn to

bowl.

We at Sol highly recommend this toy to all our families and fellow therapists! Don’t forget to check out our other suggestions, like this gem! Sol has one more great toy up our sleeves. Can’t wait to share it with you all!

If you live in the Austin area and have concerns about your child’s speech and/or language and would like to seek additional help beyond what your school based speech language pathologist may be able to provide, click here for more information on our speech and language evaluation and/or therapy services for children of all ages.