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...

So, you’ve gotten into an argument with your child, ended up having to play "bad guy" as they got in trouble, or said something you...

Have you ever scrolled social media platforms and seen fun and creative, aesthetically pleasing sensory bins?  Have you ever thought to...

We often think of consuming food as second nature, but in reality, the way our bodies and minds approach eating is a multi-factor,...

Virtual speech therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling have been around for a long time. Many parents and students were introduced...

When a loved one is depressed, family and friends are often left wondering how they can help. After interviewing people who have lived...

As we head into the colder months, illnesses and inclement weather can pose barriers for patients to attend in-person sessions. Depending...

When children engage in challenging behaviors, it can be a difficult and emotional experience for everyone involved; however, these...