As your child’s language skills grow, it can be overwhelming to determine at what age each speech sound is expected to develop! With so many new skills emerging during the exciting first few years of his or her life (language and otherwise!), having a reference to the expected ages of sound development is especially handy. Below […]
When does picky eating become a problem? A few facts will help you determine whether your little one could benefit from feeding therapy.
Problem feeding is not a typical part of child development. While all children go through food jags and some are quite picky, problem feeders often
eat fewer than 20 foods
omit foods from their already […]
Take Advantage of Routines
Whether it is meal time, bath time, or any other routine that you and your child participate in together, there are many options to promote speech and language.
Narrate
Talk your child through each step of the routine.
For example, if you are preparing a snack, tell him or her about it “You are in […]
Music is an incredibly powerful way to build language skills in your toddler. You notice that children (even those who are not yet verbal) often light up (smile, clap, dance, sway, etc.) as soon as they hear music. A few quick tips will help you capitalize on this interest and motivation to make an impact […]
Practicing the “th” Sound at Home
The “th” sound should be mastered around 6-7 years of age. Interestingly, because the sound is very visual, many children are stimulable for accurate production well before then. If your child is stimulable and motivated, here are a few things you can do to practice at home!
Articulator Placement
First of all, the […]
One of my favorite tools in the speech therapist arsenal is a social story. “What is a social story?” you may ask, and “Why are they so helpful?” I am here to answer those questions!
A social story is simply a story or book that is created to support a child (or group of children). Typically, […]
A puzzle is another classic toy with endless speech and language opportunities. There are so many puzzle options out there, but a few of my favorites are this one and this one (I have a love for all things Melissa and Doug – I have yet to find one of their toys that is not […]
As children begin to speak, they will make mistakes with their sounds, which is completely normal. As your child grows, these errors will begin to subside. In some children, however, these errors persist and speech therapy intervention is very beneficial.
An articulation disorder is present when a child has difficulty producing sounds. The sound can be […]
Parents often ask me what they can do to model language skills and encourage language growth in their young children outside of speech therapy. There are so many great answers to this question! I find it’s best to start with a practical activity/toy that is readily accessible and easy to play with just about anywhere. […]
