Speech Therapy Ideas for Traveling SLPs

Are you a traveling therapist constantly on the move? Whether you’re rotating between multiple schools, traveling to clients’ homes, or working in a variety of clinic settings, traveling SLPs and SLPAs are aware of the unique challenges of maintaining effective, engaging, and organized therapy, all while being portable.

I remember the days when my car trunk was filled with bins, binders, and toys as I juggled schedules across four different campuses. Over time, I learned how to pare down, stay organized, and prioritize versatile, low-prep materials that worked across a wide range of goals and ages. If you’re looking for practical tools and easy-to-implement ideas, this post is for you.

Below are some tried-and-true strategies and materials to streamline your workflow and make travel-friendly therapy more efficient.

Trunk Organization for the Traveling SLP

Staying organized on the road is half the battle. Consider using a collapsible trunk organizer, plastic crate, or rolling cart to sort your materials by goal area, grade level, or type of tool. A rolling cart can be especially helpful when transporting materials into schools or homes, and it saves your back!

Label folders or bins with categories like articulation, fluency, visuals, or reinforcers. Use zippered pouches for small manipulatives or themed grab-and-go kits. Or keep a clipboard with your schedule, data sheets, and notes handy for quick access.

Versatile Therapy Tools That Travel Well

The key to being an efficient traveling SLP is choosing materials that are flexible, low-cost, and easy to use across different ages, settings, and therapy targets. These are some staples I always kept in my car:

1. BINGO CHIPS WITH MAGNETIC WAND

I have gotten so much use out of these! Worth every penny. Now, if you have any of Super Duper’s Chipper Chat products, then you don’t need to buy a “magic wand” and chips. I primarily use them as a motivator, and there is NO motivator like the magic wand! Use the chips as manipulators, for example, with multisyllabic words or working on expanding sentences.

2. DRY ERASE WHITEBOARDS 

I’ve used these for just about everything. They are especially great in group therapy; kids enjoy having their own board to complete a task. I like the boards that have lines on one side and are blank on the backside. They are also magnetic!

Use for games like Pictionary, Hangman (for vocab), or quick sentence formulation tasks. Draw articulation targets, practice phonological awareness, or write WH questions.

3. MANIPULATIVES 

If you type “manipulatives” into the Amazon search all kinds of amazing things will come up. It’s up to you and the population you work with, which ones you purchase. They are so versatile in targeting many goals (vocabulary, prepositions, following directions) and they are so much cheaper on Amazon than in educational stores.

4. PICTURE BOOKS 

I had one picture book my first year working that I got VERY creative with…using it for vocabulary, conversation starters, basic concepts, building rapport, turn-taking – you name it. Pair with visuals, sequencing strips, or simple crafts stored in a binder.

More versatile therapy tools.

Grab-and-Go Mini Kits

Create small themed kits using zip pouches or pencil cases. Each kit can target a specific goal:

• Articulation: Picture cards, mirrors, and mini objects.
• Language: Mini books, small figurines, or sequencing cards.
• Fluency: Visual pacing boards, stretchy toys, or laminated fluency strategy reminders.
• Social Skills: Emotion cards, mini puppets, or scenario strips.

Digital Tools for Therapy on the Go

I always keep my iPad with me so I have access to apps, Boom Cards, and to be able to open PDFs.

Keep a few favorite speech-language apps on your tablet:

• Articulation Station, Toca Boca, MyPlayHome, Peekaboo Barn, etc.
• Google Slides or Boom Cards that don’t require internet access.
• PDF decks that you can annotate with markup tools. Read more about how to draw on PDFs.

Printable Travel Binder

I always carried a binder for a compact collection of go-to visuals, data forms, and worksheets. Use sheet protectors to store reusable printables and add sticky tabs for easy navigation. I had articulation lists, wh-questions, barrier games, and other pages that I used frequently.

On-The-Go Play Based Therapy Toys

Play-based therapy doesn’t have to be limited to a full therapy room. Consider these printable, travel-friendly versions of classic play setups.

These open-ended, “on-the-go” versions of these popular toys for a portable, more convenient option for play-based therapy. These printable, one-page dollhouse, farm, and kitchen are perfect for traveling SLPs and SLPAs and teletherapy!

Assemble into a binder using sheet protectors. Or laminate two pages back-to-back. Or you can use this document on your computer or tablet. Program and app suggestions are provided for drawing and writing on the PDF.

Do you have any tips and tricks for traveling SLPs? Leave a comment below!