Author: Caroline Vance MS CCC SLP

Looking for a way to support children with special needs and get a sweet treat for your pup? Look no further than Gravitate Queen City! Based in Waxhaw, North Carolina, the non-profit company’s mission is to create an inclusive community and empower young adults with different abilities.  They specialize in vocational training while making dog treats.  While working at Gravitate, these young individuals are able to make meaningful friendships and engage with peers in a variety of environments.  As a community, it is very important to support these inclusive companies that strive to empower and set individuals up for independence and success.  If you or someone you know has a furry friend, consider purchasing treats from a company that has a

There has been room for debate on whether or not doodling can contribute to an increase in focus, memory, and concentration.  This article introduces a few studies that have been tested to assess this theory.   Within the studies, participants who doodled while engaging in simple retrieval tasks were 30% more likely to recall the information than the participants who were told not to doodle. It is not recommended to doodle during more complex, challenging tasks as this can be more of a distraction.  The question is why is doodling linked to higher focus and concentration? You will have to read the short article to find out! https://www.spring.org.uk/2023/01/doodling.php

  Attached are a few resources to learn some early signs with your toddler.  When teaching signs, I always begin teaching the following signs first and then building up from here.  These specific signs can be found on the PDF document attached below: “Hi”, “Bye”, “More”, “Done”, “Me”, “Help”, “Open”, “Eat”, “Stop”, “Play”, “Jump”, “Go”.  I might begin first by choosing 1-2 target signs to focus on in the initial session.  From here, I will consistently model and demonstrate the sign paired with the verbalization of the sign while engaging in play based tasks.  My expressions and motor movements will likely be dramatic and aim to excite and engage the toddler with my actions.  Once I am engaged in a

As the holiday season quickly approaches look out for some of these recommended toys on Amazon! Here is a list along with some speech/language targets to be utilized at home: https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Laugh-Stages-Amazon-Exclusive/dp/B00OZAI56M/ref=sr_1_2?crid=29CBTRJ4CXNYH&keywords=piggy+bank+game&qid=1666710133&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjQzIiwicXNhIjoiMi4xMyIsInFzcCI6IjEuNTcifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=piggy+bank+gam%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-2 Piggy Bank: requesting, turn taking, expanding utterance length , identification/labeling qualitative (color)/quantitative (numerical) concepts, following directions https://www.amazon.com/B-Critter-Clinic-Toy-Play/dp/B00B16U50C/ref=sr_1_2?crid=XCV4FUUXNI98&keywords=animal+hospital+toy+with+keys&qid=1666710316&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjUwIiwicXNhIjoiMi41NiIsInFzcCI6IjEuOTcifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=animal+hos%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-2 Critter Clinic: understanding concepts (open/close), identification/labeling vocabulary (hiding animals/food/objects inside the doors), categorization of vocabulary (variety of objects in the doors and sort into each category once opened). https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Pig-Bigger-Belly-Busting-Burgers/dp/B091DSN2XG/ref=sr_1_3_mod_primary_new?crid=3MWBX4JZY67FC&keywords=pop%2Bthe%2Bpig&qid=1666710389&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0LjQ4IiwicXNhIjoiMy42OSIsInFzcCI6IjMuNTIifQ%3D%3D&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=pop%2Bthe%2Bpi%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-3&th=1 Pop the Pig: turn taking, following multi-step directions involving qualitative and quantitative concepts, functional language, language expansion, production of bilabials (pop, pig, big, more, me)   https://ganbino.com/product/john-deere-gearation-magnetic-board/ TOMY Gear Magnretic Toy: understanding concepts/following directions involving stop/go, on/off, fast/slow, more/all done, production of s-blends (spin, stop, start, smile,

Recently children have been prone to excessive screen time use due to greater accessibility from tablets and smartphones.  It is understandable parents are busy and need rest time themselves, however, excessive use can be damaging to a child’s growth and socialization.  Here are some recommendations on how to use screen time appropriately and reduce potential damage that excessive screens may be causing your child. How to cut down on screen time: Lead by example Children follow what they see.  If the child’s caregiver is scrolling on their phone while the family is at the dinner table, the child is watching and may internalize this as acceptable behavior. Have designated times and places where screen time is restricted If possible, try

Engaging in play based tasks with toddlers and young children is a great way to target language.  Language targets can be “disguised” into play, making it fun for both adults and kids to work on their skills.  Sometimes when we place demands on children during structured tasks they might back off and elope from the activity.  Here are a few activities/games/toys that I have used to work on receptive, expressive, and pragmatic language skills during play. Cars/Car Ramp: Think of some key words/concepts that go along with this activity (i.e. “go” “stop” ), environmental sounds (i.e. “beep beep” “weee ohhh”), size concepts (“big” “small”), locative concepts (up/down, in/on top/under), quality concepts (colors), quantity concepts (1, 2, 3)  to incorporate throughout

  The Stuttering Foundation is a great resource for parents, caregivers, and educators who are looking for assistance with their child’s fluency. This page highlights some key strategies to implement when engaging in conversation with your child: Reduce your pace Demonstrate “full body listening” Avoid asking questions consecutively Take turns during conversation Help build confidence by using specific language Implement “special time” into your daily schedule Discipline per usual, no special treatment https://www.stutteringhelp.org/7-tips-talking-your-child-0?gclid=Cj0KCQjw852XBhC6ARIsAJsFPN1CFGMaXKBxLKGu83yqsaMz-jePL4TZ_X_j_WwvCNBuUlmI02BGKP0aAi5CEALw_wcB