The first thing I like to do in therapy is build rapport with the child in order to build trust. Speech therapy can be difficult for children and it is so important for them to feel safe and comfortable. I try to make it as fun and engaging as possible. It is a bit of dance, trying to make it engaging, while ensuring you are drilling the targets enough. I have found children are more willing to drill the targets if they trust and feel comfortable with a clinician. I will typically have a child pick out a couple toys at the start of the session, and then we drill targets for a few minutes, taking breaks in between so that the child can play with the toy they have chosen as reward for their hard work. So I alternate between drilling targets and playing to keep them motivated. When we are working on targets, you may notice I may have your child say the target with me at the same time or imitate me with or without a delay, or they may say the target by themselves. I will always give your child feedback, whether it is talking about their articulators (tongue, lips, teeth) or if they said the target, the new way of the old way. We may play around with our vocal volume all while making sure that your child is looking at my mouth as I provide a model. I may give them tactile cues by proving some input through touching their face/mouth. Our goal is to make progress and to make it an enjoyable experience for your child!