Author: Diana Makdah MS CCC SLP

  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.

  May is a special time as we celebrate graduations—not just in school, but in speech and language milestones too! Just like students walk across the stage to mark the end of a school year, many of our young clients “graduate” from therapy after reaching their communication goals. Every speech and language achievement is worth celebrating with pride and joy.  We love seeing children gain the skills they need to succeed in the classroom, with friends, and at home. Graduation from therapy is not the end of the journey, but it’s a stepping stone toward continued growth, confidence, and a lifetime of effective communication. It’s time to celebrate all that you and your child have accomplished!

  As spring  break comes to an end, many children with attention difficulties may experience challenges as they return to school routines. The transition from flexible schedules, increased screen time, and special activities to more structured days can feel overwhelming. During this time, it is common for parents to notice changes in attention, behavior, or emotional regulation. To support a smoother adjustment, families can begin reintroducing routines gradually. Consistent wake-up times, predictable mealtimes, and visual schedules help children understand expectations and feel more secure. Simple supports such as gentle reminders, movement breaks, and clear, concise directions can make a meaningful difference as children work to refocus and regulate their attention. It is important to remember that this transition takes time.

Spring Into Developmental Motor Milestones April is a wonderful time to reflect on developmental motor milestones and how they connect to communication growth. As babies learn to sit, crawl, and walk, they gain new ways to explore their world. With that exploration comes more opportunities to hear language, share experiences, and interact with others. Movement helps children engage with people and objects, which naturally supports vocabulary development and early social skills. Motor development also plays a direct role in speech. Skills like breath support, posture, and coordination contribute to clear sound production, while gestures such as pointing and reaching often come before spoken words. When children build strong motor foundations, they are better equipped to develop strong communication skills.

Hearing plays a critical role in how children develop speech and language. Even mild or fluctuating hearing loss can impact sound development, vocabulary growth, and clarity of speech. Early identification and support make a powerful difference in helping children access language and communication. This month, we encourage families to stay attentive to listening behaviors, speech clarity, and responsiveness to sound. Early support, combined with speech therapy, helps children build strong communication foundations and confidence in their voices.

  November is the perfect time to practice gratitude, and it can also be a fun way to build your child’s communication skills. Whether your child is using words, gestures, or an AAC device, here are five simple ways to make “thank you” part of everyday life: Pick a daily “thankful moment.” Choose one time each day such as snack time, bedtime, or car rides to pause and share something you’re thankful for. Kids learn through routine and repetition. Keep “thank you” easy to access. For AAC users, make sure words or phrases like thank you, thanks, happy, thankful are on their device. For kids without AAC, keep visuals such as pictures of family, friends, or their favorite things to

  The change from summer to fall is more than just cooler weather and pumpkin spice. It’s a great chance to add fresh, meaningful words to your child’s AAC device. Every season comes with new sights, smells, and activities, and fall is packed with fun ways to help your child use his/her AAC device in a natural environment.  Go outside and explore! Notice the crunchy leaves, the chilly air, the pumpkins on porches. While you’re out, model words like cold, orange, leaf, big, or go on your child’s device. Compare what you see now to summer: Hot in July vs cool in September/October.  Inside, bake something fall-themed together, read a pumpkin or scarecrow story, or pick out a cozy sweater.

  A trip to the farmer’s market isn’t just great for fresh produce, but it’s also a fun and functional way to sneak in articulation practice! As you walk through the stands, encourage your child to label items that include their target sound. For example, if they’re working on the /s/ sound, they can look for and say words like “strawberries” or “sunflower.” Try using short carrier phrases like “I see __” or “Let’s get __” to practice speech in real-life conversations. Your child can be your helper by asking them to find items on a list or encourage talking to vendors. You can even turn it into a scavenger hunt: “Can you find 3 things that start with the

    The beach can be the perfect time to soak up the sun and build language! A trip to the beach can be a fun and easy way to introduce new words in a natural setting. Whether your child is digging in the sand, watching the waves, or eating a popsicle, there are so many chances to model new vocabulary words and expand language. Try describing textures (smooth, rough, wet, sticky), actions (scoop, splash, dig, float), and categories (animals, clothes, food, tools). You don’t need flashcards—just talk about what you see and do! This helps your child connect words to real experiences. Narrate your actions, repeat key words, and describe what your child is doing too. For example, talk