Author: Elizabeth Novak-Czech MA CCC SLP

How often do we ask kids, “How was your day?” and hear, “Good,” as a response? You may ask, “How do we ask questions that warrant more than a one word response. 1. Ask the right questions. Asking your child specific questions will get you specific answers. 2. Keep the conversation flowing with follow-up comments and questions. Here is a list of questions you can ask instead of how was your day: What was the best part of your day? What was the funniest thing you saw today? What books did you read today? What games did you play at recess? Which kid in your class needed to be cheered up today? What made you feel happy today? What do

We’ve made gift giving super simple for you by breaking down toys and games into categories. Top Toys for Toddlers1. Ball Popper2. Lucky Ducks3. Surprise Eggs or Presents4. “Put in” Toys5. Simple Puzzles Turn Taking for Toddlers & Preschoolers1. Zingo2. Pop the Pig3. Jumping Jack4. Pop Up Pirate5. Bunny Hop Board Games for Elementary or Middle Schoolers1. Guess Who2. Life3. Headbandz4. Apples to Apples5. Clue Pretend Play1. Critter Clinic or Pet Vet2. Puppets3. Farm Set4. Little People Home5. Camper Set

Children begin to develop skills through imitation in infancy. A research review, Leford & Windsor, 2020, outlines current intervention research for increasing imitation in children with disabilities. The research recommended the following:-Include support and rewards for planned, systematic, and frequent instruction and practice.-Start young and teach imitation to toddlers.-The instruction and practice should be based on functional learning and individualized goals.-Practice and teach imitation activities in different environments such as home, school, out in the community, etc. Here are some examples of imitation activities and games you can play with your child:-Encourage imitation in daily routines such as turning off the lights, filling the dog’s bowls with water and food, and cleaning the kitchen counter.-Play Simon Says or Follow the

Drawing outside is a great way to get outside and enjoy the sunshine while also practicing speech and language skills. Go outside and draw with chalk on the driveway or sidewalk. Talk about the colors you’re using, the size of the chalk (big/small) or how the chalk feels on your hands (filmy/dusty). Draw a rainbow and describe all the colors you chose to use for the rainbow. Trace your child’s hand or outline their body and let them add colorful decorations.  Draw a hopscotch board.  Practice writing letters/numbers.   Play hangman.  The options with chalk are limitless.  Just remember to have fun and enjoy! You can encourage the following concepts with this activity:-Verbs: draw, color, make-Adjectives: colors, shapes, dirty/clean, small/big-Word Combinations:

Humans are very social. We use social skills every day when communicating with one another. Building children’s social skills is often discussed, but what are “social skills” really? If your child has been in speech therapy, the terms “social communication” or “pragmatics” have probably come up. These terms refer to the way a child uses language for a variety of purposes (making requests, greeting, giving information/ sharing) while following basic rules for conversation including: -taking turns in conversation-introducing topics of conversation-staying on topic and maintaining a circle of communication-recognizing and repairing miscommunications-rephrasing when misunderstood-use and understanding of nonverbal signals-personal proximity and orientation of body when speaking to others-using facial expressions and eye contact/ eye gaze Weaknesses in social skills create

Some people believe the false assumption that teaching sign language to a child will hinder his or her ability to learn verbal communication. There is no research to support this claim. Research does show that children with speech and language delays benefit from the use of sign language. When a child is unable to express him/herself, challenging behaviors may arise. This can lead to frustration for both the child and the parents. A study by Thompson, Cotnoir-Bichelman, McKerchar, Tate, & Dancho (2007) states that introducing basic signs may contribute to the prevention of behavior problems for young children. It is often easier for a child to learn the motor actions needed to make a sign before they learn the motor

Children with a history of speech-sound disorders are at risk for reading difficulties. Because of this, it is critical to start working on pre-literacy skills at an early age. Before a child is able to read, there are pre-reading skills that must develop. One of these skill areas is phonological awareness. Phonological awareness refers to the awareness of speech sounds and the ability to reflect and manipulate them. Phonological awareness includes skills such as rhyming, segmenting a word into sounds, blending sounds into a word, identifying the first or last sound in a word, and changing a sound to make a new word. Here are some activities you can try with your child to support the development of these skills:

With the warmer weather and melting snow, it is starting to feel and look like spring. Here are some ideas to help your child in building their speech and communication skills during a spring time activity. Introduce new vocabulary and describing words while planting a seed and taking care of a growing plant. New vocabulary may include: fertilizer, trowel, soil, etc. Be sure to utilize any new vocabulary words in sentences multiple times throughout the activity. Encourage your child to describe the texture of the soil and seeds, explain what they are doing, and discuss what they hope will happen as the plant grows. Describe the flow of the water as you water the seeds (e.g., slow, fast, dripping, etc.).

With siblings and busy schedules, it may feel difficult to find time to sit down with your child one-on-one to work on speech and language targets or homework. It is important to know that even if you are not spending as much one-on-one time with your child as you would like, they are still gaining crucial input and exposure during each conversation you have with them. Implementing therapy techniques and practice does not need to only be limited to individual practice. While one-on-one time is beneficial, it is also important for your child to learn how to use language in everyday routines and when interacting with family and friends. Speech and language development techniques can easily be implemented into daily

Happy New Year! The New Year is an excellent time of the year to set goals and resolutions for the coming year. What goals do you have for your child’s speech and language for 2021 Here are some ideas for New Years resolutions related to speech and language to help kick of 2021. Practice speech sounds for five minutes at least five days a week. Life can get busy for everyone, but research shows daily practice even for just five minutes can make a huge difference in a child’s progress. Ask your child’s therapist for speech targets.Go to the library and read each day. Going to the library is a fun activity which leads to bringing home new, exciting, and