Developing Language and Communication

Children develop language and communication by achieving various milestones. Milestones are behaviors that emerge, which help form building blocks for continued language growth over time. Parents and caregivers can play an important role in helping children achieve speech and language milestones.

Below is a list of different activities that you can do at home to help your child build up their language skills. 

If your child is under one-year of age you can:

• Talk to your child as you do everyday things

• Read them books (e.g., colorful books, books that have various textures and patterns)

• Label everyday objects

• Respond to their verbalizations

• Describe what you are doing and/or what they are doing

• Play simple games with him/her such as peek-a-boo

• Sing to them and read them nursery rhymes

• Take them to new/different places and situations

If you child is between the ages of 1-2 you can:

• Talk about new situations before you go and while you are there (then again when you get home)

• Praise your child’s efforts at communicating

• Talk to him/her about everything you are doing (e.g., talk about what you are making or what you are doing while playing with them, etc)

• Label toys and objects while playing 

  • Your child currently learns through play

  • During play, model the names of toys, the noises animals and toys make, what different toys do, etc.

If your child is between the ages of 2-3 you can:

• Help your child listen/follow instructions (e.g., pick up the ball, touch Daddy’s nose, etc)

• Talk about what you are going to do for the day

• Read books and talk about what you see on each page

  • Books can be used in so many different ways, we can read the words, but we can also label pictures and actions, talk about what characters we see and what they are doing, and so much more!

• Listen attentively when your child is talking to you 

• Help expand on what they are saying by modeling

  • If your child says “juice” then you can say “more juice”

  • If your child says “dog”, then you can elaborate by adding one word to - big dog or brown dog.

By modeling and supporting language at home, you can help your child build important skills for continued growth in communication skills.

If you feel as though your child is having difficulty developing speech and language or if you have any other concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at The Aubin Aphasia Speech and Language Center to schedule an evaluation or discuss therapy options.

~ Victoria King, MA CCC-SLP

Importance of Books

Books are essential to helping your child grow and build their language skills. They can also teach them ways to deal with frustration, ways to be creative, and can help them learn sentence and grammar structure. Here are some of the amazing ways books can help your child’s development:

Build their Interests

Children learn through interaction with preferred topics and areas of interest. When children are young, we play with them to help them build their language skills. However, as they get older, they are able to learn in different ways. One way is through interaction with books and stories about interesting topics. If your child is interested in a particular topic, encourage them through books and build vocabulary at the same time. Childrens’ books are available on virtually any topic your child might want to explore.

Grammar and Vocabulary

Books can teach children important grammar and vocabulary skills early on. Grammar and vocabulary words are typically learned together. Therefore, offering your child a book about a preferred topic that offers grammatically correct sentences, will help them build their vocabulary skills while learning and playing with something that they enjoy!  Consider “reading” wordless books with your child. You can take turns telling the story, practicing and learning new vocabulary and sentence structure. You can even change the story a bit each time you tell it.

Help Build Pragmatic and Social Skills

Social skills play a crucial role in communicating, connecting, and interacting with other children and adults. Books can help children build social skills! Children can learn perspective taking, problem solving, topics for conversation, and empathy from reading stories.

Books are Great for Young Children, too!

Books are not just for older children that know how to read, but can also help younger children! Picture books are great for increasing vocabulary and actions and introducing young children to grammar. You may want to choose books that offer extra enticement–such as “lift the flap”, books with textures, or that have structures that appear when you turn the page. Some books sold for preschoolers have more verbiage and higher level vocabulary than young children can understand or will enjoy. Feel free to restate the story in your own words to keep your child’s interest. 

Help with Self-Confidence

Books can build self-confidence, as well as help your child understand their own culture, and increase empathy towards others’ cultures.  Hearing and reading stories gives children the chance to stand back and observe how others are able to strive and succeed in difficult situations, showing them that they can do it too.  

Books can do so much for children and their development. There are endless possibilities when it comes to reading!

