How to Use a Favorite Child's Song in Speech Therapy

How to Use a Favorite Child’s Song in Speech Therapy

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Perhaps there are no other songs that children like more than the ‘Wheels on the Bus’. Many young children love to watch big vehicles. School buses with their bright yellow color, flashing lights, and laughing children draw children into watching them. A great way to assist a child in speech and language therapy is to use a favorite song. For many of my students it is the Wheels on the Bus.

use child's favorite song Wheels on the Bus
in therapy RakovicSpeechandLanguageChat

The simple song ‘Wheels on the Bus’ combines a simple repeating verse with simple actions that even a young child can imitate and join into the song about their favorite vehicle.

Wheels of the bus verse child rolls hands around each other
Wipers on the bus verse child waves hands in front like windshield wipers
Horn on the bus verse child slaps palm in front like you are honking a horn
Doors on the bus verse child claps hands to imitate the doors opening and closing doors
Driver on the bus verse point thumb over shoulder
Baby on the bus verse pretend to cry
Mother on the bus verse make a “shhh” sound and put finger on lips
People on the bus verse child stands up and sits down.

I use this simple file folder song choice board as does it really matter if you have the ‘wheels of the bus’ be the first verse or the bus driver shouting ‘move on back’. I allow the children to pick what verse they would like to do by placing their choice on the bus.

What I love to see is the children starting to know what each child’s favorite verse is. This gives me insight into their social awareness and social skills. Often I will notice a child smile at another child as they make the choice of the verse.

This song assists me in looking at a child’s imitation skills. Are they able to sing the verse? Which actions are they able to imitate? Are they singing along?

Can we use this as a jumping-off point for some pretend play setting up our own bus in the therapy room? We have had great fun setting up chairs to mimic the seating of the bus.

Do they know the vocabulary of the song? What are the windshield wipers? What are the signals on the bus? It is interesting to note their selection do they always choose the same picture? Are they choosing because of where the pictures are on the choice board?

So yes, even a child’s favorite song can become a great therapy tool!