10 Minutes a Day: The 5 B’s of Speech Practice at Home
If your child is in speech therapy, you may have heard the words "practice at home" and felt a little overwhelmed. Your days are already full. School, work, meals, homework, and sports take up so much time. Finding room for one more thing can feel hard.
If that's how you feel, you are not alone. Many parents tell me the same thing. I want you to know that home practice can be short and simple. For many families, about 10 minutes a day is a great place to start.
Why 10 minutes at home can make a difference
Your child's time with their speech therapist matters. Most children only see their therapist for a short time each week, though. New sounds and words grow stronger with lots of practice, and home is where much of that practice can happen.
In one study, speech therapists were asked how much home practice they recommend for speech sounds. A common answer was about 10 minutes, five days a week (Sugden et al., 2018).
I also love this comparison. A national survey of sports parents found that families spend about 203 minutes on an average sports day, including travel and games (Aspen Institute Project Play, 2025). These numbers come from separate studies, so they don't describe the same families. They still remind me of something important. We already make time for the things that matter to our kids. Ten minutes for speech can fit, too.
The 5 B's of daily speech practice
The 5 B's are five simple ways to make those 10 minutes count. You can use them with any speech or language goal your child's therapist gives you.
1. Be Proactive
Start with one question for your child's speech therapist: "What's one thing I could practice at home for 10 minutes a day that would support what you're working on?" It's hard to help when you aren't sure what to practice. This one question gives you a clear place to start.
2. Be Creative
You don't need a formal practice session at the kitchen table. Think about where the skill could fit into your day. If your child is learning to ask questions, try it at snack time. "Can you ask me for the crackers?" is real practice.
3. Be Enthusiastic
Your energy makes a difference. When practice feels fun and connected, children want to keep going. Invite your child to cook with you, play outside, or tell you about their day, and weave the skill into your conversation.
4. Be Curious
Watch and listen. What is your child doing well? What still feels tricky? Keep a simple note on your phone, such as "She said 'gull' for 'girl' 3 times today" or "He asked a full question at breakfast!" You don't need all the answers. Your notes help your child's therapist see what's happening at home.
5. Be Patient
Your child wants to do well for you. When a word comes out wrong, simply say it back the right way and keep talking. "Yes, we're going to see the girl!" Skills take time to build. Every bit of practice counts, even when it doesn't feel fancy.
A simple 10-minute routine
If you're not sure how to plan your 10 minutes, try this. Spend the first 2 minutes connecting with your child, starting with something easy they can do well. Use the next 5 minutes for the practice your child's therapist recommends. Save the last 3 minutes for play and celebration. Notice their effort with words like "You kept trying!" and end with "I loved practicing with you!"
You can also look for practice in everyday moments. Story time, getting ready in the morning, and family meals are all good chances to practice together.
Keep it light and kind
Home practice can feel friendly and relaxed. If your child gets frustrated, it's okay to stop and try again later. Those minutes together still matter.
Progress takes time, and perfect isn't the goal. Your care, love, and effort mean the most. Showing up day after day matters more than doing anything fancy.
A free guide to help you get started
I put these ideas into a free, 3-page parent guide called The 5 B's of Daily Speech & Language Practice. It includes the 5 B's with ideas to try, the research behind those 10 minutes, and a simple routine with space to track your child's little wins. If it sounds helpful, you're welcome to download it.
If your child is working on the R sound, you may also like my free Mini Try-Outs: The ER Check. It has 10 quick items to help you find your learner's best starting point.
Please follow your child's speech therapist for goals, cues, and a practice schedule that fits your child.
Warmly,
Peggy Steiniger, M.A., CCC-SLP Creator of Home Run Speech® | Peggy's Speech Therapy, LLC
Remember: Try asking your child's therapist that one question this week. It's a small step, and it can make practice at home feel much clearer.
Sources
Aspen Institute Project Play (2025). Youth sports parent survey.
Sugden, E., et al. (2018). Speech-language pathologists' recommendations for speech sound home practice.
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