~ Victoria King, MA CCC-SLP

Cerebral Palsy Guide

The Aubin Aphasia Speech and Language Center is dedicated to helping individuals that have difficulties with speech/language, swallowing function, aphasia, dysarthria, voice, and a wide array of other skills. Providing helpful resources to individuals that struggle with communication is essential. 

The Cerebral Palsy Guide is one resource that may be a helpful tool to use - https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/community/ - It provides information for individuals affected by birth injuries, brain injuries, cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy, and other disabilities.

This site goes into detail regarding cerebral palsy (i.e., causes, symptoms, different types of cerebral palsy, diagnosis, prognosis, and coexisting conditions). They also provide great resources when considering different treatment options. 

Living with any disability can be very difficult for not only the individual diagnosed, but their family and loved ones as well. We at the Aubin Aphasia Speech and Language Center offer speech therapy to help address many different speech, language, and swallowing skills. We often involve families and caregivers to help maximize therapy gains/progress and to help build an individual’s support system. We have therapists that specialize in helping clients with aphasia, dysphagia/swallowing difficulties, dysarthria, voice, speech/language skills, and much more. 

This website is a very useful tool for individuals that are seeking more information, treatment considerations, or community resources following diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, birth injuries, brain injuries, cerebral palsy, and/or Erb's palsy. It is easy to navigate and allows one to find the specific topic/category of information they are looking for. We hope that if you or someone you know has been affected by or diagnosed with one of the above disabilities, this website will offer some added support or information to help you navigate next steps. 

If you find yourself considering speech therapy, please feel free to reach out to us at The Aubin Aphasia Speech and Language Center to schedule an evaluation or discuss therapy options.

Quick Articulation Games for Home Practice

It can be difficult to get your child to work on their speech sounds at home. One great way to accomplish this is to make it into a fun game! Here are some activities that you can utilize at home to help your child practice his/her articulation skills.

1. Articulation tic-tac-toe

   1. Play regular tic-tac-toe, but add in some speech target sounds to practice before each turn!

   2. Articulation Bowling

   1. Put target sound pictures on bowling pins, whatever pins your child knocks down are the sounds she practices.

   2. You could also just have your child say some target words and then take turns bowling!

   3. Scavenger hunt of target words

   1. Hide some pictures that contain target words or pictures, have a scavenger hunt and try to find them all! Have your child say the words as he finds them!

   4. Find pictures in a room using flash light 

   1. Hang pictures on wall prior to this game

   2. Turn the lights off and use a flashlight to find the cards! Say the word/name the picture as you find them!

   5. Car track with cards/pictures of target words

   1. Place cards with pictures or words that contain your child’s target sound in a track on the ground. 

   2. Your child can drive a car (or ride a big car) over them and say each word as they drive over it.

   6. Hopscotch

   1. Place cards with target words or pictures on the ground.

   2. Your child must say it with the correct speech sound, then he can hop to that card.

   7. Egg hunt

   1. Hide plastic eggs with articulation targets in them.

   2. As your child finds the eggs, they practice their speech sounds.

   8. Practice while playing your child’s favorite board game

   1. Choose whatever game your child likes, or allow them to pick the game this day!

   2. Practice speech sounds before each turn.

   9. Catch with a ball 

   1. Each time your child catches the ball, they must say their target sound/word!

   10. Memory match 

   1. Print off target pictures (two of each).

   2. Place them upside down and take turns flipping over TWO cards at a time, label each card for extra practice.

   3. When you get two of a kind, you have found a match!

   4. Play until all the cards have been matched.

   11. Simon Says

   1. Say a word or phrase that contains your child’s speech sounds.

   2. Have them repeat it exactly as you say.

   3. You can pair this with silly actions such as standing on one leg, or holding both arms up, to make it more fun!

   12. Bury objects/cards

   1. Hide cards (or objects) that contain target sounds in a box of sand, beads, etc.

   2. Have your child dig for the cards or objects.

   13. Word search (for older children)

   1. You could make your own word search or find one online that contains your child’s speech targets.

   2. As they complete it, have them practice their sound.

   14. Hide and seek

   1. Play this with cards/objects that begin/end with your child’s target speech sounds.

   2. Hide objects around the room/your home and take turns finding them.

   3. Practice saying what each object is when you and your child find it!

   15. Say a magic word or sound

   1. Each time he walks into the living room or opens the refrigerator, he has to say a “magic word”/target sound to get in!

