SpeechTricks by Malar

04/12/2025

Cancellations = unexpected cleaning shift 🤣

Welcome to December - the month of deep cleaning, decluttering, and reorganising EVERYTHING 😎✨

Fresh space, fresh energy, fresh December vibes 💛

25/11/2025

✨ Moments That Made My Day – EP 4 ✨

Today’s session reminded me of something so important:
progress happens when parents don’t give up. 💛

I was honestly scared this family would stop therapy halfway.
But they showed up for every session…
practised everything at home…
stayed consistent…
and now their child is blooming. 🌱✨

She started speech therapy at 2 years 6 months with:
❌ poor preverbal skills
❌ unable to follow simple commands,
❌ had some words but didn’t use them meaningfully yet.

Now at 2 years 9 months, she’s not using sentences yet,
but she’s pointing, imitating, following commands, using single words, smiling, expressing her needs…
and THAT is huge progress.
Every milestone deserves to be celebrated. 💛

And to all parents out there,
please remember:

Before a child talks, they must build preverbal skills like:
• Imitation (actions & sounds)
• Joint attention
• Pointing
• Following simple commands
• Using meaningful sounds
• Turn-taking

These are the building blocks of speech.
And first words usually emerge by 18 months, beyond that is considered a delay, and it’s okay to seek support early.

I’m super grateful for this family, because they didn’t give up.
They embraced the process, and that’s why progress is happening. 🌷

24/11/2025

16/11/2025

🗣️ Communication is more than just words.
It’s how children express themselves, build relationships, learn, and feel empowered 🐥

Every time your child says “I want…”, “No!”, “What’s that?”, “It’s a cat!” - they’re practicing skills that will shape their independence and confidence.

💛 In therapy, we don’t only work on speech sounds, we build the functions of communication: requesting, rejecting, asking, answering, following instructions, telling stories, complaining, commenting, and even giving instructions.

✨ And most importantly, communication skills allow children to tell us if something happened, or if something is bothering them.

Without these skills, they might stay silent about pain, discomfort, or even unsafe situations.

👶 Every child deserves a voice, in whatever form it comes.

👉 Swipe this carousel to see why each skill matters, and how it helps your child thrive.

Save 📌 this post for your therapy journey & share with another parent who needs this reminder!

15/11/2025

✨ Building a Secure Bond with Your Child ✨

Before words, comes safety.
Before language, comes connection.
Before speech, comes trust. ❤️

A secure bond isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s formed in the small, everyday moments, the ones that often go unnoticed but leave the biggest imprint on your child’s heart.

💛 When you respond to their cries or laughter, you teach them, “My voice matters.”
💛 When you play and follow their lead, you tell them, “I’m interested in you.”
💛 When you pause to listen, even when they can’t find the words, you show them, “I’m here, and I understand.”
💛 When you repair after losing patience, you remind them, “Love stays, even when it’s hard.”

These moments may seem ordinary to you, but to your child, they are everything. 🌿

Because when a child feels safe, seen, and soothed…
their brain relaxes,
their curiosity blooms,
and their words begin to grow. 🗣️✨

As a speech therapist, I always tell parents, communication is not just about talking. It’s about connection.

Your presence, your tone, your touch, your gaze, these are the first “words” your child ever learns.

So keep showing up, not perfectly, but patiently.
Because you are your child’s safe place, their comfort zone, their world. 💕

🌸 Save this post as your reminder that you’re doing enough.
🌸 Tag another parent who needs this encouragement today.
🌸 Follow for more parenting & speech tips!

13/11/2025

If your child has a speech delay, take a deep breath. 🌸

You’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it all out overnight.

Many parents worry when their child isn’t talking “on time.” But every child’s journey is unique, some take a little longer to find their words, and that’s okay. What matters most is giving them the right kind of support early on. 💬✨

Start with small, steady steps:
👀 Observe your child’s responses, gestures, and sounds.
👂 Check their hearing, even mild issues can affect speech.
🧩 Book a speech assessment with a certified Speech Therapist.
🏡 Support them at home through play, reading, and meaningful connection.

