Encouraging Well Behaved Kids at the Table: Tricks and Tips From the Speech Therapist

by Holly F. Speech Disorders Speech Therapy Techniques

 

Family Meal Statistics

Source: dixiechickscook.com

 

After Monday’s post on temper tantrums in preschoolers, I thought it only fitting to share some tricks and tips in speech therapy that encourage good behavior. You may have seen the recent headline, “restaurant gives discount for well-behaved kids,” where the King family from Kingston, Washington received a $4 discount on their dining bill for having well-behaved kids. While the King family says they were just, “being themselves” at the restaurant, many parents of children with special needs struggle with good and appropriate behavior in public settings.

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New Hampshire Horsetalk Combines Speech Therapy with Horseback Riding

by Holly F. Speech Therapy Techniques State Resources
Amazing facts about horses

Source: Thefarrierguide.com

 

“Giddy up horsey” just got a whole new meaning for children with special needs in the Northeast (and no, its not riding on daddy’s back). At one special New Hampshire barn, speech therapy techniques are being combined with therapeutic horseback riding to create a new kind of therapy experience. At Horsetalk Therapeutic Services in Raymond New Hampshire, director Ms. Toby Freeman, a certified speech and language pathologist, has designed a program that provides Hippotherapy to children and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional disorders. She began the treatment after having studied speech and language pathology and having a lifelong love of horses.

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3 Pretend Play Apps that Help Stimulate Language

by Holly F. Language Development Speech Therapy Techniques
How games can help kids learn

Source: dontwasteyourtime.co.uk/

When you think of your fondest childhood memories, do they involve pretend play? Mine do. Dress up, doctor, grocery store, teacher and beauty parlor to be specific. Child development experts know this isn’t just any childhood activity, pretend play serves a purpose in fostering language skills and cognitive development in children. For children with language disorders, pretend play is a great therapy technique. Today, however, you don’t need a set of dolls and teacups – the great people at Toca Boca have developed a line of pretend play apps. Now you can have a birthday party, tea party, build a robot and style your hair – without all the usual play props. Using your iPad, parents looking to incorporate at-home speech and language therapy activities, should consider using these great apps.

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Help for Hyperlexia: Great Reading Tips for Children with Autism

by Holly F. Speech Therapy Techniques

 

Education info for learners with Autism

source: img.scoop.it

As a speech and language pathologist, it might seem that speech therapy is important for only spoken language (saying the words, making the sounds, putting words together) however, written language is an essential component of language development as well. I’m often asked how children with Autism can read so well, but understand so poorly. Often, children with Autism exhibit reading skills called “Hyperlexia” – fluent decoding and reading but trouble understanding what they’ve just read. It’s not hard to see why this can create a host of challenges for successful participation in school-particularly language arts.

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Singing without a Stutter: Music as a Speech Therapy Tool

by Holly F. Speech Disorders Speech Therapy Techniques
The symptoms of stuttering

Source: ihavesvoice.info

We all know the brain works in mysterious ways, but every so often we are reminded of just how magical it is. This is particularly so when we examine it’s response to music in populations with Language disorders as a speech therapy technique. By now, you may have seen this video of American Idol contestant Lazaro Arbos’ audition. While his rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is astounding enough, watch what happens to his rather severe stutter when he begins to sing:

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Study: A Good Night’s Sleep Could Lead to a Good Day’s Speech

by Jacky G. Speech Therapy Techniques
Sleep and language memory

Image source: Schools.com

Research out of the University of York and Sheffield Hallam University has shown that a good night’s sleep can help children develop their vocabularies better and retain new words more efficiently. The British study found that when children age seven and up (as well as adults) slept within 12 hours of learning new words, they were more likely to retain the vocabulary. This could change how we present speech therapy techniques for better retention! Continue reading →

5 Tips for a Winning Speech Therapy Collaboration

by Jacky G. Speech Therapy Techniques
Speech therapy collaboration

Image source: ICNetwork.co.uk

You know the saying it takes a village, but when it comes to special needs children, the village can make a striking difference in the effectiveness of speech therapy. Collaboration doesn’t always come easy, but once you have a handle on it, speech therapy techniques can be seamlessly integrated at home and at school so that your efforts build to a greater result. Not only should you see better results with collaborative therapy, but you will see a rapport develop between parents, teachers and the therapist that will foster communication and coordinated efforts toward the common goal of improving a child’s speech.

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Is It a He Or a She?!? Speech Therapy Activities for Pronouns!

by Jacky G. Speech Therapy Techniques
Speech Therapy Activities for Pronouns

Image source: Plumeblue.com

With so many speech therapy activities that emphasize articulation, fluency, and pragmatic language use, pronouns can sometimes get overlooked. Does your youngster mix up his “he’s” and “she’s?” It’s perfectly normal for a young child to occasionally mix up pronouns, and remember that every child’s language development is different. The typical toddler will begin to learn more nouns and pronouns when he reaches 24 to 36 months of age. When your kidlet is 24 months old, he will typically begin to use “I,” “me,” and “you” correctly; however, it’s common to mix up the “I” and “me.” He’ll likely master it by the time he reaches the ripe old age of 36 months. But you can help encourage your child’s language development and correct his pronoun usage with at-home speech therapy techniques. Collaborate with your youngster’s speech-language pathologist (SLP) for age-appropriate techniques, and check out our suggested speech therapy activities below for inspiration.

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Special Needs Kids Can Get a Boost from AAC Devices in the Home

by Jacky G. Speech Therapy Techniques
Sign Language for Special Needs Kids

Image source: Start-american-sign-language.com

Speech therapy techniques like Speech Buddies can help special needs kids achieve clear articulation, but what about those who are nonverbal or those who have extremely limited speech abilities? Your child’s speech-language pathologist (SLP) might recommend the use of an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. An AAC device is any tool that facilitates nonverbal communication. An AAC device may be an aided device, which means that it is an actual, physical object like an electronic reader or the picture exchange communication system (PECS). Or an AAC device may be unaided, which means that the child uses facial expressions, gestures, or sign language to communicate. Talk to your child’s speech therapist about whether an AAC device may be right for him.

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Is It Possible to Stimulate a Baby’s Language Development? Yes! Try These Speech Therapy Activities

by Jacky G. Speech Therapy Techniques
Language Development - Speech Therapy Activities

Image source: Redapplereading.com

Yesterday, we covered a recent scientific study that explored the relationship between the ability of an infant to sit upright and his cognitive development. Being able to reach, grasp, and manipulate objects around the infant encourages his learning and growth. While it’s important to help your baby learn to sit upright, there are numerous other speech therapy activities you can do to encourage your baby’s early language development.

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