Everyday Objects, Extraordinary Sessions: Turning Household Items into Teletherapy Tools
Because therapy doesn’t need a closet full of supplies—it just needs creativity and connection.
One of the biggest myths about teletherapy? That you need a giant library of fancy materials to make sessions work. But the truth is, some of the most effective and engaging therapy tools are already sitting in your students’ homes. Socks, toy dinosaurs, sticky notes and BOXES! (don’t forget the boxes)—these everyday objects can spark rich language, movement, and problem-solving when we use them with intention.
As virtual SLPs, we don’t always have access to shared manipulatives, but we do have access to imagination, flexibility, and the ability to coach caregivers in real time. That’s where household items come in—low prep, low cost, and high impact.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to turn simple things students already have at home into meaningful therapy tools. Whether you're working on articulation, language, or social communication, these ideas will help you build engaging, accessible sessions that truly meet kids where they are.
Why Use Household Items in Teletherapy?
They’re readily available
They promote functional, contextual learning
They support generalization into home routines
They empower families to participate and reinforce skills
Using everyday items in therapy helps children build communication skills in the environments where they’ll actually use them. Research shows that therapy is more effective when it's meaningful and relevant to a child’s daily life (ASHA, 2021).
Plus, this approach helps caregivers feel more confident—they don’t need to buy anything new or log into a platform. You're helping them see that they already have what they need to support their child’s growth.
My Go-To Everyday Objects and How I Use Them
Socks
Socks are magic. They can become:
Puppets for articulation targets and silly storytelling
Category sorters (e.g., soft vs. rough textures)
Sequencing tasks ("First we put on one sock, then the other...")
Let your student name the socks, describe them, or act out a story with them. Suddenly, you’re working on syntax, WH- questions, vocabulary, and narrative skills—all with laundry!
Stuffed AnimalsAlmost every child has at least one. You can:
Role-play social scenarios - social problem solving, meal times, turn taking, etc.
Target pronouns, prepositions, and verbs
Do positional concepts ("Put the bear under the chair")
Describe the animal’s features, routines, or feelings
And for our clients/students who need less commands, we can wonder aloud what the stuffy may want, think, feel. I really like the wonder aloud approach for our friends who don’t like being told what to do, and for our parents/caregivers who need an alternative to WH questions.
Stuffed animals make a great buffer for shy students—they feel safer talking to or through a character, which opens up so many language-rich opportunities.
Empty Toilet Paper Rolls or Paper Towel Tubes
These are surprisingly versatile!
Use them for sound amplification during speech drills
Build towers or bridges to practice following directions
Create a quick visual timer or "talking stick" during sessions
You can even use them for turn-taking cues with a group.
Boxes or Containers with Lids
Kids love containers with surprise elements!
Put small objects or toys inside and describe them before revealing
Use them in guessing games or for requesting
Practice prepositions and spatial terms ("It’s under the box!")
Bonus: This adds a tactile component to your session and gets kids moving a little.
Tips for Coaching Parents to Use Household Items
In The Essential Teletherapist course, I talk a lot about how to build caregiver confidence—because they are your co-therapists in telepractice. When you're suggesting the use of everyday items, keep these tips in mind:
Be specific:
Instead of saying, “Grab a toy,” say, “I wonder if you have a stuffed animal or a sock we can use like a puppet?”Normalize imperfection:
Let parents know it doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect. A spoon is just as powerful as a fancy flashcard set when used with intention.Model via video:
Demonstrate on your end—even if you’re just using a sock on your hand. This makes it easier for kids and caregivers to follow your lead.Offer choices:
Instead of assigning one item, say “Do you want to use a sock or a spoon for this game?” Giving options increases participation and reduces frustration.
Quick Session Ideas Using Household Items
Here are a few plug-and-play session starters you can use today:
“What’s in the Bag?” Game
Have the student place an object in a bag or box. You ask yes/no questions to guess what it is—or reverse roles to target asking questions and vocabulary.Obstacle Course with Prepositions
Use pillows, boxes, and toys. Have the student describe or follow directions: “Put the book next to the couch. Crawl under the chair.”Silly Story Starters
“Once upon a time, a sock climbed a mountain…” Let the student take the story wherever they want—working on sequencing, narrative language, and articulation targets.Sound Search
Ask the student to find an object in the house that starts with their target sound. Great for /s/, /k/, /b/, and more!
What to Do if a Student Doesn’t Have the Item
Sometimes, kids don’t have the exact object you're hoping for—and that’s okay!
Here’s what I do:
Suggest an alternative (“No spoon? A pencil works too!”)
Turn it into a language opportunity (“What could we use instead?”)
Use shared screen visuals if needed as a fallback
Why This Approach Works
Using household items isn’t just about saving time or resources—it’s about building therapy into the fabric of a child’s real life. When kids practice following directions, retelling stories, or labeling categories using objects from their own homes, it boosts generalization and engagement.
Plus, it helps students see that communication happens everywhere—not just in therapy.
Want More Low-Prep Tools Like These?
Inside The Essential Teletherapist course, I walk through how to build a flexible therapy toolkit that includes:
Household-item-based therapy ideas
No-prep digital toolsCaregiver coaching strategies
Materials organization that actually works
Let’s say your student has an IEP goal for following multi-step directions or using spatial concepts. Practicing with real objects at home—like “Put the spoon in the cup and then next to the book”—directly supports those targets in meaningful, contextual ways.
Working on vocabulary? Describing their own teddy bear (“It’s soft, brown, and has a red ribbon”) rather than a generic picture makes the skill more personally relevant and memorable. It also allows you to incorporate core vocabulary for AAC users and increase caregiver modeling during the session.
The result? You’re not just checking boxes for IEP compliance—you’re helping students build real-life communication skills that stick.
Bonus: Parents and teachers can more easily reinforce skills throughout the week using the exact same materials, which helps boost consistency and retention. That’s a huge win for your student, your team, and you as the therapist.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Keep It Impactful
Using everyday objects in virtual speech therapy is one of the most effective and inclusive ways to boost engagement, support generalization, and keep therapy accessible—no matter what kind of device, bandwidth, or budget your student has.
As a teletherapist, your creativity and flexibility are your superpowers. Whether you're guiding a parent to grab a sock puppet or turning a box into a language-rich mystery game, you're building confidence, communication, and connection and modeling how to support goals at home.
If you're ready to take the guesswork out of teletherapy and build sessions that work with your students' lives instead of against them, I’d love to support you inside The Essential Teletherapist course. It’s packed with real-life tools, demo videos, and coaching to help you show up with confidence—no matter what ends up in the therapy room (or on the living room floor).
Everyday Item Activity Cheat Sheet
Get a printable PDF with 7 creative ideas using items families already have.
👉 [Download here]