Remember, connection comes before communication.
When your child feels seen, heard, and loved, words begin to bloom. 🌼

✨ Save this post as a gentle reminder and share it with another parent who might need this encouragement.

Follow for more speech and language tips, therapy-based strategies, and parent-friendly guides coming soon! 💛

07/11/2025

When you say “no”… and then give in 😅
We’ve all been there.
Tired, stretched thin, wanting the meltdown to stop,
and thinking, “Maybe it’s not worth the fight today.”

But here’s what really happens when we change our “no” to a “yes.”

Your child doesn’t learn that they’re being “naughty.”
They learn that boundaries move - and that’s confusing for their little brain.
Because children feel safe when limits are steady.

It tells them:
💬 “My parent means what they say.”
💗 “The world makes sense.”
🌱 “I can trust this boundary.”

When the limit keeps changing, it’s like standing on soft sand, they can’t find their footing.

So they push harder next time, not to test you -
but to understand where the edges really are.

The truth is, saying “no” isn’t the hard part.
It’s holding the no with love that takes strength.

By staying calm, kind, and consistent,
you’re teaching something far deeper than obedience:

❤️ That no can be loving.
🌱 That boundaries can be safe.
💗 That consistency can be connection.

Because children don’t just hear your words,
they feel your energy.
And when your “no” stays steady,
they start to feel something powerful:
TRUST.

So next time you hold your limit with empathy,
remember, you’re not being strict.
You’re being secure.
You’re being safe.
You’re being the calm your child needs. 💪

Save this for those hard parenting moments when your heart says “yes” but your intuition says “hold your no.”

Follow for more gentle parenting and speech-language insights that build calm, confident communication at home 🌿

06/11/2025

Yep, that’s me walking out of the office with a smile I can’t contain!!! 😄

When a tiny human says they missed you 🥹💛
Some days it’s hugs,
some days giggles,
some days just eye contact,
but every moment counts. ✨

What made your day today???

02/11/2025

How long can my child watch screen?

🧠 How much screen time is “too much”? Parents often ask me this - and here’s the truth: it’s not just about hours, but about age, content, and connection.

✨ Research shows that children learn best through real-life interaction. But that doesn’t mean screens are the enemy! When used wisely, they can be part of a balanced childhood.

📱 Here’s what’s recommended by age:
👶 Under 18 months → No screen time (except video calls)
🍼 18–24 months → If introduced, always co-watch
👧 2–5 years → Max 1 hour/day of high-quality, slow content + co-viewing
🧒 6 years & up → Set limits so screens don’t disrupt sleep, play, or family time

💡 The real key? Connection over perfection. Don’t focus on “no screen.” Focus on meaningful screen.

💬 Drop your child’s age below and I’ll share a quick screen-time tip for you!
💾 Save this post for later
🔔 Follow for more speech & parenting tips

27/10/2025

✨ Moments That Made My Day ✨
I was doing a session with one of my kids, a 9-year-old girl with autism.

She’s one of the sweetest souls I’ve ever met.

While I was writing something down, I unknowingly yawned 🥱🫣

She looked at me and softly asked,
“Miss, okay ke?” 🥺

That simple question… it just melted my heart.
Because rarely, as adults, do people check in with us like that in that moment itself.

It reminded me how beautiful genuine care can be — even in the smallest moments. 💛

13/10/2025

💬 “Should we finish OT first… and then only start Speech Therapy?”

It’s a question many parents ask, and one that’s often answered with outdated advice.

But here’s the truth you deserve to hear 👇

Early intervention isn’t a “one at a time” process.
It’s about giving your child the right support at the right time — and often, that means starting Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech Therapy (ST) together.

Even short sessions in both can make a big difference.

Starting both early leads to better outcomes in:
🗣️ Communication & Language
🧘‍♂️ Sensory Regulation
🤝 Social Skills
🧠 Overall Learning

🚫 Delaying speech while waiting to “finish OT”
could delay your child’s progress.

✅ OT and ST are not a queue. They’re a team.
They work hand-in-hand — just like your child needs a team of support, not a waiting list of help.

✨ Save this if you’re in the early stages of your
therapy journey
💡 Share it with a parent who’s unsure where to
begin
📲 Follow for
empowering info, strategies & support