Using Speech Therapy Handouts to Boost Carryover at Home and in the Classroom
When you’re an SLP or early childhood educator, you know that the magic of speech therapy doesn’t just happen during the session—it happens all day long, woven into everyday routines at home, in the classroom, and at daycare.
But here’s the honest truth:
When you try to quickly explain a new skill or strategy to a busy teacher or a frazzled parent during pickup time, there’s a good chance your words get lost in the shuffle. Everyone’s juggling so much—diaper bags, permission slips, daily reports—it’s a lot!
That’s exactly why having clear, practical handouts for preverbal and verbal skills makes all the difference.
They give parents and teachers something they can actually take, read, and use—even after the whirlwind of drop-offs, pickups, and daily chaos settles down.
Why Handouts Work So Well
✨ Written descriptions give clarity.
Instead of trying to remember a quick conversation, parents and teachers have a concrete reminder of what skill you’re targeting, why it matters, and how they can support it.
✨ Real-life tasks make carryover easy.
The best handouts connect strategies directly to everyday routines—things like snack time, getting dressed, playing outside, or reading a book—so the child is getting communication practice naturally, without adding extra work to anyone’s plate.
✨ Teachers love sharing them.
I’ve found that teachers appreciate these handouts so much that they often tuck them right into their weekly newsletters, sending great communication tips home for all their students, not just the ones on your caseload.
✨ Parents feel empowered.
Families love having something specific they can work on after the SLP leaves. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, they feel like partners in their child’s progress, with simple ideas they can implement right away.
📘 How to Use Preverbal & Speech and Language Skill Handouts
Two sets of handouts (28 handouts in all) that I have developed to take kids from preverbal stages through early speech and language growth, are designed to be practical, clear, and collaborative—for anyone supporting young children on their communication journey. They’re ideal for:
Toddler and preschool teachers
Parents of children birth to 3
Caregivers of nonspeaking or minimally speaking children
Speech-language pathologists in Early Intervention or classroom settings
💡 Ways to Make the Most of Your Handouts:
Use during parent coaching. Explain the specific preverbal or speech facilitation skill you’re targeting and why it’s a building block for later communication.
Highlight or circle specific activities. After a session, quickly mark a few activities for parents to focus on at home.
Plan therapy with them. Build sessions around the skill handouts so you’re reinforcing foundational abilities every step of the way.
Collaborate with the team. Use the same handouts across teachers, therapists, and families to create a unified, easy-to-understand plan for the child’s growth.
🗂️ Tips for Storing and Organizing Your Handouts
Create a binder. Slip all the handouts into plastic sleeves for easy access during sessions or meetings.
Laminate them. Durable, wipeable handouts are great for heavy use—or for families to keep at home without worrying about spills and rips.
Make a ring-stack. Print half-size versions, laminate, and attach to a ring for quick-reference cards in classrooms or play areas.
This setup also makes an awesome portable tool for parent coaching visits!
❤️ Why These Resources Matter
Prelinguistic and speech facilitation handouts aren’t just extra papers—they are bridges.
They bridge the gap between what happens in your 30-minute session and what happens in the other 23.5 hours of the day.
They help parents and teachers spot the tiny, critical milestones—like when a child looks at them for the first time to share attention, or when a child copies a simple gesture—and celebrate them as real progress.
When you empower adults with real knowledge and easy activities, you’re creating an environment where communication blooms everywhere: at snack tables, playgrounds, diaper changes, story times, and backyard adventures.
Because when adults know what to look for—and how to respond—communication can grow in everyday moments. 🌟
