Day: July 18, 2026

  July means ice cream cones, popsicles, and fun summer treats! But did you know speech-language pathologists (SLPs) also play an important role in pediatric feeding and swallowing? Eating safely requires strength, coordination, and timing of the lips, tongue, and throat muscles. When children frequently cough, gag, pocket food, or strongly avoid certain textures, an SLP is one of the professionals trained to evaluate those skills. In pediatrics, SLPs assess oral motor function, sensory responses to food, and swallowing safety, and they collaborate closely with pediatricians and other specialists when concerns arise. If summer mealtimes bring up questions about how your child eats and drinks, an SLP can help determine whether feeding skills are developing as expected and provide guidance

As older students return to school, reading becomes more complex and understanding what they read is key. One helpful strategy is visualization, or creating a “movie in your mind” while reading. Encourage your child to pause and describe what they picture: the setting, characters, and actions. Ask questions like, “What do you see happening?” or “How do you think the character feels?” You can also have them draw a scene or summarize what they read in their own words. These strategies strengthen comprehension and help your child stay engaged and confident with grade-level texts.

Summer is a wonderful time for kids to relax, explore, and have fun—but it’s also important to keep practicing the speech and language skills they’ve worked so hard to develop throughout the school year. Just like reading or math skills, communication skills can become rusty without regular use. The good news is that practice doesn’t have to feel like homework. Spending just 10–15 minutes a day talking, reading together, playing games, or practicing speech sounds during everyday activities can help your child maintain their progress and continue to build new skills. Small, consistent moments of practice can make returning to therapy or school in the fall a smoother transition. Here are a few easy ways to practice speech and language