   2. Put a card or picture of the sound wherever your child visits frequently.

   3. Each time they go there, they must say that sound!

   16. Color a picture

   1. Color while practicing speech sounds!

   17. Make it with playdough 

   1. Choose a target word/card out of a bowl or hat.

   2. Have your child say the word, make it with playdough and then say it again.

   18. Find target pictures/words in your child’s favorite books

   1. Make it a game (whoever finds the most wins!)

   2. Or just look at the story together and see how many pictures/words you can find that start with the sound they are working on in speech therapy.

   19. Bingo dauber sheet 

   1. Draw some plain circles on a piece of paper.

   2. Have your child use a bingo dauber or marker to color in the circles each time she practices her target speech sounds.

   3. You could also print out pictures and draw dots on pictures of target sounds.

   20. Go Fish 

   1. Add paper clips to target cards/pictures and then attach a magnet with string to a stick or children’s fishing pole.

   2. Have your child “go fishing” and then have her say each target word 1-2 times after she catches it.

   21. Practice in the car!

   1. Try to find things that start or end with your child’s target sounds while driving.

   2. See if your child can find things that contain the sound they are working on as well!.

   22. Sidewalk chalk (or indoor chalk if you have a chalkboard)

   1. Have your child draw cards with target sounds and then see if they can draw them (or write the word if they are older) with chalk. 

   23. Bingo! 

   1. Play bingo but make your own cards with pictures that begin/end with the sound your child is working on in speech.

   24. Building while practicing articulation 

   1. Have your child say a target word, then add a block.

   2. Build with legos or blocks and see how tall you can stack them before they all fall down!

   25. Jenga 

   1. Each time your child produces their target sound/word correctly, they get to take a turn playing jenga!

   2. You could also attach small words/cards to some different jenga pieces. Whenever they pull that block, they have to say the word accurately before placing it on top of the tower.

It is important to practice articulation skills outside of speech therapy. By adding some of the above games to a weekly or monthly calendar, it can help your child achieve their speech therapy goals faster, while allowing them to play a fun game!

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s speech and/or language function, please reach out to one of us here at The Aubin Aphasia Speech and Language Center.

~ Victoria King, MA CCC-SLP

Making the Most of our Teletherapy Session

Teletherapy, or virtual therapy, has been very beneficial throughout the current pandemic. However, teletherapy has been around longer than the last few years. Various different professionals have utilized this tool to help many different individuals receive access to services. Zoom is one of the many platforms used for teletherapy. Although teletherapy has made services more accessible to clients, it is important to get prepared for the session, prior to logging in.

Here are some helpful tips to help you and/or your child prepare for your upcoming therapy session:

1. Use earbuds or headphones to prevent feedback and to help your child focus on the session.

2. Find the right spot: It is important to find a spot that will allow you to see your therapist and your therapist to see you! The best lighting is natural light. Sit in front of and facing a window. Do not have the window behind you. Make sure this location does not have loud noises in the background (e.g. loud tv, radio, siblings, etc.).By doing this before your session, you are making sure that the entire session can be spent working on your speech therapy goals!

3. Check your internet connection: It is important to make sure you have a strong internet connection prior to your session. It can be difficult to accomplish each of your or your child’s goals if there is trouble with the sound/video. Checking your internet ahead of time will make the session go smoothly and help make the most of your time.

4. Position: Place the camera at eye level for you or your child. If you need to, place your laptop on a sturdy object.

5. Framing: Sit closer to the camera than you would think. We should be able to see the whites of the participant’s eyes in the preview image.

6. Discuss expectations with your child: If your child is the one participating in teletherapy, it is important that you discuss appropriate behaviors. You may choose to discuss these with your child’s therapist during a session, but following discussion, it may be helpful to remind your child what is expected of them when participating in therapy. 

   A visual schedule or list of appropriate behaviors may also help!

