Category: blog

    Literacy skills in America’s children and adults continue to remain low across the United States, especially compared to other comparable developed countries. Children with Language disorders are especially vulnerable to struggles in reading and writing acquisition as the role of language development is integral to reading success.  Struggle can lead to reluctance and feeling overwhelmed. Recently, graphic novels have demonstrated efficacy in breaking down these motivational barriers while supporting and effectively developing reading and overall language comprehension skills in literature format. Both school and public libraries are building up their inventories for beginning and even older readers alike.  As the market continues to demonstrate both their acceptance by even reluctant readers, as well as research-supported evidence that they

  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 holidays are a perfect time to teach kids about gratitude and communication! Saying “thank you” is more than good manners; it’s a great way to build social skills and language skills. 1. Model It Often. Let your child hear you use “thank you” in natural ways (e.g., “Thanks for helping me,” or “I love this gift, thank you!”). 2. Practice Beforehand. Role-play gift exchanges or family visits. Try short exchanges like: * Adult: “Here’s your present!” * Child: “Thank you! I love it!”   This builds confidence before real-life situations. 3. Expand on ‘Thank You’. Encourage kids to add details to make it a mini conversation: * “Thank you for the book. I love dinosaurs!” * “Thanks for coming

The holidays are full of chatter at family dinners, parties, and get-togethers. For some kids, that can feel overwhelming.  A little preparation helps make these moments easier and more enjoyable. 1. Practice greetings and polite phrases. Rehearse short, simple lines like “Hi, it’s nice to see you!” or “Thank you for the gift.” Role-play at home to build comfort. 2. Plan conversation starters. Give your child a few easy topics such as favorite foods, decorations, or holiday movies to help them join in naturally. 3. Practice turn-taking. Use fun games like *Would You Rather?* to build listening and back-and-forth conversation skills. 4. Take breaks. If things get loud or busy, it’s okay for your child to find a quiet spot.

Receptive vs. Expressive Language: What’s the Difference? When we talk about language development, two key skills come up often — receptive and expressive language. These work together but serve different purposes in communication. Receptive Language: Understanding Receptive language is how we understand what others say. It includes listening, processing, and making sense of words and sentences. For example, a child uses receptive language when they follow directions (e.g., “Get your shoes”), identify objects (e.g., “Where’s your nose?”), or understand a story being read aloud.  Expressive Language: Communicating Expressive language is how we use words, sentences, and gestures to share thoughts and ideas. A child uses expressive language when they ask for help, name things, or tell a story. Why It

  It is important for a child to follow directions because it is how learning takes place. Following directions directly impacts a child’s academic success, social development, as well as performance on daily routines. If a child displays difficulties with following directions, it may not only affect a child’s functioning at home and school, but also affect his/her self-esteem and social life. Why does this happen?  A child may struggle to follow directions due to a hearing impairment, language processing disorder, poor attention span, sequencing difficulties, and/or memory deficit. Milestones for Following Directions  1:0-2;0 Years Following 1-step commands “Get your shoes” 2;0-3;0 Years Following 2-step related commands “Get your shoes and bring to me” 3;0-4;0 Years Following 2-step related and

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) isn’t just about pushing buttons or pointing to pictures, it’s about giving someone the tools and opportunities to communicate effectively. Whether it’s a high-tech speech-generating device or a simple picture board, AAC is most powerful when it’s used in natural, meaningful contexts. 1. Make it part of the moment: AAC use shouldn’t be limited to “therapy time.” Bring it into everyday routines—requesting a snack at the table, commenting during play, or greeting a friend. 2. Model!: Just like spoken language, AAC needs to be seen and heard before it’s used independently. Point to symbols as you talk, narrate what’s happening, and demonstrate how to combine words. 3. Focus on more than requests: AAC isn’t only

  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.

Every child has a unique story to tell. That story is shaped by family, culture, language, and daily experiences. In speech therapy, it’s not just about teaching words or sounds, it’s about making sure children can express themselves in a way that feels true to who they are. For many families, English isn’t the only language spoken at home. Some children may grow up switching between two or more languages every day. Others may use a dialect, that has its own rich set of rules. These ways of speaking are not “wrong”, but instead they’re part of a child’s identity. In fact, when a child is experiencing a speech or language delay, one of the most common myths families hear

  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