Gratitude & Speech Therapy

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues, it is the parent of all the others.”  –Cicero We have a beautiful massive tree in our backyard that drops it’s leaves by the billions each Autumn. Ok, not really billions, but when it’s time to bag them up it definitely feels like too many! As […]

10 Tips for Helping a Picky Eater during the Holidays

Holidays can be a magical time with fun traditions we look forward to each year. When I think about it, almost all my own holiday traditions are centered around a shared meal and time spent together. One of my favorite things to do is swap recipes with the families I treat to keep my menu […]

Top 20 Toys for Language Development

As a speech-language pathologist and mother, I play with ALOT of toys! Specifically toys that promote speech and language development, develop play skills, and foster independence. I have found that the best toys are able to provide opportunities to learn new concepts, engage children socially, experience new sensory input, and build your child’s imagination. Her’s […]

10 Tips for Choosing Toys for Speech & Language Development

10 Tips for Choosing Toys for Speech & Language Development Everyone wants to know what are the best toys out there for children. With so many choices available, it’s easy to just buy what you see in the store. BUT lucky for you – you don’t need fancy, expensive, trendy toys to build speech and language! […]

10 Strategies to Support English Language Learners

10 Strategies to Support English-Language Learners in the Classroom I tell my teacher friends all the time they are often the givers of language. Of course, most children go to school with language skills. However, the school setting can provide excellent opportunities to engage children with new ways to learn language. Classrooms are full of […]

Why don’t you take insurance?

I hear this question almost as often as “how do I know my child needs speech therapy?” Insurance is a tricky topic and varies for each person depending on their specific plan and benefits. I completely understand families wishing to use those benefits. It’s true healthcare providers are in-network for good reasons. However, here are […]

How Do I Know If My Child Needs Speech Therapy?

4 Questions to Consider One of the most common questions I get as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is “how do I know if my child needs speech therapy?” While I agree that a checklist of developmental milestones is helpful, it can also be overwhelming and dependent on many factors. Instead, I often find parents have […]

Independence in a Natural Environment

Part III: Principles of Heart & Soul Speech Empowerment + Sustainable Therapy + Natural Environment = Independence What is a “Natural Environment?” A natural environment is often thought of as the home – or any other setting where you may feel “at home.” However, when doing therapy in a ‘natural environment,’ it actually refers to […]

Sustainability

Part II: Principles of Heart & Soul Speech “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”             -Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism, Father of Sustainability (ok, I added that one) Honestly, the first time I heard that […]

Empowerment

Part I: Principles of Heart & Soul Speech Empowerment—noun; authority or power given to someone to do something; the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life. What a beautiful, powerful, profound word. The word empowerment alone carries weight and responsibility. People are often confused when I use it to describe what […]