Fun Apraxia of Speech Activities That Build Repetition

Okay, real talk: kids with apraxia don’t make progress by just sitting there listening to us say the words. Nope. They have to actually say them—over and over again—for those little motor plans to start sticking.

Think of it like learning to ride a bike. You can watch someone pedal for hours, but until you hop on and wobble your way through it yourself (probably a dozen times 😅), your brain and body won’t figure it out.

Same goes for speech. Listening matters, sure—but the real magic happens in the active practice. That’s why in apraxia therapy, repetition is non-negotiable.

Why Kids Need to Say the Words

Here’s the science-y bit (in simple words ☕️):

• Kids with apraxia struggle with motor planning → their brains know what they want to say, but the “mouth muscles” don’t always follow.

• Hearing isn’t doing. Just like watching TikToks doesn’t make you a dancer (I’ve tried 🙈), hearing words doesn’t create speech motor pathways.

• Active repetition = progress. Every single attempt, even the “messy” ones, helps refine the plan.

So the goal in therapy? Get as many spoken attempts as possible.

How Many Times Do They Need to Repeat?

A lot. More than feels natural at first. We’re talking dozen - ssometimes even hundreds of productions. 

Don’t panic though! It doesn’t have to be boring or drill-sergeant-y. Repetition can actually be fun (promise). It’s all about sneaking those repetitions into games, play routines, and little challenges that keep kids engaged.

Fun Apraxia of Speech Activities That Build Repetition

Here are some of my favorite ways to make repetition doable (and even exciting!):

🎴 1. Drill Cards That Don’t Feel “Drilly”

My Apraxia of Speech Drill Cards are a lifesaver when it comes to early word shapes (CV, VC, VCV, CVCV). Instead of just flipping them like flashcards, turn them into games:

• Card towers → say it 5 times before stacking it on the tower.

• Card hunt → hide them around the room, each find = 3–5 repetitions.

• Spin & say → spin a spinner or roll dice to decide how many times to say the word.

👉 Peek at the full Apraxia Drill Card set here

2. Pair Words With Actions

Linking movement + speech is a game changer. Some ideas:

• Clap, stomp, or jump with each repetition

• Roll a ball back and forth while saying the target word

• “Up” = lift arms, “go” = run forward, “in” = drop a toy in a bin

The action keeps kids engaged, and the speech practice keeps stacking.

3. Grab-and-Go Freebie for Quick Bursts

Sometimes you just need something simple. That’s why I made my FREE CVC BOOM drill cards. They’re perfect for:

• Warm-ups at the start of a session

• Transition fillers (when attention is waning)

• Quick parent-friendly practice at home

✨ Download your free BOOM CARDS here

Coaching Parents (Because They’ll Ask 😉)

Parents often wonder: “Can’t my child just listen to me say the word?”

Here’s the answer I give:

• Nope—listening isn’t enough. They’ve got to say it out loud.

• Short & sweet works best. 1–2 minutes of 10–20 repetitions is better than a long, frustrating block.

• Daily life = therapy gold. Snack time (“bite”), bathtime (“up”), playground (“go”).

• Imperfect attempts still count. Every effort is progress.

Building Word Shapes Step by Step

We don’t just throw kids into long, tricky words. Kids usually learn in progression from least to most complex (but not always!). Repetition builds naturally as we go:

1. Start with CV/VC – “go,” “up,” “me” (repeat, repeat, repeat)

2. Add CVC – “cup,” “dog,” “bed” (with real objects)

3. Shift to VCV – “open,” “animal” (fun for routines + play)

4. Expand to CVCV – “mama,” “baby,” “puppy” (kids love these!)

The Apraxia Drill Cards are include loads of words for each shape (and are functional words), so you’re never scrambling for targets.

👉 Explore the Apraxia Drill Cards here 

You can also download my Apraxia Word Shape Hierarchy here! 

Freebie + Full Set = Perfect Pair

Think of the CV/VCV Freebie as your starter kit. Try it out, send it home, keep it in your back pocket.

Then, when you’re ready for more variety and a full progression path, the Apraxia Drill Cards give you everything from VC to CVCV - ready to roll.

Grab your free BOOM cards here

Check out the Apraxia Drill Cards here

Get your Word Shape Hierarchy here

Wrapping It Up

Here’s the bottom line: in apraxia therapy, kids have to do the talking. Listening alone won’t cut it. Every repetition - even the wobbly, imperfect ones - is a step toward stronger motor planning and clearer words.

So pull out those cards, roll the dice, clap it out, and celebrate every single attempt. Because in this work, practice doesn’t just make perfect - practice makes progress. 💛