Blog for Parents

boy popping out of a box titled pop-up words

Understanding Pop-Out Words in Speech and What They Mean for My Child

April 23, 2023 No Comments

Is there anything more frustrating than hearing a word a couple of times from your child and then IT DISAPPEARS?! Where did it go?! These words are referred to as “pop-out words”. They are a very normal occurrence for little ones whether they’re on track with their speech and language development or a bit behind. Let’s talk more about understanding these pop-out words in speech and what they really mean for your child. More about Pop-Out Words The phrase “pop-out words”, coined by Pam Marshalla, refers to when a child says a word clearly on occasion but doesn’t say the

Does Your Child Repeat Everything? They Might be a Gestalt Language Learner!

April 17, 2023 No Comments

Does your child repeat words and phrases? Maybe common things you say or lines from their favorite song or show? Do the words or phrases sometimes feel out of place? Even though they repeat, does it feel like your child doesn’t repeat when you ask them to? Your child might be a gestalt language learner! What is Gestalt Language Learning? Gestalt language learning is a style of language learning that starts with repeating phrases and ends with making new, spontaneous speech. Unlike most children who learn to communicate starting with single words, gestalt language learners acquire language through chunks called

How to Help Your Child Learn to Share and Why They Aren’t Already

March 20, 2023 No Comments

Share, please share, share. You likely say this often to your little one. But why? And why don’t they understand? Teaching little ones how to share can feel like such a challenge. Let’s chat about why this is often the case and how you can help teach sharing to your toddler or preschooler. Why is Sharing Important? Sharing promotes compromise and fairness. It is vital for developing lasting friendships, cooperating with others, learning how to wait, negotiating skills, and managing feelings of disappointment. Sharing back and forth in play also sets the stage for the back and forth style of

Embracing Neurodiversity in Speech Therapy and Beyond

February 27, 2023 No Comments

Embracing neurodiversity in speech therapy and life choices is vital for providing the best support possible for neurodivergent children. The term “neurodivergent” is an umbrella term that encompasses Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other diagnoses. Neurodiversity essentially is the concept that some individuals’ developmental pathways develop differently than the majority of the population (referred to as neurotypical persons). This term acknowledges the diversity of the human race and each individual person. With neurodivergence in mind, one should consider neurodiversity-affirming language and approaches to selecting therapy and strategies in therapy. First thing’s first: neurodiversity-affirming explained The main idea behind being neurodiversity-affirming is

young boy with autism building with blocks

Recognizing the Early Signs of Autism

January 19, 2023 No Comments

You know your child best. You’ve watched each amazing thing he’s done and listened to all the sounds he has made (or maybe not made). You already know how special he is, but you also know in your gut that he is different. You might be seeing early signs of Autism. Recognizing the early signs of Autism are important for current and future success for your child. What is Autism? Autism Spectrum Disorder (aka Autism) is a neurodevelopmental difference. An autistic person’s brain develops differently than that of a neurotypical person. There is no single cause of Autism but instead

An SLP’s Response to Parent Concerns about Bilingualism and Speech Development

December 19, 2022 No Comments

Many parents are concerned about the impact of bilingualism and speech development for their child. What is bilingualism? A person is bilingual when they speak two languages. Speaking two languages is even possible for young children! A child may be bilingual by learning two languages at once or by learning a second language after they have begun learning their first. Developmental Information for Bilingual Children First Words Just like monolingual children, most bilingual children speak their first words by the time they are 1 year old and use two-word phrases by the age of 2. Mixing Languages Children may mix

The Basics of AAC in Speech Therapy

December 8, 2022 No Comments

Let’s chat about the basics of AAC in speech therapy! What is AAC? AAC stands for “alternative or augmentative forms of communication”. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, AAC is all the ways a person communicates besides speaking verbally. AAC encourages greater independence, increased communication, and more social interactions for many individuals. When a little one isn’t talking, it’s not uncommon for a therapist to suggest a form of communication other than talking. This doesn’t mean they’ve given up! Or that talking is no longer a priority! The most important goal is to give our children LANGUAGE. Once they understand

therapist evaluating a child's language skills

What to expect from a speech and language evaluation

October 31, 2022 No Comments

What can you expect from a speech and language evaluation with a toddler or preschooler? Whether you finally got the referral you’ve been asking for or received a referral you didn’t expect, let’s take a look at what you can expect for your late talker on evaluation day. Before you go You may receive paperwork ahead of time including a release of information form. This allows the speech-language pathologist to share findings with other family members, schools or professionals. It is always your choice as to who has access on your child’s development. If you aren’t sure you’re ready to

How to Increase Your Child’s Attention Through Toy Rotation

October 10, 2022 No Comments

Do your kids seem easily bored despite a million toy choices? Does your little one drift from activity to activity, but doesn’t settle down with any of them? Are you constantly overwhelmed by stuff? Try toy rotation! Oftentimes, littles ones are overwhelmed by the number of toys at their disposable, rather than bored. By limiting the number of toys available to a child at one time, you will promote deeper, more creative play and help expand attention skills! How does toy rotation work? Rotating toys involves presenting a limited number of toys to a child. The set of available toys

Teaching body parts

October 3, 2022 No Comments

Teaching children body parts develops vocabulary, but it also helps with confidence and positive self-image. Children start identifying basic body parts like “nose” around a year. More specific words like “wrist” and “knee” are mastered around age five. Let’s look at some activities we can use to work on this classic language goal. Activities may contain Amazon affiliate links. Bathing baby dolls A shallow bin of water, a baby doll and a washcloth are all you need for some splashing fun! (Oh, maybe add a towel beneath the bin.) Label all the parts of baby that you are cleaning, but

Blog for Parents

Understanding Pop-Out Words in Speech and What They Mean for My Child

Does Your Child Repeat Everything? They Might be a Gestalt Language Learner!

How to Help Your Child Learn to Share and Why They Aren’t Already