Learning in Steps

21/07/2025

🧠 What is Selective Mutism?

Selective Mutism is more than just shyness.
It’s an anxiety disorder where a child who can speak in some settings (like at home) is unable to speak in others (like at school or with unfamiliar people). 😶

They’re not being rude or defiant — they want to speak but feel frozen by fear.

✨ The good news?
With the right support — from parents, teachers, and therapists — many children find their voice over time.

🔑 What helps:
✅ A calm, pressure-free environment
✅ Small, gradual steps to build confidence
✅ Support from a speech pathologist or psychologist
✅ Patience and understanding ❤️

Let’s raise awareness and support kids who are silently struggling.

21/07/2025

17/07/2025

📣 AAC supports speech – it doesn’t replace it! 🗣️💬
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is designed to support and enhance communication, not to take speech away.

In fact, research shows that AAC can help children:
✅ Develop language skills
✅ Increase verbal speech
✅ Reduce frustration
✅ Build confidence in communication

Whether it’s a picture board, sign language, or a speech-generating device, AAC gives children a voice while building on their speech skills.

🌟 Every child deserves to be heard – and AAC is just one of the many ways we help that happen.

10/07/2025

📚 Speech Therapy for School-Aged Children 🎓

As kids grow, so do the demands on their language and communication skills—both in the classroom and on the playground!

Speech therapy for school-aged children can support:
✅ Literacy and vocabulary growth
✅ Understanding and using complex language
✅ Social communication and friendships
✅ Speech clarity and confidence in class
✅ Following instructions and classroom routines

Every child deserves to feel confident and connected at school. 💬 Let’s help them thrive!

10/07/2025

🧸✨ Pretend Play = Communication Confidence! ✨🧸

Pretend play isn’t just fun – it’s powerful! In speech therapy, we use imaginative play to help children:

🎭 Practice real-life conversations
🗣️ Use new words and sentence structures
😊 Build confidence in expressing ideas
👫 Learn turn-taking and social skills
💬 Explore feelings and problem-solving

When a child “cooks dinner” in a toy kitchen or “runs a vet clinic” with stuffed animals, they’re not just playing – they’re learning to communicate with confidence in a safe, creative space. 💡💕

08/07/2025

Reading & Spelling 📚✏️

Did you know? Strong language skills are essential for learning to read and spell!

👂 Listening & Understanding
Children need to understand spoken words and sentences before they can make sense of written ones.

🗣️ Vocabulary
A rich vocabulary helps kids recognise words in print and understand what they’re reading.

🔤 Phonological Awareness
Skills like hearing rhyming words or breaking words into sounds (e.g. c-a-t) are building blocks for spelling and decoding.

🧩 Grammar & Sentence Structure
Understanding how sentences are built helps children read with meaning and write clearly.

✨ When we support language development, we set children up for success in literacy!

07/07/2025

🗣️ What is Social Communication?
Social communication is how we use language to connect with others — through words, gestures, tone, facial expressions, and more!

It includes:
👀 Eye contact
🤝 Taking turns in conversation
😄 Understanding facial expressions
📚 Knowing what to say — and when
🧠 Adjusting language based on who you’re talking to

Some children may need support developing these skills. A speech pathologist can help build confidence in navigating social interactions!

💬 Every child deserves to be heard — and understood.

04/07/2025

📸 What is PECS?

👦👧 The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a way for children who have little or no verbal communication to express their wants and needs—using pictures!

💬 Instead of speaking, a child hands over a picture of what they want (like a snack, toy, or activity) to a communication partner.

🌟 Why is it powerful?
✅ Empowers children to initiate communication
✅ Reduces frustration and behaviour linked to communication difficulties
✅ Builds the foundation for more complex language

👩‍🏫 PECS is often used with autistic children or those with developmental delays—and it’s backed by strong research.

🧩 Communication is more than just words. PECS gives every child a voice! 💙

29/06/2025

🧠✨ Helping Children Understand Social Cues ✨🧠
Understanding facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice can be tricky for some children — but it can be taught! 💬👀

Here are a few ways to support social understanding:

👁️‍🗨️ Model & Narrate – Talk out loud about what you notice: “She looks surprised! Her eyes are wide and her mouth is open.”
🧸 Use Play & Role-Play – Act out social situations with toys or during pretend play.
📚 Read Picture Books – Pause to talk about how characters feel and why.
🎭 Practice Facial Expressions – Make it fun! Try guessing each other’s emotions.
🧩 Keep it Simple – Start with basic emotions and build from there.

🌟 With support and practice, children can grow their social awareness and confidence!

26/06/2025

🧠 Sensory Needs & Speech Therapy 🎙️

Did you know that sensory processing can impact how a child communicates?

👂 A child who is sensitive to sounds may avoid talking.
👐 A child who seeks movement may struggle to sit and engage in sessions.
👃 Smells, lights, textures—all these can affect focus, behaviour, and speech progress.

🌟 In speech therapy, we tailor strategies to meet each child’s sensory profile. Whether it’s using fidget tools, movement breaks, or a calm space—we make communication feel safe and fun.

💬 Supporting the whole child helps unlock their voice.