Rock Therapeutic Services

Home
United States
Bonney Lake, WA
Rock Therapeutic Services

Providing Speech and Language therapy services in the Puget Sound area.

09/24/2025

🧠✨ Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
Does your child cover their ears at everyday sounds, refuse certain textures of food, or seem constantly on the go? These could be signs of Sensory Processing Disorder.

SPD affects how the brain processes sensory information — sights, sounds, textures, tastes, smells, and even movement. Some kids are hypersensitive (overreactive) while others are hyposensitive (underreactive) to sensory input.

🔍 Signs to Watch For:
👂 Overreacts to sounds or touches
🚫 Avoids messy play or certain clothing
🌀 Constantly moving, spinning, or crashing into things
🥄 Picky eating based on texture
🗣️ Speech delays due to sensory challenges
😫 Meltdowns in noisy or crowded places

💬 The good news? With the right support, your child can thrive.
Our pediatric occupational and speech therapists are trained to help kids with SPD build skills and confidence in a fun, supportive environment.

09/17/2025

🍂 Fall is Coming! 🍁

As the leaves change, it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a good book! 📚 Reading with your child not only creates special bonding moments, but it also supports speech, language, and cognitive development.

Here are our Top Fall Books to encourage speech and learning this season:

🍎 Speech & Language-Friendly Fall Books

🧡 There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro
– Great for sequencing, vocabulary, and repetition!

🍂 Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
– Boosts descriptive language and encourages nature-based storytelling.

🦃 Run, Turkey, Run! by Diane Mayr
– Perfect for action words, prepositions, and making predictions.

🍁 Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
– Explores fall colors and introduces rich seasonal vocabulary.

🐿️ The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
– Supports attention, seasonal concepts, and simple sentence structure.

🍏 Apple Trouble by Ragnhild Scamell
– Helps with problem-solving, retelling, and cause/effect skills.

📖 TIP: Read slowly, pause to ask questions, and let your child “read” with you by labeling pictures or finishing sentences! 👏

✨Need personalized tips to boost your child’s speech or motor skills this fall? We’re here to help!

09/11/2025

🇺🇸 September 11th 🕊️

Today we pause to remember the lives lost, the heroes who stepped forward, and the strength that carried so many through.

It’s a day of reflection, unity, and honoring those we’ll never forget. ❤️

09/10/2025

🧠💬👣 OT vs. PT: What’s the Difference? 🤔✨

We know it can be confusing! Many families wonder what the difference is between Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) — and we’re here to help break it down. 👇

🖐🏽 Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on helping children build the skills they need for daily life — like getting dressed, playing with toys, using utensils, or managing sensory input. It’s all about independence and development through play.

💪 Physical Therapy (PT) focuses more on movement and strength — helping children improve their balance, coordination, posture, and mobility.

🌟 While we specialize in Speech and Occupational Therapy, we love collaborating with outside Physical Therapists to create the perfect team for your child’s needs. Because when we work together, kids thrive! 💛

Have questions? We’re just a message away. 📩

08/22/2025

🎒 What Are “Backpack Skills”?

Backpack skills refer to the physical, cognitive, and motor abilities a child uses when managing their backpack during daily routines, especially for school.

These skills may seem simple—but they actually involve multiple areas of development that occupational therapists help strengthen.

🧠 Key Components of Backpack Skills:

Motor Planning & Sequencing
➤ Knowing what to pack and in what order
➤ Remembering steps: unzip → pack → zip → carry

Fine Motor Skills
➤ Opening/closing zippers
➤ Adjusting buckles or compartments
➤ Handling small school supplies

Bilateral Coordination
➤ Using both hands together (e.g., one hand holds the backpack while the other zips)

Core Strength & Postural Control
➤ Carrying the backpack upright
➤ Lifting it properly and safely

Executive Functioning
➤ Organizing items and remembering what’s needed
➤ Transitioning smoothly from home to school and vice versa

Sensory Processing
➤ Managing how the backpack feels (weight, straps, textures)
➤ Adjusting to the sensory input of moving with a heavy load

🌟 Why It Matters

Mastering backpack skills supports:
✅ Independence in school routines
✅ Confidence with self-care tasks
✅ Classroom success through better organization and focus
✅ Physical readiness for daily school demands

08/20/2025

👐 Therapy doesn’t always look like therapy 😉

Playdough isn’t just for fun — it’s a powerhouse tool for building those essential fine motor skills! Every roll, squish, and pinch helps your child grow in ways that matter:
✔️ Stronger finger muscles
✔️ Better pencil grasp
✔️ Improved hand-eye coordination
✔️ Boosted creativity & imagination

Whether at home or in a session, we’re turning play into real progress.

