Family time has changed dramatically since the mobile phone came into use in the 1990s. Families are incredibly busy with school and special classes and sports. And while parents are delivering children to events, cell phones demand attention that previously went to children. In my work as a...
Talking Topics | Encouraging storytelling for families | Booklet
DAPS has annual “Keep Moving” Symposium
Dallas Area Parkinsons Society (DAPS) shared its annual “Keep Moving” Symposium at Lover’s Lane United Methodist Church on 10/15/22. It was a special time, thoughtfully developed to share information with the Dallas community and folks who have Parkinsons. I was invited to participate on a panel for care partners...
Helping Little Ones Swallow
One of my current projects is helping some little ones swallow. Sippy cups and pacifiers are changing the way some little mouths develop. The tongue resting posture is often down and forward, instead of up and back. We want to change that tongue resting position. I’ve found that I...
Learning is fun!
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...
How To Help?
When I spend time with parents, I’m asked how to help. My answer includes asking how much reading aloud is done at home. And I’m asking about reading stories that are beyond the child’s reading level. I ask for a reason. The richer the words a child hears, the richer...
Mouths, Tonsils, and Airways
When I work, I look inside mouths! I see all kinds of tonsils. Sharing about mouths and tonsils and airways … These images are from the Brodsky scale which compares the size of tonsils. Tonsils are small glands in the back of the throat. Tonsils help stop bacteria from...
A Tiny String of Tissue
A tiny string of tissue under the tongue can prevent the tongue from functioning properly. I’m amazed! I want families to have this knowledge so I share. The tongue is our most versatile articulator. The tongue is used in making EVERY SINGLE SPEECH SOUND in some way. These two...
Schedule Appointments!
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...
Game or Tool?
It's not just Candy Land! It's a great teaching tool!
Create A Free Time List!
The school year is winding down, strange as the year has been. Students are wondering aloud with me how to occupy their time as school assignments end. Here’s an idea for parents. Create a Free Time List! And … create it WITH your child. This list is best prepared...
Trying New Things
A word about trying new things. I walked tonight. I listened to Brene Brown’s first podcast, “Brene on FFTs”. Her podcast is “Unlocking Us”. She recorded while isolating during pandemic, in a closet, sitting on her son’s dirty gym clothes. She talked about trying things for the first time....
Good things with remote therapy!
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...
Remote Therapy
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,...
Keeping Things Fresh
Here's what I use in the Parkinson's Voice groups to keep things fresh.
Use a word you’ve never heard?
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...
When should I get help for my child’s language?
When should I get help for my child? This is the single question that I am asked most often.
Early Readers
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!
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...
Reading Aloud
I’ve been studying reading aloud to children. I’m speaking of reading great books to children … great books above their reading level. WHY READ ALOUD? Children need to be read to on a regular basis. From a wide variety of...
Milestones Matter!
Milestones matter! Our little people need to reach some really important milestones by the time they are 5 years old! We know she should be getting taller and should weigh more. So we measure her length on the changing table and put her on the vegetable scale at the...
Summer is here!
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...
Rest and Wonder
Everything
I’m grateful for parents who want the best for their child. That’s the reason I’m asked to become involved with families. When special days roll around, I think of the things children need from parents. Children need to hear “I love you” and “I’m proud of you.” They need...
Involvement is key!
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...
Whatever you are…
Amazing Things Happen
Amazing things happen when a child is involved in learning. Very often, the children I see 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...
Early Intervention?
Parents ask about early intervention. I’m hoping this illustration explains my consistent answer.
Understanding Infant Torticollis
Infant Torticollis — What Parents Should Know about Signs and Symptoms adapted from a piece by Intermountain Healthcare Parents may start to worry if baby’s head starts tilting to one side or if they prefer to look one direction. Your doctor may have even noticed it at your baby’s last check-up....
Honoring This One
Honoring this one. My spunky mama, Sarah Killen. At the end of WWII, she boarded a ship for Europe to assist an army general as a US civil servant. Because of the war, she had been away from my dad for 3 1/2 years while he was serving in...
Look at Fear
Inspiration. Thinking about fear. “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences. You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop and look fear in the...
Everything Shifts
When you replace, “WHY is this happening to me?” with “WHAT is this trying to teach me?”, everything shifts.
Screen Time
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...
A Baby Changes Everything!
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...
Writing
I’m writing about what I’ve learned. My first project is a series of books about Parkinson’s Disease. Why Parkinson’s Disease? Why me? Why now? Because I appreciate lots of people with Parkinson’s Disease. Because one day after a voice group, I was approached by four people. Some background. After...
A child learns through play!
A child learns through play. I’d like to share a story with you. Not long ago, I had dinner with my granddaughter. Some waiting was involved. Our visit evolved into a delightful game of tic-tac-toe! A tic-tac-toe board was constructed of dinnerware. Sweetener packets became markers. The Youngest Rule...
This Chair
I’m starting to write about what I’ve learned. My first project is a series of books for my people with Parkinson’s Disease. Why Parkinson’s Disease? Because of knowing and appreciating people with Parkinson’s Disease. And because I was asked. Some background. After having babies, I was invited to...
Sharing – Add the SPARK Technique to a People Game – Part 2
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...
Sharing – You Are Your Child’s Best Toy! – Part 1
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!...
They say the cutest things!
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...
Ready to Launch!
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...
Life Skills for Ages 16 to 18
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...
Life Skills for Ages 10 through 15
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...
Life Skills for Ages 6 through 9
As the child matures, responsibility increases. More is expected in terms of self-care, helping at home, and using money including identifying denominations of paper money and coins. These are the life skills grouped for children who are 6 and 7 years old. Make bed without assistance Fold and...
Life Skills for Ages 2, 3, 4, and 5
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...
Join Your Child at Eye Level
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...
Concrete Questions
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....
Be Specific and Concrete
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...
Drawing Can Help Expressive Language
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...
Sharing…12 Weeks of Summer Activities
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!...
Use Lots of Visual Cues
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...