With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to focus on teaching gratitude in your speech sessions.
For many clients with language delays, understanding the concept of gratitude can be challenging. However, this holiday offers a wonderful opportunity to instill these values while enhancing communication skills.
As speech-language pathologists (SLPs), we have the unique opportunity to not only help our clients improve their communication skills but also to instill valuable life lessons such as gratitude. Teaching gratitude can enhance social interactions and emotional understanding, especially for clients with language delays or those who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.
Here are five effective strategies to incorporate gratitude into your sessions this season.
1. Show Gratitude
Modeling behavior is one of the most powerful tools in an SLP’s arsenal. Make it a practice to express gratitude during your sessions. Use simple phrases like “thank you” frequently, and acknowledge your clients’ hard work.
For example, if a client successfully uses their device in a new way or completes a challenging task, let them know how much you appreciate their effort. This not only teaches them the words but also reinforces the value of expressing gratitude in their own lives.
2. Discuss Emotions
Language therapy often involves identifying and labeling emotions, but delving deeper into complex emotions can be incredibly beneficial—especially around Thanksgiving. Introduce terms like “appreciative” and “thankful” to expand your clients’ emotional vocabulary.
Be sure to program these words into their AAC device. Encourage discussions about how these emotions feel, where they feel the emotion in their body, and help them create lists or collect images that represent things they appreciate. This activity not only builds language skills but also deepens their understanding of gratitude as an emotional experience.
3. Use Media that Displays Emotion
Incorporate holiday-themed books, videos, or songs that showcase kindness and gratitude. Stories about Thanksgiving, such as those featuring sharing and thankfulness, can be excellent tools.
After reading a book or watching a video, ask your clients how the characters might have felt and whether they have experienced similar feelings. This encourages empathy and helps them connect emotionally with the content, making the lesson more impactful. Use the aided language stimulation while reading a book or watching a movie to show the vocabulary on the device as you talk.
4. Select Activities that Involve Sharing
In group sessions or collaborative activities, create opportunities for clients to practice kindness through sharing and turn-taking—key elements of Thanksgiving gatherings. Simple games or projects where they need to share items and say “thank you” after receiving something can reinforce these exchanges. This is a great way to target phrases on the device, such as “my turn,” “can I have it,” or “thank you.”
Celebrating small acts of kindness can cultivate a positive environment and teach the importance of appreciation in social contexts.
5. Get Involved in the Community
Thanksgiving is also a great time to think about community involvement and giving back. Incorporate projects that align with your therapy goals while fostering a spirit of gratitude. For instance, you might turn a writing task into crafting letters for a local nursing home or practice following directions while assembling goodie bags for non-profits. Not only do these activities reinforce language skills, but they also emphasize the joy of helping others, making gratitude a tangible part of their experience.
By integrating these strategies into your speech sessions this Thanksgiving, you can create a rich environment that enhances communication skills while fostering a sense of gratitude and kindness in your clients.
This holiday season, let’s inspire the next generation to express appreciation in their everyday lives, making it a meaningful part of their celebrations!