A Day in the Life of an Early Intervention Speech Therapist

As an early intervention speech therapist, my days are filled with a blend of professional expertise, creativity, and compassion to support the development of children from birth to three years old. Each day is unique, presenting new challenges and rewards as I work with children and their families to lay the foundation for lifelong skills.

Daily Uniqueness of Early Intervention

Embracing Variety and Flexibility

One of the most exciting aspects of my job is the variety it offers. No two days are the same, as I engage with children who have diverse needs and developmental goals. My work may take me to homes, daycare centers, or community centers. This diversity keeps my job dynamic and allows me to adapt to different environments, ensuring that each child feels comfortable and supported.

Family-Centered Care

A significant part of my role involves working with families. Parents and caregivers are integral to a child’s development, and empowering them with the right tools and strategies is essential. I spend time educating and coaching families, offering practical advice on how to incorporate developmental activities into their daily routines. Building strong relationships with families fosters trust and encourages a supportive environment for the child’s growth.

​​Holistic Approach

Early intervention is a multidisciplinary field, and collaboration is key. I collaborate closely with a team that includes occupational therapists, physical therapists, special educators, and social workers. Together, we collaborate to address all aspects of a child’s development, from communication and motor skills to social and emotional well-being. The goal is to provide holistic support, ensuring that each child receives the best possible care.

What Does My Day Look Like an early intervention speech therapist look like?

My day begins with a quick breakfast and a cup of tea while I review my schedule. Today, I have a mix of home visits and daycare sessions. Each child has unique needs and goals, so preparation is key.

Each Speech Therapy Session 

As I arrive at each session, I greet the child and their family. I wash my hands and start discussing with the parent or caregiver how the child has done since their last therapy session. I ask questions like: “What happened when you gave him two choices during mealtime?” or “Were you able to implement the wait time strategy that we discussed last session during dressing activities?”  I sit and listen to the progress the child has made, along with any concerns that the parent or caregiver might have. I make sure I answer all questions and address any concerns or troubleshoot any problems.

During a Therapy Session

Throughout each session, I use a play-based approach. I engage children in activities that feel like fun and games to them—playing with toys, singing songs, or reading picture books—but each activity is carefully designed to target specific speech and language goals. This method keeps children motivated and relaxed, making it easier for them to practice new skills. Additionally, I make sure that I am using activities and materials that are readily found within the family home. This could be anything from using kitchen utensils for a sorting game, playing with favorite toys, or incorporating daily routines like mealtime into the therapy. By using familiar items, children feel more comfortable, and parents can easily replicate the activities.

Incorporating Family In Sessions is Fundamental

I also actively involve parents and caregivers in the process. I coach them on how to use these techniques at home during their daily routines. For example, I might show a parent how to encourage their child to use words while playing with blocks or during snack time and allow the parent the opportunity to try the activity while I provide real-time feedback. This way, the child gets consistent practice in a natural setting, reinforcing what they learn during our sessions.

Speech Therapy Sessions Notea

At the end of each session, I take a few moments to write a detailed session note, documenting the child’s progress, the activities we completed, and any observations or insights. After completing my notes, I sit down with the parent or caregiver to discuss how the session went. We talked about what activities were particularly successful, any challenges we encountered, and the specific skills the child is working on. I outline the next steps, offering practical advice on carryover activities they can integrate into their daily routines so that the child is constantly exposed to learning opportunities, which gives them lots of chances to practice and make progress. One of the best parts of working in home-based Early Intervention is having a parent or caregiver explain the success they have noticed because we have given the parents the tools they need to have long-lasting success with their child.

Speech Therapy Session Length

Most of my sessions are thirty minutes long, and then I travel to the next family’s house. While traffic can make things difficult, most of my cases are close to each other, so I have about fifteen minutes before the next one starts. Once I get to my next case, I will begin the process again. I love that each of my children and their families are so different. One child might be 11 months old, and I am working on feeding; another child may be 22 months old, and I am working on increasing speech sounds; and for another child that is almost 3, I may be working on the articulation of words and phrases. I love getting to have so many varied cases that I am really using my speech and language pathology training to help so many children and families!

After all my sessions are complete, I return home. Once home, I take time to write any progress reports that are due, detailing each child’s achievements, areas of improvement, and future goals. Reflecting on the day, I think about the small victories and the ongoing challenges, feeling grateful for the trust parents place in me and the resilience of the children I support.

Each day brings new experiences and learning opportunities, reinforcing my passion for early intervention and my commitment to helping every child reach their full potential.