Speech Therapy Games for Kids | Sequencing, Following Directions, and Other Language Skills

Children learn through play.

Speech therapy games can be a great way to help kids learn language skills such as sequencing, following directions, asking and answer questions, and more!

On this page, we’ll show you our favorite speech therapy games to play with kids to help them learn language skills such as sequencing, following directions, and more!

Language Curriculums for Speech Therapy

Language Curriculums

Structured, Ready-to-Use Therapy Programs for Teaching Language Skills to Children

Speech Therapy Games for Sequencing:

When children are having a hard time telling a story or retelling a past event, they may be struggling with sequencing. Sequencing is our ability to put the steps to something in order.

Here are a few fun game ideas for working on sequencing with children.

  • Action Copycat: Do a 2–3 step movement sequence (touch head → stomp → clap) and have the child repeat it in order; switch roles so they create the sequence.

  • Build-a-Story: Give a starter (“First we woke up…”), let the child add the next part, and take turns adding steps until the story is done.

  • Routine Mix-Up: Describe a familiar routine out of order (“First we brush teeth, then we wake up!”) and have the child fix it; then let them try to trick you with a mixed-up routine.

  • Act It Out: Say a simple everyday sequence (“Get dressed,” “Bake cookies”) and have the child pretend to do each step in the right order using just their body.

  • Fix the Sequence: Verbally tell a 3-step process with one step wrong or missing, and the child has to correct it (“To pack a lunch you first eat it… wait, is that right?”).

Another great way to work on sequencing is to use pictures of steps in a sequence. Click Here to View our Sequencing and Retelling Curriculum with pre-made visuals and materials!

Speech Therapy Games for Following Directions:

Speech therapy games can also be helpful for teaching a child to follow directions! Start simply, with one-step directions that they are familiar with. As they become more confident with the games, you can work your way up to less familiar directions and even multi-step directions!

  • Treasure Hunt Steps: Give 2–4 verbal directions to find a hidden object (“First go to the couch, then look behind the cushion, last bring it to me”).
  • Simon Says in Order: Give a single command or a series of commands (“Simon says hop, then spin, then freeze”) and the child has to complete them in sequence.
  • Animal Command Game: Call out actions as animals—“Hop like a bunny,” “Stomp like an elephant,” then grow it into sequences (“Stomp like an elephant, then slither like a snake”).
  • Red Light, Green Light Remix: Start with basic stop/go, then add new “lights” with specific directions (“Yellow means hop,” “Blue means spin before you stop”).

 

Need some therapy materials for this one? We have a pre-made Curriculum for Following Directions as well! It includes all of the visual aids and therapy materials you need to teach a child to follow single and multi-step directions.

Speech Therapy Games for Asking and Answering Questions:

We can use games to help a child learn to ask and answer questions as well.

  • Silly or Not? Say something goofy (“Is a banana purple?”) and the child answers yes/no; gradually mix in real questions.
  • What Am I Doing? Act out an action (jumping, pretending to eat) and ask “What am I doing?”
  • What’s Missing? Hide your hands behind your back and bring out a silly pose (“What am I making with my hands?”).
  • Where Did It Go? Hide behind a piece of furniture or behind your hands and ask “Where am I?” as the child searches.
  • Story Questions: Tell a tiny 1-sentence story (“The dog ran to the park”) and ask quick questions: what, where, why, when—just one at a time so it stays fun!

 

Don’t worry! We have a full Curriculum for Asking and Answering Questions as well!

Structured Curriculums for Speech Therapy:

Stop wasting time cobbling together random activities.

Children make faster progress when skills are taught with a structured, systematic approach.

Our Language Curriculums are waiting for you right now!

At the click of a button, you’ll have simple, structured lessons for weeks to come.

Language Curriculums for Speech Therapy

Language Curriculums

Structured, Ready-to-Use Therapy Programs for Teaching Language Skills to Children

View the Language Curriculums
Carrie Clark, Speech-Language Pathologist

About the Author: Carrie Clark, MA CCC-SLP

Hi, I’m Carrie! I’m a speech-language pathologist from Columbia, Missouri, USA. I’ve worked with children and teenagers of all ages in schools, preschools, and even my own private practice. I love digging through the research on speech and language topics and breaking it down into step-by-step plans for my followers.

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