“My kids have been acting extra wild, is this normal?” Summer break is a common time for behaviors to change. Some kids will have increases in behavior. Behavior is often a form of communication in any age group, so try these cheats to help beat those summer spats. Set Schedules People thrive on routine. Having a set schedule helps eliminate guess work and helps our brain know what to do. To have added support, encourage your child to participate in making the schedule, suc

Progress in speech therapy isn’t always linear. Instead, it is very typical for progress to happen in a wave-like pattern with bursts and slumps along the way. This spiral pattern of progress is typical as the brain integrates new patterns of communication and behavior. Although it may seem like your child isn’t always making steady progress, it is important to remember that small gains often come before big leaps and sometimes progress is being made even when we cannot see i

Are you appropriate for virtual therapy services? Virtual candidates: o Feel comfortable with virtual sessions. o Have the ability to focus for extended periods of time. o Have a stable internet connection. o Feel comfortable being on camera. o Have access to a device that has a camera, microphone, and the ability to download Zoom. o Feel comfortable utilizing technology and are willing to learn how to operate Zoom. o Have access to a safe, secure, and private l

What are Communication Milestones? Communication milestones are certain communicative skills (e.g. smiling, waving, talking) that children are expected to develop, on average, by a certain age range. Milestones can assist families and caregivers in knowing what to typically expect as a child grows and develops and most importantly, when to seek help if needed. If you want to know “Should my child be talking?” or “When will my toddler say his/her first word?” You can find a co

The summer months off of school are a fun and exciting time for kids, but it also often means a break in therapy for some children. Parents often look for ways to help their child stay on track over the break, but who wants to sit and do worksheets when it's sunny and warm outside? Here are some FUN ideas of ways you can help continue to build language skills into those long summer days, without it feeling like a chore! Water Play: Use pools, sprinklers, or water balloons to

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Early Support Matters: Recognizing Signs in Children and Youth Parents and caregivers are often the first to notice changes. Paying attention to patterns, having open conversations, and connecting children and teens to support early can make a meaningful difference. Changes in mood, sleep, appetite, thinking, or behavior may signal the need for support. Most serious mental illnesses begin in young adulthood. Exposure to trauma can affect

Here are 5 ways to use play dough in speech therapy to create an engaging and meaningful session. You can address many areas of communication such as expressive language, receptive language, and articulation/phonological goals. Try these ideas with play dough trays during the spring months. #1. Pair with a Book: play dough trays are a wonderful activity to pair with any book. For example, if you read a book about Spring, you could create a play dough tray with flowers, trees,

March is reading month, so I wanted to share a bit about how to engage toddlers in reading at home! Read on for book recommendations and ways to keep reading fun and entertaining for your little one! Use Interactive Books Flap Books- Flap books are a wonderful way to encourage children to participate in reading at home. They are hands on and build anticipation and excitement during reading. My personal favorite is “Where’s Spot?” books as they have simple vocabulary and pictu

It’s your weekend. You’re doing the things you enjoy. Spending time with family, catching up on housework, or just watching good old trash TV. Then out of nowhere a sense of dread hits. Monday is coming. That’s the Sunday scaries. Though typically thought of as only occurring on Sunday they can occur during any time of your week. Some people experience decreased enjoyment of their weekend tasks or feeling overwhelmed by needing to make the most of their breaktime to the point

Do you use books in your therapy sessions? Books provide all the language learning you need for any session and are a wonderful way to learn functional and relevant seasonal vocabulary. Here are some of my favorite books to use for the month of February and my top targets for each. Book Recommendations & Top Targets Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright S-clusters, sequencing, inferencing, winter vocabulary. Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner Wh- questions, inferencing, w

Did you know you can use everyday routines to build your child’s speech and language skills? Everyday routines, such as brushing teeth, getting dressed, and mealtimes are predictable, repetitive, and meaningful times to work on speech and language skills with your child. Here are some useful strategies you can use during any daily routine. 5 Strategies for Building Language during Routines Self Talk - attach words or phrases to what you are doing, ex: “I am putting toothpast

The holiday season is presented as a magical time filled with joy, celebration, and togetherness. But behind the lights, decor, and festive music, many people experience something very different. Family expectations, financial strain, disrupted routines, and the pressure for “perfection." Eliminating the true joy of the holiday. Stress during the holidays is incredibly common, and there are ways to protect your well-being while still enjoying the season. Here are a few prac

Books are a perfect way to grow language and literacy skills any time of year, but especially during those cold winter months and over the holidays. Here are ten suggestions and ideas for how they can be used to build language skills. The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats : This timeless story is great for practicing basic concepts, vocabulary, sensory experiences, and cause/effect. Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright : Kids love the funny, repetitive cycle of Sneezy melting an

The holiday season is upon us and so is gift giving! There are a variety of toys to choose from this season. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the choices you have, check out this holiday gift guide. As a speech-language pathologist, I recommend toys/activities that are fun, open-ended, interactive, encourage creativity and imagination, and of course social interaction! Check out this guide by age for your holiday gifting: Babies/Toddlers/Preschool Age Cause & Effect Toys Sta

Most people can benefit from therapy at least at some point in their lives. Here are five signs it may be time to seek help from a professional: 1. Feeling “not yourself.” 2. Abusing drugs, alcohol, or food to cope. 3. The loss of someone or something important to you. 4. You’ve experienced some sort of trauma. 5. You find it difficult to do the things you normally like to do. (Psychology Today March:2018) If you decide therapy is worth a try, it doesn’t mean you’re in it f

Here at Fun First, we are always trying new activities; there is so much to learn through play! I've rounded up a few fall activities to do with children/clients that are not only engaging, but also encourage language development, and I can almost guarantee your littles won't even notice the educational spin amidst the fun! Have you tried washing pumpkins with your little ones? You can add water to just about any activity for some extra engagement and fun. So, grab those left

As Halloween is fast approaching, we would like to remind everyone of some safety tips while out and about Halloween night. We've also...

In 2023 I had the opportunity to observe a session at the intensive pediatric feeding program at U of M. This is one of four programs in...

As we near the start of a new school year, we wanted to share helpful tips for parents as they prepare their children for the transition...

Have you heard your child’s speech-language pathologist mention phonological processes? If so, your child may be using these error...