Bumble Bee Speech Therapy

04/07/2025

Play sounds are an awesome "stepping stone" on the way to communicating with words! Many young children will use pretend play and play sounds to develop their communication skills as they progress towards using using words and combining them into sentences.

I have a friend with a child with significant speech-language delay. One morning when that little girl was a toddler, I read on her mom’s blog that the little one started to fake cough last week!!!

 
That’s HUGE!! 
 
 
I got so excited for her and I hope if you’re a pediatric SLP reading this, you did too!
 

Please don’t miss the emergence of these “play sounds.” To reiterate my point, that’s HUGE in the continuum of helping a child become purposefully verbal.

 
Play sounds or sound effects can be an important “in between” step for lots of late talkers before they begin to try to imitate real words.

 
In my zeal to help her from afar, I sent her my list of other kinds of play sounds she can introduce to get other kinds of play sounds going. Here’s a copy for you too!
 
Try these Play Sounds
Pant like a dog
Gasp
Squeal or scream
Grunt with effort
Yawn
Fake cough
Fake sneeze
Car/Truck noises
Siren noise
Fake laugh
Fake cry
Whine
Snore
Slurp with drinking
Exhale after drink
Shiver
“Sh!” for quiet
Growl

My lists could go on and on and on... : ) Sometimes pairing a hand motion or another body movement with a sound will make it easier for a child to begin to imitate. For example, cover your mouth with your hand when you fake laugh or close your eyes when you snore. You may not hear the vocalization right away, but if the child imtiates the hand movements, you know he understands the process and will later begin to add the sound.

04/07/2025

The theme of NAIDOC week this year is "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy". This year, NAIDOC Week marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience.

Bumble Bee Speech Therapy acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the North Sydney area, the Cammeraygal people, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

24/06/2025

Phonics Books provides amazing free resources to help our early readers build their confidence with using different spellings for the same sound!

'Three', 'leaf', 'athlete' - these words all include the sound /ee/.

One of the trickiest things for beginner readers to learn is that phonemes can be spelled in different ways. It is very helpful to have a list of variations to hand for each phoneme.

Our free poster can be printed and displayed in the classroom, or adapted into a phonics activity. By covering each spelling variation with a piece of paper and testing learners on the examples, you can help cement your students' understanding of the /ee/ sound.

Download for free from our website:
🌍 https://phonicbooks.co.uk/products/one-sound-different-spellings-ee
🇺🇸 https://phonicbooks.com/products/one-sound-different-spellings-ee

08/07/2024

This week is NAIDOC week! NAIDOC 2024: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud, and Proud.

NAIDOC 2024: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud, and Proud.

This NAIDOC Week, we stand with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in igniting the flame of culture and celebrating the unyielding spirit of their communities.

The fire symbolises the enduring strength and vitality of Indigenous cultures, passed down through generations despite the challenges faced.It is a symbol of connection to the land, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As we honour this flame, we kindle the sparks of pride and unity, igniting a renewed commitment to acknowledging, preserving, and sharing the cultural heritage that enriches our nation.

We pledge to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering a society where the wisdom and contributions of Indigenous peoples are fully valued and respected.

Through our collective efforts, we can forge a future where the stories, traditions, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are cherished and celebrated, enriching the fabric of our nation with the oldest living culture in the world.

Image: National NAIDOC logo