Kids learn best when learning is fun! Changing a sound involves focused attention and practice!  It can be tedious.  It can be very tedious. The best way to get to the new sound is through fun and play! Recently, I’ve added some pre-K children.  I use target responses in interactions to teach new sounds. I […]

Everyone is missing family and friends these days.  Especially the little people. These little ones are growing up while we are isolating! May I make a suggestion? Schedule appointments with the little folks you miss! Kiddos seem to love it. I’ll explain what is working for me. I made a list of Little Ones I […]

It’s not just Candy Land!  It’s a great teaching tool!

  Good things happen with remote therapy! This is the child’s view of remote therapy. Then, mine. Sitting in this chair. In front of a camera. Planning for the ones joining me. Using my bag of therapy tricks, curated over time. Talking. Modeling. Cueing. Showing materials. Creating interactions. Counting responses. Cheering them on! There’s progress! […]

I’m able to offer remote therapy. For years, I’ve maintained an office so I could serve people from all over the Metroplex. While COVID-19 spread around the world, I learned another way of serving. Simply put, therapy has moved from 3-dimensions to 2-dimensions. I’ve learned several platforms:  Zoom Pro, Skype, and FaceTime. I’m happy to […]

Here’s what I use in the Parkinson’s Voice groups to keep things fresh.

Really? Use a word you/ve never heard? Not often, especially for a child. There are three ways for words to enter a child’s brain.  Through their eyes.  Through their ears.   Or through touch. Most children are blessed with vision and hearing … thankfully. Since children cannot read with their eyes (yet), that leaves their […]

When should I get help for my child? This is the single question that I am asked most often.

Some children arrive at the kindergarten door knowing how to read.  These children are called Early Readers. These little ones read without being formally taught.

Announcement! I’m building my email list! I plan to share ideas about nurturing children, especially in terms of language development and communication. If you’d like to receive messages — in the form of tips, encouragement, and materials like this one — please sign up! There are red opt-in buttons throughout the site!   Hope you’ll join!

Summer is here!  Let’s manage it! The kids are home from school.  There’s free time. What to do with that free time? I’m always trying to share ideas that help children and families with language and management. What about having dedicated days like this calendar suggests? I saw several great posts from boysmoms_unite from Sammamish, […]

Amazing things happen when a child is involved in learning. Very often, children report to Mom and Dad that therapy is “fun” because “we play so many games”! Ha! What the child interprets as “fun” is actually the “work”.  And I do my best to disguise the “work” so that it is “fun”. But there’s […]

Parents ask about early intervention.  I’m hoping this illustration explains my consistent answer.

Screen time is a part of modern childhood! Screens are not going away! Parents need guidance and wisdom in controlling screen time. Excessive screen time and kids’ brains are not a healthy combination. Let’s be realistic.  You’ve seen it and lived it.  There are benefits of screen time.  Most children are drawn to screens.  Screens are […]

A baby DOES change everything! And a baby can also make you wonder what the heck you are doing! Often, parents contact me about their concerns for their little ones …  especially when they are under three … especially in terms of language development. I’ve come across two great resources for new parents.  These books […]

Continued —  By Lauren Lowry Clinical Staff Writer and Hanen SLP People games can be so much more than a few tickles and laughs – they can also provide a wonderful opportunity to encourage your child’s communication skills. You can do this by using the SPARK strategy described in the It Takes Two To Talk© […]

By Lauren Lowry Clinical Staff Writer and Hanen SLP Did you know that you already have the best toy for language development in your home? You didn’t buy it at a store – actually, it doesn’t cost anything. It’s portable, adaptable, and best of all, it’s tons of fun! Your child loves to play with […]

Today, during an initial evaluation,  I asked a 6-year-old a question aimed at checking auditory processing. “Sweet Girl, what color is the small, young, gray pony?” She paused and looked to her right….paused longer and looked to her left….and then paused again. Then, she rolled her eyes! She sighed and looked at me with a […]

When young ones are ready to launch, there are a multitude of life skills to be mastered.  Launching may mean going to college or getting a job.  Launching may mean getting an apartment.  Regardless, there are many skills involved, all requiring teaching, planning, comprehension, and language.  The following list came from a keynote address given […]

Young people between 16 and 18 have many life skills to master.  Many of those skills involve transportation and self care.  The time that we have children in our care passes quickly!  At this point, the time needs to be spent teaching intentionally so that the needed skills are taught before the next adventure begins. […]

Life Skills for 10 to 12 year olds are many.  By this time, these young people are quite capable.  Training is the issue.  It can be a very satisfying experience to teach and prepare your child to perform these skills.  While there are lists declaring appropriate ages to let children stay home alone, you know […]

Often, we wonder if our child’s life skills are on track.  There is so much to be learned to prepare a child for living in the world.  I recently saw a really helpful guide that covers life skills needed to age 18.  I thought these would be helpful to share.  Today, I share life skills […]

When children are small, joining at their eye level encourages communication and understanding. When you are face to face with a young child, like the lady in this photo, the child is likely to be delighted.  There’s such a difference between being eye to eye and having the adult tower over the child.  You, the […]

I ask most children concrete questions the very first time I meet them.  When I ask, I’m observing the way the child can explain themselves to a person they have just met.  That person would be me! Initially, I ask about things that I am SURE they know about.  My asking about a parent’s work […]

Be specific and concrete when talking to your child. In other words, avoid vague words such as “stuff” and “thing” and “going to the store”.  Instead, give specific names of places and things.  Hearing the names of places gives the child much more information. So often, others ask your child questions about plans or family […]

Often, it’s hard for children to explain experiences.  Our tendency is to listen but remain confused, thinking we are being kind and polite. What can be more helpful is asking the child to SHOW YOU what they mean.  For example, a young one drew this diagram so he could help me understand playing a new […]

12 Weeks of Simple Activities to Support Kids’ Learning all Summer Long adapted from ASHA Blog by Stacey Glasgow, ASHA associate director of school services Simple activities parents or caregivers can use to help their child — or entire family — build speech, language, and literacy skills all summer! Week 1:  Summer bucket list.  Ask […]

Be aware of events taking place right around you.  After a recent storm, there was lots of tree damage.  Watching tree experts remove a broken limb from the center of a huge oak tree was a great language opportunity! Whenever a new experience presents itself, use lots of visual cues such as pointing, gesturing, using […]