A fun, easy (and cheap) way to target /k/!
I have a client who can produce the /k/ in the
final position of words but not word initially or syllable initially (within a
word). I typically find that the PROMPT
technique (www.promptinstitute.com) usually works for this phoneme—but not this
time. I then tried the lollipop
trick—where I put a lollipop (or tongue depressor) on the tongue tip (to hold
it down) and instruct the child to articulate the /k/. This didn’t work either. My client was also not AT ALL interested in
any of my exciting ideas for the session to target this sound…/k/ bingo, /k/
worksheets, /k/ Go Fish! I needed to
come up with something fast, so I looked around my room and gathered the
following:
YES,
that’s right, a handful of paperclips, a small paper cup and a magnet “fishing”
pole. Doesn’t every SLP have these?!?
I
also invited some friends to join us:
Oscar,
Cookie, and Monkey! They are always
ready to join in on the action in my office!
I
threw the paperclips on the floor and explained that we were going to pick them
up! This was an easy way to then chain
this sound –we were pick-King up the clips!
I
instructed my little guy to say, “pick up”—pick-Kup—pi KUP.
Immediately
after he picked up a paper clip, I would have him put it in the cup, requiring
him to articulate “cup” after I “flew” the cup
over to him while singing “in”.
Oscar, Cookie Monster and Monkey all took turns pi-King up and putting in the Cup!
My
kiddie LOVED this activity and eagerly attempted each target word, over and
OVER and OVER AGAIN!!
Ahhh…if
only it was this easy all of the time!
Nicole Nicole Kolenda is a Speech & Language Pathologist in private practice on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, an adjunct professor at Hofstra University and a proud mother of two! She can be reached atwww.nicolekolenda.com.
