When you have a child that is stuttering, it can be difficult to know what steps to take to help them. We have compiled answers to some common questions about stuttering and how you can help your child reduce stuttering.
Bedtime stories are a great way to build your child’s language and communication skills. Bedtime stories help build your child’s imagination, help them learn new vocabulary words, help set a routine and create a stronger relationship with your child! Here are some ways to boost your child’s speech and skills through bedtime stories:
There are many advantages to using an AAC device with your child who is struggling to communicate their wants and needs. AAC devices are a great way to build your child’s expressive and receptive language skills. They are also a great way to support communication...
Language development is constant and ongoing. You don’t have to wait until your child is with your speech therapist to assist in their language development. Check out this list of toys that can enhance your child’s language development at playtime. 1. Traditional Toys! Traditional toys...
How are speech services provided?If your child qualifies for speech and language services, meaning that their disability is impacting their ability to make progress in the school environment, then they will receive an IEP (individualized education program). An IEP addresses the student’s goals that can be met over the course of one school year. Depending on your child’s evaluation results, the speech therapist will determine how often your child receives speech services. The school’s speech therapist will often collaborate with other professionals such as teachers and instructional support personnel to create the best treatment plan that is unique to your child’s needs. Services may take place in a group setting, individually, inside the classroom, or outside the classroom. My child is receiving speech services at school but what can I do to help at home?Effective speech therapy requires collaboration with parents! Parents can help their child generalize learned skills to a variety of environments (home, restaurants, parks, etc.) Connect with your speech therapist and ask what skills you can work on at home to help achieve goals sooner. Practice makes perfect! Even just ten minutes of practice a day can make a huge difference in your child’s communication. Parents can ask for weekly “homework” to promote carry-over in the home environment. Homework doesn’t necessarily need to be worksheets or graded assignments. It can be as easy as practicing your speech sounds in the mirror before your child goes to bed! How can I make sure my child continues to make progress?Set goals for you and your child! Maybe your goal could be to practice their skills for 5 minutes a day, or that they learn one new vocabulary word each week. Start small so that your child is not overwhelmed and that speech ‘homework’ remains functional and fun. Parents know their child better than anyone else so be confident in your ability to help them! Positive reinforcement can also be very effective when you are practicing with them. You can incorporate a sticker chart or visual token board to encourage motivation and participation. For example, after your child earns 5 stickers, they get a treat or time with their favorite toy. Your child will look forward to working on their communication skills!
If you’ve interacted with one ASD child, you’ve interacted with one ASD child. Autism affects every child in different ways. However, almost every parent of an ASD child is likely to be familiar with some form of a meltdown. There are many tricks to bringing...
Do you want to work on speech and language skills with your child this summer, but don’t know where to start? Speech and language skills can be incorporated into ANY home activity. You don’t always need specific learning materials, flashcards, or expensive games. You can...
This is my nephew, Connor whom I am so proud of! He’s a graduating senior at Garnet Valley High School in Pennsylvania. Connor was non-verbal until he was almost 4 and then he started reciting word-for-word movies like Madagascar and Cars.
Reading comprehension is a vital skill for elementary children to develop starting right when they begin reading. Teachers and parents work diligently to make sure their students are understanding what they read, making connections between it and what they already know and thinking deeply about...
When a child is either struggling or falling behind in school, it can be an underlying expressive or receptive language issue that needs to be addressed at the source. These challenges can sometimes be tough to identify. Speech therapy is not just for those who...