If a family is concerned about their child’s expressive language skills, I often begin to ask questions about ways their child is initiating communication, or how the child independently and intentionally communicates a message to their communication partner. Remember that a child doesn’t have to be talking to initiate communication! Children can initiate communication using eye contact, directed facial expressions (e.g., looks of excitement, surprise, curiosity, frustration, etc.), body movements, vocalizations, gestures, signs, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) use, and/or words. Think about how much a look of frustration or excitement communicates.
Read MoreAs an SLP, it’s my job to empower families to feel successful with speech home practice, or activities and strategies carried out after every therapy session. Speech therapy home practice needs to be tailored to each kiddo and family, easily fit within everyday routines, and feasibly implemented on a regular basis. We want to work together to create a home practice program to which a family can adhere. This results in increased progress towards speech and language goals. I’m sharing a few ways I keep speech therapy home practice simple and organized.
Read MoreReading is an effective way to foster receptive and expressive language development, emergent literacy skills (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, print knowledge, etc.), and shared enjoyment in young children. I’ve listed my top effective, language-based strategies to use when reading with your toddler or preschooler.
Read MoreWe support children’s language learning in so many ways throughout their everyday routines. If you are looking for some tips on ways to talk or interact with your toddler to better support their language development, these strategies are for you!
Read MoreToday, I’m sharing a roundup of my favorite teletherapy resources I’ve used this fall. I know many therapists and kiddos are transitioning back to teletherapy or remote learning as COVID-19 cases spike around the country. I hope this list serves as inspiration if you need some new ideas for remote speech therapy sessions or home practice.
Read MoreI’m sharing a roundup of the books I’ve included throughout the fall on my Friday Favorites Instagram series. Below each book title, I’ve listed the recommended ages provided by the author or publishing company. However, please note that this range is not all inclusive from a therapeutic standpoint, as I typically choose books based on both a child’s age and language level. I’ve also listed a few ways in which I incorporate each book during therapy.
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