Claire Davis Speech Pathology

02/04/2026

Is there anything more exciting for a child than an Easter egg hunt?

It’s more than just a search for chocolate. It’s a fantastic opportunity for speech and language development through following directions in a fun, playful, pressure-free way.

By turning the hunt into a game, we can build essential communication skills while keeping the focus on play.

🐣3 Ways to Level Up the Hunt 🐣

🥚Prepositions & Spatial Concepts: Instead of a general "go find eggs," try specific clues like "Look under the big leaf" or "Check behind the flowerpot."

🥚Multi-Step Instructions: Challenge their memory by giving two-part tasks: "First, hop to the tree, and then look inside the hollow log."

🥚Descriptive Attributes: Help them differentiate objects by saying, "Find the spotted egg that is near the blue bench."

The best part? When they find that egg based on your clue, the reward is immediate, and the learning sticks!

24/03/2026

Children don’t need the latest gadget or perfectly designed activity set. Give them a cardboard box, a wooden spoon, or a pile of cushions, and suddenly you have a rocket ship, a magic wand, or a mountain to climb. What matters most is not the object itself, but how a child uses it and how you join them in that play.

This post was inspired by my 2 year old daughter, whose current favourite 'toy' is a kitchen sponge from her Nonna's kitchen.

Just a plain old sponge… and somehow it’s become everything.

One minute, she's having a conversation on her 'phone.'
Next it’s part of a hide and seek game,“where is it?” … “there it is!”
Then it's a car and a boat.
Sometimes it’s a 'cake', sometimes a 'baby'. Sometimes, she just carries it around and talks about it all day.

And that’s the thing... the value isn’t in the object, it’s in what we do with it.

This is where symbolic play comes in. Symbolic play is when a child uses an object, action, or idea to represent something else like using a stick as a sword, pretending to pour tea from an empty cup, or turning the lounge room into a jungle. It typically emerges around 18–24 months and becomes more complex over time.

Symbolic play is incredibly powerful because it lays the foundation for social and emotional development. When children engage in pretend play, they are practicing:

- understanding different perspectives (“you be the baby, I’ll be the mum”)
- problem solving (“what if the bridge breaks?”)
- flexible thinking (transforming one object into many possibilities)
- language development (creating stories, roles, and dialogue)
- emotional regulation (working through real-life experiences in a safe way)

Research consistently shows that symbolic play is strongly linked to social competence. Studies have found that children who engage in more complex pretend play demonstrate stronger social skills, including cooperation, empathy, and peer interaction (e.g., Lillard et al., 2013). It also supports the development of theory of mind (the ability to understand that others have different thoughts and feelings) which is critical for successful relationships.

So next time your child hands you a “cup of tea” that doesn’t exist, or asks you to rescue them from lava made of carpet... Or using a kitchen sponge as a boat... Lean in. Follow their lead. Add to the story.

Because the real magic isn’t in the toy… it’s in the shared moment, the imagination, and the connection with you.

23/03/2026

Real change happens when we replace compliance with connection and invite children to their own sense of agency.

12/03/2026

10/03/2026

More Aussie kids will soon be able to enjoy some of Australia’s most popular preschool programs.

From April 13, Australian children and families can enjoy Auslan‑accessible episodes of Bluey’s most popular episodes, Gardening Australia Jr, Ginger and the Vegesaurs, Kangaroo Beach, Fizzy & Suds, Knee High Spies, and later this year, Flower & Flour.

The ABC will continue to roll out more Auslan-accessible preschool titles, series and episodes each year on ABC iview.

10/03/2026

📚 Introducing the Initial Code by Sounds-Write App

The Initial Code by Sounds-Write app brings the full Sounds-Write Initial Code sequence to life, offering engaging activities that help children build essential early literacy skills, including:

🌟 Blending and segmenting
🌟 Word reading and writing
🌟 Sentence reading and writing

Designed for iPad, the app is available on the Apple App Store (iOS12+). The free version includes a sample of activities, with the full learning experience available via in-app purchase.

Find out more >> https://zurl.co/TGQca

10/03/2026

Thank you Orange for such a warm welcome! 🍊 It was such a privilege to spend the weekend facilitating the DIRFloortime® 101 training with an incredible group of therapists, educators and practitioners. There is something deeply energising about coming together with people who share a commitment to supporting children and families through relationship-based practice.

