For many parents, introducing the idea of speech therapy to their child can feel like walking a tightrope. Maybe your child feels confused, embarrassed, or even upset. They might not understand what “therapy” means—or worse, associate it with something being “wrong” with them. These emotional reactions are completely normal, but they can make the first steps toward getting help feel even harder.
Parents often tell us their child seemed hesitant or resistant during the first few sessions. That’s understandable. New routines, unfamiliar adults, and the idea of working on something they struggle with—it can be overwhelming.
But here’s the good news: when therapy is done right, especially online speech therapy, it can quickly become something your child looks forward to. With fun, interactive sessions tailored to their interests, kids begin to feel safe, supported, and even excited to learn.
At All Care Therapies, we often hear the question: “How can I get my child invested in speech therapy?” If you’re wondering the same, you’re not alone—and we’re here to help.
Getting a Child Invested in Speech Therapy
Helping your child engage in speech therapy—especially online—starts with one simple truth: it can’t be boring. Children learn best when they’re having fun, and that’s especially true in a virtual setting where distractions are just a click away. If a session feels dull or too clinical, your child may disengage before any real progress can begin. That’s why it’s so important to make therapy feel like play—interactive, imaginative, and tailored to their interests. When therapy becomes something they want to do, rather than something they have to do, meaningful growth can happen.
Make Therapy Fun and Personalized
Children thrive when therapy is engaging. That means the therapist must understand your child’s personality and interests—not just their diagnosis. Whether it’s a favorite superhero, sports team, or school subject, a good therapist uses these details to create fun, personalized sessions.
Fun and easy speech therapy activities, like a “Captain Marvel” or “Los Angeles Lakers” themed activity, will likely capture your child’s attention far more than a generic worksheet.
Build Connection and Consistency
When children enjoy their sessions, they build rapport with the therapist and connect with the therapy goals. This connection boosts participation and increases the likelihood of progress.
Use Rewards to Reinforce Progress
Small incentives can make a big difference. As your child begins to meet therapy goals, introduce rewards—anything from extra screen time to staying up a little later on the weekend. You can also create weekly challenges to motivate them, like practicing a tough word or phrase each day.
Celebrate Real Progress
While external rewards help, the true win is your child’s growth. As their speech and language skills improve, so does their confidence. These gains often lead to better performance in school and a higher quality of life overall.
Activities to get your child invested in speech therapy include:
- Being physically active during speech therapy sessions and at-home practice allows your little one to activate parts of their brain that will help them better retain the information they are receiving. Additionally, they won’t focus so much on the “therapy” part, thus opening them up to the learning experience.
- After your child’s online speech therapy sessions, do some fun speech and language crafts. They’ll correlate fun with speech therapy and take to the experience much better.
- Graph your child’s progress so they can see the improvements they are making. Once they hit milestones, you can celebrate with simple rewards such as ice cream.
- Keep speech therapy “work” to a minimum to begin with. Longer sessions may burn them out and lower their interest in speech therapy.
Getting a child invested in speech therapy might be tricky at first, but with fun, engaging speech therapy activities that spark their interest, it becomes easier to shift their perspective and help them see how beneficial it can be in the long run.
Key Takeaways: Helping Your Child Thrive in Speech Therapy
Introducing speech therapy to your child can be challenging, especially when they feel unsure or resistant. But with the right approach—one that’s fun, personalized, and engaging—your child can grow to enjoy and benefit from the experience. This article explores how to help your child get invested in speech therapy, including strategies like using their interests, rewarding progress, and keeping sessions active and interactive. With support, consistency, and creativity, therapy can become a positive part of your child’s routine—one that boosts their confidence, communication, and overall development.
If you believe your child could benefit from online speech therapy services, do not hesitate to contact us today at: 877-757-8353
Our experienced and caring team of online speech-language therapists can discuss a personalized plan to help your child unlock their full potential.
