The Importance of Emotional Competence
I look over at my student struggling with his homework. I hear a big sigh as he looks at the first problem. After the second problem, he throws his pencil down. When I ask if he would like help, he yells “this is stupid!” He crumples it into his backpack and refuses to talk about […]
Minimalism for Children with Special Needs
Minimalism – Why it’s great for kids (especially kids with special needs!) Minimalism. The KonMari Method. The Four Box Method. Feng Shui. Oprah’s Closet Hanger Method. I won’t lie; I’ve been purging like a crazy woman and loving it. I found twelve serving spoons that I’ve never seen in my life hidden in the back […]
Behavior as Communication – Part II
Responding to Behavior as Communication In part I, we learned how to increase our awareness and acceptance of behaviors, providing ways to connect with our children. If you missed it, read go back and read it first for a better understanding. Responding to behaviors as communication is where we begin to change our relationship with […]
Behavior as Communication – Part I
Accepting Behavior as Communication Behavior is communication. All actions-good or bad-offer information for us to use, just like a conversation would. We can change our relationships with our children and others just by accepting and responding to behavior as communication. Any of these behaviors sound familiar to you? The dog scratches at the door to […]
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! […]
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 […]