Across the two days we explored the foundations of DIRFloortime® understanding development through the lens of connection, regulation, and meaningful interaction. The conversations were thoughtful, curious and grounded in real experiences from practice. It was a space for reflection, shared learning and genuine connection.

A special thank you to Rachel Dewhurst and who organised the event so beautifully. It was particularly meaningful to reconnect with Rachel face to face instead of across zoom after working together for many years at Royal Far West. What a delight is was to meet your little family!

I also had the privilege of a beautiful walk through the Orange Botanic Gardens with Michelle Maunder from . Thank you Michelle for such a thoughtful conversation and your time. I’m really looking forward to continuing those creative discussions around the campfire at Camp Jabiru when we meet again in a few weeks.

If you are interested in hosting a DIRFloortime® training in your community, or would like to join our upcoming Sydney DIRFloortime® 101 training on 28–29 March, please reach out.

10/03/2026

For little learners, tinyfingers.net is fantastic for teaching cause and effect - tap, click, and something fun happens on the screen.

For older kids with stronger language skills…

honestly, it’s just a great computer game to take turns playing with my own children while I sneak in some admin work in the office 😅

Simple, engaging, and surprisingly useful for both therapy and home life.

tinyfingers.net

08/03/2026

Sharing this beautiful TED Talk we watched during this weekend’s DIR 101 training with Integrate OT, Louisa Hunter.

In Robert Waldinger’s talk “What makes a good life?”, he shares insights from one of the longest studies on happiness ever conducted.

After following people for over 75 years, the researchers found that the strongest predictor of happiness and health isn’t wealth, success, or fame - it’s the quality of our relationships and connections with others.

It’s such a powerful reminder that meaningful relationships, feeling understood, and being connected to others are at the heart of wellbeing.

This message aligns so beautifully with the principles of DIRFloortime. That is, development, learning, and happiness all grow through warm, connected relationships.

Worth the watch if you have a spare 15 minutes

What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it's fame and money, you're not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, ...

08/03/2026

This weekend, I completed DIR 101 training presented by Integrate OT, Louisa Hunter and hosted by Canobolas Kids Health.

DIR (Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based) is a wonderful framework that focuses on supporting children’s development through connection, relationships, and meaningful interactions.

It was such a valuable opportunity to deepen my understanding of how to follow a child’s lead, build engagement, and support communication through play.

Thank you to Louisa for sharing her knowledge and to Canobolas Kids Health for hosting such a practical training.

I’m looking forward to continuing to integrate these ideas into my work with children and families.

02/03/2026

📣 Medicare Update: Speech Pathology Support for Stuttering & Speech Sound Disorders

The Australian Government has updated the Medicare support available for diagnosing and treating eligible disabilities. This means rebates for allied health assessments and treatment are now clearer and more structured for many conditions.

As of 1 March 2026, children and young people under 25 can access expanded Medicare support for speech pathology under the Diagnosis and Treatment for Eligible Disabilities pathway.

Children with stuttering or speech sound disorders may now be eligible for:
• Up to 8 assessment sessions
• Up to 20 treatment sessions (lifetime total)

Medicare rebates of approximately $80–$90 per session (gap fees usually apply).

A referral from a GP, specialist, or consultant physician is required, and a treatment plan must be in place.

This pathway does not currently include Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). While that is disappointing, it is still a positive step forward in helping children with stuttering and speech sound disorders to access extra funded support.

If you’re unsure whether your child may be eligible, speak with your GP or contact Claire Davis Speech Pathology to discuss next steps.

You can also refer to this factsheet for more information.

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-02/diagnosis-and-treatment-for-eligible-disabilities-fact-sheet.pdf

04/02/2026

Mr A went to a local café to complete his home practice.

His mum shared that he was so engaged, enjoying a special treat while working on his /k/ sounds.

Mr A is working incredibly hard in his speech sound therapy sessions and is well supported by his parents, who are keeping the momentum going at home by completing regular practice.

Mr A has also been working on his sounds at the splash park. How fun!

I love that speech sound therapy does not always have to happen at home.

Real-life moments make the best learning opportunities.