Author: Mo Burke MS CCC SLP

Kids don’t always have the skills to manage big emotions on their own, and sometimes they need support right in the moment. These strategies are simple, practical, and can help your child calm down, focus, and make thoughtful choices. 1. Name the Feeling Out Loud Help your child identify their emotions as they happen. For example: “I see you’re feeling angry because your toy broke. That’s frustrating.” Labeling feelings helps them understand what’s happening and begins the process of regulating. 2. Deep Breathing Together Guide your child through slow, intentional breaths. Inhale for 4 counts Hold for 2 counts Exhale for 6 counts Make it fun by pretending to blow up a balloon or sniff a flower. 3. “Stop and

As an SLP, I love helping families see how everyday outings can support communication. A trip to a baseball game — whether it’s a Chicago Cubs game, a Chicago White Sox game, or a local game — can be a fun, natural way to build speech and language skills. BEFORE the game Talk about what you might see: bat ball glove helmet scoreboard snack stand Ask simple questions like: “Who do you think will win?” “What do you think we’ll eat?” “What do players wear?” DURING the game Use the moment to build language naturally: Ask WH- questions “Who is batting?” “Where did the ball go?” “What happened?” Practice describing loud exciting fast crowded cold Encourage requesting “Can I have

As an SLP, I often remind families that speech and language growth does not only happen during structured “practice.” Some of the best opportunities happen during everyday routines, even spring cleaning. Sorting toys, putting away clothes, and organizing shelves all create natural chances to support communication. Here are a few easy ways to build language at home: Sort and describe Talk about what belongs together: “Let’s put the cars here.” “Find the big stuffed animals.” “These are all blue.” Follow directions Use simple instructions during clean-up: “Put the books on the shelf.” “Take the shoes under the bench.” “First pick up the blocks, then the cars.” Use action words Cleaning gives you lots of natural vocabulary: wipe wash fold stack