Sock Snowman

Is the snow too dry to make a snowman outside? That’s okay, we can make our own sock snowman at home! This simple craft is a fun and motivating way to target speech and language at home!

Materials: 1 white sock, 1 colored sock for the hat, rice, rubber bands (or hair ties), buttons (or dried beans), ribbons, scissors, glue gun, markers, and an orange pom pom (or goldfish) for the nose.

Instructions:

1. Fill your white sock with rice. Use a rolled-piece of paper to funnel the rice into the sock if needed.

2. Once filled, tie the top with a rubber band.

3. Place another rubber band in the middle to form a small head and a large body.

4. Glue buttons (or beans) on the bottom half of your snowman.

5. Draw eyes and a coal mouth onto the snowman’s head.

6. Glue an orange pom pom (or goldfish) on to the face for the nose.

7. Glue a ribbon around the snowman’s neck for a scarf.

8. Cut the toe end of the colored sock. Roll up at the bottom and place on the snowman’s head for a hat.

Speech and Language Connections:

Articulation – while making and playing with the snowman, keep an ear open for any words containing the speech sound your child is currently working on in therapy. Some examples include: rice, red, round, for targeting "r" or smile, snow, scarf, glue, for targeting consonant blends. It would be easy to target final consonant sounds and multi-syllable words (e.g.: gluing, filling, standing, smiling, drawing, cutting). Play activities are a great opportunity to target difficult speech sounds in a stress-free, natural environment.

Sequencing – review the steps of making the snowman with your child, and see if they can help figure out the next step while you are making it! Try to have the child use full sentences and incorporate transition words like "first,” "next," and “finally.”

Expressive/Receptive language – describe the snowman (e.g.: how it looks, feels, smells, etc.). Identify target vocabulary (e.g.: clothing, body parts, colors, etc.). Expand language using carrier phrases (e.g: “I want x,” “more x please”). Target concepts (e.g.: top, bottom, middle, big, small, etc.).

Following directions – have your child follow 1, 2, or 3 step directions while making your snowman (e.g,: "pick up the button,” "pick up the red button,” or “pick up the button and give it to me”).