Tag another parent who’s got a playdough stash at home! 👇

08/15/2025

🧠✨ Developmental Milestone Spotlight ✨🖐️
Fine Motor Skills Your 4-Year-Old Should Be Working On

At age 4, your child’s hands are busy exploring the world — and that means fine motor skills are blossoming! 💪🖍️

Here are a few key skills to keep an eye on:
✅ Holding a crayon with fingers instead of a fist
✅ Cutting along a straight line with child-safe scissors
✅ Drawing simple shapes like circles and crosses
✅ Buttoning and unbuttoning clothes
✅ Building tall block towers
✅ Starting to use eating utensils with control

🏡 Need support? Our expert occupational therapists are here to help your little one grow strong, confident, and independent — one milestone at a time.

08/06/2025

🗣️ Speech Check: What should a 3-year-old be saying?
By age 3, your little one’s communication is growing fast! At this stage, many kids can:
✔️ Use short sentences (3–4 words)
✔️ Ask simple WH-questions like “Where’s mommy?”
✔️ Talk about things from the past or not present
✔️ Be understood by familiar adults most of the time (~75%)

It’s also common to hear early grammar like plurals, pronouns, and verbs beginning to form—even if speech sounds aren’t all perfect yet.

👂 But what if your child isn’t there yet? That’s okay—every child develops differently. Still, some signs might indicate a need for extra support. If they’re mostly using single words, hard to understand, or seem frustrated when trying to talk—it could be time to check in with a therapist.

💬 DM us anytime to chat with one of our pediatric speech-language pathologists—judgment-free, totally relaxed.
We’re here to guide you, not pressure you.

✅ Early support leads to stronger skills later—language, learning, and social confidence too.

07/30/2025

🛁 Speech Tip: Turn Bath Time Into Talk Time!
Bath time is full of fun and language-rich moments. Try narrating actions like:
“Splash the water!”
“Let’s pour the cup!”
“Wash your toes!”
💬 Use slow, simple sentences and pause to let your child respond.
🧼 Everyday moments = speech opportunities.
Tag a parent who needs this reminder! 💙

07/23/2025

🎨 Help Kids Talk About Their Feelings — One Face at a Time! 🧠💬

Emotions can be BIG, especially for little ones! That’s why we love using Feelings Charts in therapy sessions. 🧸✨

👦🏽👧🏻 Kids may struggle to say “I’m overwhelmed,” but they can point to a 😞 or 😡 face — and that’s a powerful first step!

✅ Use emojis or simple drawn faces to help your child identify what they’re feeling.
✅ Hang the chart where it’s easy to see — like on the fridge or in the classroom!
✅ Check in daily — it’s a great way to build emotional awareness + language skills!

💡 Pro Tip: Let your child help make the chart for extra engagement!

🌈 Building emotional vocabulary = building confidence. We’re here to help every step of the way!

07/16/2025

☀️ It’s heating up—let’s make a splash and build strong skills! Water play isn’t just fun; it’s a powerful tool for occupational therapy development. 🙌

💧 Try these simple tools:
🔹 Sq**rt bottles – Boost grip strength + hand endurance
🔹 Plastic cups – Practice pouring = motor planning + coordination
🔹 Sponges – Squeeze for tactile input + hand strength

🎯 These activities support:
👋 Grip Strength
🤲 Bilateral Coordination
🧠 Sensory Regulation

Play with purpose this summer—every splash counts! 💙

📍Tag us in your OT water play fun!

07/11/2025

Busy day? No problem! 🙌
You don’t need extra time or fancy tools to support your child’s speech and motor development. Try these fun games built into your daily routine:

🗣️ 1. Simon Says – With a Speech Twist
“Simon says touch your nose and say ‘ball’!”
✅ Supports: Following directions, articulation, body awareness
💡 Add new words each day to target speech goals!

🧺 2. Laundry Toss
Toss socks into baskets and call out colors, animals, or action words as you throw!
✅ Supports: Gross motor skills, vocabulary, turn-taking
🎯 OT Bonus: Bilateral coordination and balance!

🍎 3. Snack Time Talk
Describe your snack using 3 adjectives:
“Crunchy, salty, small”
✅ Supports: Descriptive language, sensory awareness, sentence building
🥕 Try it with fruits, crackers, or whatever’s on the plate!

🎉 These games take 5 minutes or less and fit right into your day.
The best therapy happens through play and connection 💛

📍Save this post for tomorrow’s routine!

Address

21106 State Route 410 E
Bonney Lake, WA
98391

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 6pm
Tuesday	8am - 6pm
Wednesday	8am - 6pm
Thursday	8am - 6pm

Telephone

+14252648400

Website

http://www.rocktherapyservices.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rock Therapeutic Services posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Rock Therapeutic Services:

Featured

Rekindle, Repair & Renew Your Relationship
Orting

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Bonney Lake?