Author: Gabriella Perlongo MS CCC SLP

Siblings, older or younger, can be an excellent peer model for kids receiving speech and language therapy and this can be very motivating Have siblings help with turn-taking activities. Choose a fun game and get siblings involved by taking turns appropriately while playing a game with their brother or sister. Learning to take turns appropriately can help siblings get along better outside of therapy Siblings can help set appropriate goals; have the siblings help create functional goals in the home setting. For example, you may ask your child “when is it hard for you to understand what your brother/sister is saying?” He or she may provide examples which is helpful to establish functional goals at home Siblings can be helpful

Prepare: As the new school year is right around the corner, you can help your child prepare for what to expect. How? Write a social story about your child’s new school schedule. Add pictures that reflect your child’s day at school (riding the bus, eating lunch, going to recess, speech therapy, etc.) Read numerous times before they begin school. If you don’t have materials to make a social story, talk about what to expect at school, who your child might see at school, etc. (Make it positive) Contact and Communicate: Contact the teacher and speech pathologist working with your child this year. If your child’s speech pathologist at school has not yet contacted you, reach out and ask for your child’s