Author: Caroline Vance MS CCC SLP

Winter Snowman Craft Materials: Construction paper in winter colors (blue, red, green, orange, black, etc.) Scissors Glue or tape Markers or crayons Cotton balls Small googly eyes Speech Therapy Targets: Articulation: Focus on speech sounds like “s,” “sh,” “ch,” “b,” “p,” and “m” that are common in winter vocabulary (snow, cold, snowman, mittens, boots, ice). Vocabulary: Seasonal vocabulary words (snow, cold, freeze, snowflake, mittens, scarf, hat, snowman, sleet). Sentence Structure: Create simple and complex sentences to describe the snowman (e.g., “The snowman has a red hat” or “The snowman is wearing a blue scarf”). Following Directions: Give step-by-step instructions to assemble the snowman (e.g., “Cut out two circles for the snowman’s body,” “Glue the buttons on the snowman”). How to:

  6-12 month+: Piggy Bank: https://a.co/d/cj4IcuR Sorting Shapes: https://a.co/d/c6aO5ej Buckle Toy: https://a.co/d/5bfqGQI Stacking Cups: https://a.co/d/9iDF3NZ Feed the Fish: https://a.co/d/ePFekzO Toddlers/Young: Sequence For Kids: https://a.co/d/5BxINjE Balloon Launcher: https://a.co/d/aZwHCiF Pretend Play Ice Cream: https://a.co/d/gGvhT5b Let’s Go Fishing: https://a.co/d/e8ZS2I2 Dino Launcher: https://a.co/d/6UfnrGD Zingo: https://a.co/d/eM0lS7P Sorting Baskets: https://a.co/d/2gOm1gu Frankie’s Food Truck: https://a.co/d/eTCPotp Elementary Aged: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza: https://a.co/d/jjRz4bS Gravity Maze: https://a.co/d/hEl5To5 Kanoodle: https://a.co/d/5BmK1yP Code Names: https://a.co/d/69ieiNp Tetris: https://a.co/d/favJNuD Quick Pucks: https://a.co/d/d8jDnAn Traffic Jam: https://a.co/d/1VXnEf7 Connect Four *Spin: https://a.co/d/947j1Vo Left Center Right: https://a.co/d/caAetAB Teens: The Game of Things: https://a.co/d/21TA4BC What Do You Meme?: https://a.co/d/iJT3nAb Catan: https://a.co/d/fgVl4al Wordle Board Game: https://a.co/d/bmxKjas Mind the Gap: https://a.co/d/bFUG1nZ

Importance of a weekly routine: A weekly routine is crucial for child development as it provides a structured and predictable environment that helps children feel secure and understand what to expect each day. Consistent routines support the development of time management skills, helping children learn to anticipate and prepare for various activities, which fosters independence and confidence. Regular routines also contribute to emotional stability by reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of order. Additionally, routines can improve behavioral regulation by establishing clear expectations and patterns, making transitions smoother and minimizing conflicts. This does not mean that everyday has to look the exact same, that is not realistic.  Although routines might look different day to day, there are some aspects within

In July, I adopted a sweet four year old golden retriever and sheltie mix! Her name is Lady 🙂 Although the first few weeks have been a transitional shift to my usual routine, it has brought joy and comfort in areas of my life I did not anticipate! I myself suffer from anxiety and utilize tools to self-regulate occasionally, just like some of the children I treat daily.  Since having her in my life, I have not had to utilize my “go-to” tools to de-stress as often.  She has been providing me with a lot of the comfort I need when it’s time to calm down.  This has gotten me thinking about how beneficial dogs can be to individuals with

Food chaining is a therapeutic approach designed to help children with feeding difficulties by gradually expanding their food preferences. It involves introducing new foods in a systematic way that is related to the child’s existing likes and dislikes. For example, if a child likes chicken nuggets, the approach might start by introducing other types of nuggets or different textures and flavors of chicken, slowly moving towards more varied foods. This technique aims to reduce food neophobia (fear of new foods) and increase dietary variety through gradual and manageable steps. I highly recommend reading the book: “Food Chaining: The Proven 6 Step Plan to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding Problems, and Expand Your Child’s Diet” by Cheri Fraker RD LD CLC,

When considering extracurricular activities for children with special needs, it’s essential to focus on their interests, abilities, and comfort levels. Here are some suggestions to look into: Adaptive Sports: Many communities offer adaptive sports programs tailored to children with disabilities. These can include wheelchair basketball, adaptive swimming, or sensory-friendly sports activities. Here is a link to Chicago’s Adaptive Sports page: https://www.chicagoadaptivesports.com/ Art Classes: Art allows for self-expression and creativity. Look for art classes or workshops that accommodate various abilities and sensory needs. Here is a link to a specific program in Chicago: https://artsoflife.org/ Music Therapy: Music therapy can be highly beneficial for children with special needs. It can help improve communication skills, sensory integration, and emotional expression. Here is a link to

  Museums serve as valuable resources for speech therapy, offering a dynamic and enriching environment that supports language development, communication skills, and social interaction in individuals of all ages. Check out some of these free museum days this spring and summer for Illinois residents.   -Adler Planetarium: Wednesdays 4pm-10pm -Field Museum: Every Wednesday  -Shedd Aquarium: Tuesdays 5pm-9pm (March 26th-June 25th) -Chicago History Museum: April 10th, 18th, 24th and May 1st, 27th, 29th -Museum of Science and Industry: April 21st -DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center: Every Wednesday  -Museum of Contemporary Art: Every Tuesday -Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: Every Thursday -Illinois Holocaust Museum: last Friday of the month year-long. 

Why does the history intake form ask about the types of textures my child eats and how does this relate to speech therapy? If your child is undergoing a speech therapy evaluation, it is important for the therapist to know if your child struggles with any textures because that can be an implication of a deficit. Speech therapy often involves addressing oral motor skills, swallowing difficulties, and sensory sensitivities, all of which can be influenced by the textures of the foods a child consumes. Here are some examples of how different food textures relate to speech therapy: Smooth/Pureed: These textures are often recommended for children with swallowing difficulties or oral motor delays. Smooth foods require minimal chewing and are easier

  Interactive book reading is a highly effective strategy used by educators, caregivers, and speech therapists to engage children in the reading process and promote language development, comprehension, and literacy skills. Here’s how to conduct an interactive book reading session: Choose the Right Book: Select a book that is age-appropriate and aligns with the child’s interests and developmental level. Consider books with engaging illustrations, predictable patterns, and repetitive phrases that encourage participation. Before Reading: Set the stage by introducing the book’s title, author, and illustrator. Encourage the child to make predictions about the story based on the cover or title. Preview any new vocabulary words or concepts that may be encountered in the book. During Reading: Read the story aloud,

  A social story is a tool used primarily in special education and therapeutic settings to help individuals, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), understand social situations, expectations, routines, and appropriate behaviors. Developed by Carol Gray in the early 1990s, social stories are structured narratives that provide individuals with clear and concrete information about social interactions or events they may encounter. These stories typically include descriptive sentences, pictures, and sometimes simple language to convey the message effectively. Key features of a social story include: Objective: Social stories describe a specific social situation or behavior objectively, highlighting relevant details such as who, what, when, and where. Perspective Taking: Social stories often aim to encourage perspective-taking by helping individuals understand others’