7. Most importantly - have fun and make the most out of your session! We want to see you succeed!

These pointers will help you to have a successful and productive therapy session!  If you have any questions regarding your teletherapy sessions, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of us at Aubin Aphasia Speech and Language Center.

~ Victoria King, MA CCC-SLP

Surviving the Holidays

For some children and parents, the months between November and January can seem like the most stressful time of the year. Although the holidays can be a fun time for families and friends to get together, it can also be a very stressful time for children with special needs.

Below are some tips that can help.

1. Prepare ahead of time:

For many children with special needs, change in routine is difficult. You can help your child deal with the difference in schedule by discussing it ahead of time. Utilize some social stories (stories about social events that utilize pictures to discuss various topics) to show them what to expect during the upcoming holiday. 

(https://carolgraysocialstories.com/social-stories/what-is-it/)

2. Give them a safe space:

Whether you are planning to have a small gathering at your home, or traveling to another location, make sure to prepare a small “safe space” that your child can retreat to in moments of increased stress. Prepare this space with their favorite toys, books, or sensory items. This will allow them to decompress and may help in dealing with changes in environment/routine. 

3. Utilize a schedule:

Although the holidays bring a whole different set of activities, try to maintain some routine. You can do this by creating a visual schedule and/or calendar that you and your child can reference and go over. This allows your child to prepare for what is coming next. You can also introduce this a few days ahead of time to add some extra preparation.

4. Prepare your family:

If you are planning to visit family that may not be familiar with your child, discuss this with them prior to the event. Educate them on your child’s specific needs and what your plans may be.

5. Be kind to yourself:

It can be difficult when others do not understand your child’s needs or why he/she is acting differently. It can also be difficult when things don’t go the way that you had imagined. Be kind to yourself! Allow yourself to walk away from difficult situations, such as large gatherings that cause added stress, or friends that do not understand your child’s needs. Get support when you need it and never be afraid to ask for help.

We at Aubin Aphasia Speech and Language Center are always here to give support and strategies to our clients and their families. Please do not hesitate to reach out to one of our staff members today if you feel your child or family member could benefit from speech and language services.

~ Victoria King, MA CCC-SLP

Managing Back to School

It can be difficult to transition back to school, especially for children that have speech and language delays. Like most parents/caregivers, you will have the usual list of things to do, such as getting new clothes and new school supplies. However, there may be more to worry about when sending your child with speech/language delays back to school, such as dealing with routines and providing extra support.

Here are some strategies that may help!

*Give some down-time - Try to give your child some time to himself/herself after they get home from school. They may be exhausted and may need some time to decompress. Bombarding them with questions about their day, their homework, etc. may cause added stress.

*Maintain contact - It may be helpful to stay in contact with your child’s teacher, speech therapist, guidance counselor, etc. Keeping in touch will not only help you stay in the loop with what they are working on, but it can also help to know what communication strategies are being utilized at school (and what things others have found to work).

*Start mornings with a routine - Try your best to keep each morning routine similar. It can be difficult to get your child/children up and moving for school, but establishing a routine can help them know what to expect on school days.

*Provide a simple communication checklist - Establishing a simple checklist for teachers and other school staff to fill out will help you remain in contact and up-to-date on how your child is doing in class. Put this checklist in a binder that will travel with your child back and forth to school! (You can also reference this if you have a few short minutes with the teacher at the end of the school day.)

You can include yes/no and short answer questions about your child’s day, such as “Timmy did well in the following areas today: _______”, or “Timmy ate his lunch today - yes/no”

*Utilize social stories - Social stories allow you and your child to discuss social behaviors and prepare for upcoming events. They will not only help your child prepare for heading back to school, they can also help your child deal with things that occur in school, such as upcoming field trips, lunch routines, making friends, etc.

For more information on social stories and for examples, visit: https://carolgraysocialstories.com/social-stories/what-is-it/

We hope this was helpful and we at The Aubin Aphasia Speech and Language Center are always here to help! 

Reach out to one of our staff members today if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s speech and language development!

~ Victoria King, MA CCC-SLP