By: Becky Wanca, M.S., CCC-SLP
copyright 2010. Becky Wanka.
This blog post has been reprinted with express permission of the author as it appeared on her blog Speech Therapy Ideas
Want to have some clean wintry fun in your sessions? Have a “snowball” fight! This version works in all climates (even in Florida) and is a great motivator for heaps of repetition or practice.
Materials:

• Scrap paper, ripped (letter size paper ripped in fourths works great)
• Stimuli for what you are working on
• Bowl or basket for each student (optional)

Directions:

1. Give each student a bowl or basket to hold the “snowballs” (optional).
2. For each production or answer the child gives, a piece of paper is earned. The child can then ball it up and add it to his or her basket or pile. The students want a lot of “snowballs” and therefore are usually eager to have many turns.
3. Clear a space in the room or go to an open space for your “snowball” fight. Position the students around the outside with an empty space in the middle. You can give each child a turned-around chair as a barrier to hide behind if you want.
4. Set a time limit for your “fight” and let the fun begin! The students can gather “snowballs” and throw them back too (see tips below).
5. Make a game out of cleaning up. See how fast all of the “snowballs” can be tossed into a recycling bin.

Tips:

• Only allow two players to be in the middle space collecting “snowballs” at a time.
• Require players to be in their positions to throw “snowballs”. This keeps players from throwing them from the middle space.
• If you think a single student may be targeted by multiple players, make teams.

This is definitely an activity the students will remember and ask for again and again! Have fun!
Featured Author: Becky Wanca, M.S., CCC-SLP
Many thanks to Becky Wanka for this Guest Blog.
Becky Wanca has over 12 years of experience working in pediatrics with an emphasis on articulation and language disorders. Through her private practice, she has treated children in clinical settings, as well in their homes, daycares, and schools. Her private practice currently serves children in a a charter school and three private schools. The children currently on Becky’s caseload range in age from 4 to 15 years old.
Becky graduated with her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Master of Science (M.S.) degrees in Speech-language Pathology from Florida State University and completed her Clinical Fellowship at Children’s Communication Center in Tallahassee.
Becky is married and the proud mother of twin boys. She resides in Bradenton, Florida (USA).
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