At The Pool - Listening and Language Tips For Kids With Hearing Loss

 
 

Summer and swimming go hand in hand for many families with young children. The opportunity for maximizing listening and spoken language LSL learning is immense for water-loving families. Early each summer, I guide parents as we brainstorm LSL goals to target with their child while enjoying the pool and related activities. The children’s ages and goals dictate the activities and strategies. I also help families understand and take advantage of water-resistant hearing technology and related gear/equipment.

For home-based LSL intervention, the backyard plastic pool is equally as effective as play-based clinic therapy with a container of water and pool-themed manipulatives. I am fortunate to have a Fisher-Price Little People pool. Countless children have loved listening, learning, and playing with this set over the years. I recently saw that this pool is available on ETSY for only $129.93 😳 . My husband says, SELL IT! but that’s not going to happen!

TALK-ABOUTS for listening, vocabulary and language expansion

  • Packing a bag to go to the pool or grabbing a suit, towel, and toys for the backyard

  • What’s goes in the pool bag? (Towels, sunscreen, hats, shovels… )

  • Putting on a swimsuit or dressing a doll (The straps go over your shoulders.)

  • Swimsuit, bathing suit, bikini, trunks…Cover-up

  • Rubbing sunscreen on your toes vs. nose

  • Pool-related words/phrases that sound similar to little listeners such as ➼ sun, sunny, sunscreen, sunburn, suntan, sunglasses…

  • Body parts vocabulary expansion - forehead, cheeks, chin, shin…

  • The weather ➼ sunny, too hot, cloudy, bright, humid, breezy

  • The water ➼ warm/cool; deep/shallow; sink/float; above, below, or under

  • Pool/ sand toys ➼ and related activities (splashing, digging, castles…)

  • Pool snacks or a picnic lunch ➼ popsicles, ice cream sandwiches...

  • Barefoot ➼ shoes, sandals, flip flops, water shoes

  • Sing, Old MacDonald had a pool E I E I O. And in that pool her had a toy boat.. with a ppppp… Or a beach ball…with a splash, splash…

  • Sing, Motor Boat, Motor Boat Song ( goes so fast, slow, goes around and around…)

Read-aloud stories, iPad apps, and printables for little listeners:

Maisy’s Pool and Maisy Goes Swimming by Lucy Cousins

Dave Sindrey’s pool/beach themed murals, games, and materials in The Listening Room

 
 

Summer-themed Listen With Lynn resources you may like: