Expressive Speech and Feeding, LLC

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Herndon, VA
Expressive Speech and Feeding, LLC

Expressive Speech & Feeding is a speech & feeding therapy practice based in Virginia. Oh, and we help them become less picky eaters too!

We help children, from 0 to 18 years, cultivate human connection by better expressing their needs, personality & love.

06/12/2025

No, you don’t need to turn every snack into a Pinterest-worthy craft (I promise). But playing with food outside of mealtimes can help picky eaters feel more relaxed and curious when it’s time to eat. 💡

Here are 3 easy ways to make food fun without turning it into a whole production:
🍓 Make faces or patterns with fruit while you prep breakfast.
🧁 Use cookie cutters to stamp out shapes from sandwiches or cheese.
🎨 “Paint” toast with milk and food coloring using clean paintbrushes.

Or just search “food crafts for kids” and pick something silly to make just for fun. No pressure to eat—just explore, squish, stack, and play.

This waffle and fruit ice cream was our first-day-of-summer breakfast surprise! 🧇🍦☀️

05/11/2025

To all the mamas I work with — I see you.

The nonstop mental load, the invisible to-do list, the no days off. The worrying, advocating, showing up, and doing your absolute best even when you’re running on empty.

It’s not easy. And it’s not always pretty. But it matters — every little bit of it.

I’m so grateful I get to support moms like you during some of the most challenging seasons. It’s an honor to be part of your journey. You’re doing more than you know.

Sending you love, strength, and maybe even a minute of quiet today. ♥️

04/02/2025

True or False: Kids have to eat new foods to make progress in feeding therapy. ❌FALSE!

Dipping is a fun, low-pressure way for picky eaters to explore new foods—no bites required! This little guy had so much fun dipping, he even licked the plate. 😂🙌

Simply touching, scooping, and swirling food in a dip helps kids get comfortable with new textures and flavors. Try these fun pairings:

🥕 Carrots in ranch, guac, or hummus
🍎 Apples in yogurt, peanut butter, or chocolate sauce
🍗 Chicken in ketchup, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce
🫛 Snap peas in tzatziki or cheese sauce
🥨 Pretzels in yogurt or sunflower butter
🍞 Toast in syrup, jam, or cinnamon butter

No pressure—just a playful way to explore!

03/21/2025

True or false: Playdates need to be planned and structured for kids with language delays.

False! While having a plan can help, the most important part of a playdate is simply playing together. This week in playgroup, we’re doing just that by building leprechaun traps! With boxes, tape, shiny coins, and plenty of imagination, the kids will work together to design the ultimate leprechaun-catching contraption.

✨ Why is this activity great for language development?

-Encourages problem-solving and sequencing (“First, we need a ladder!”)
-Builds vocabulary with action words like stick, trap, climb, catch
-Supports turn-taking and teamwork skills
-Gives little ones a fun reason to express ideas and ask questions!

💡 Parent Tip: Instead of focusing on planning the “perfect” activity, join in and follow your child’s lead. Comment on what they’re doing, ask simple questions, and let them take charge. Whether it’s building a leprechaun trap or just stacking blocks, the back-and-forth of play builds language naturally.

03/20/2025

📚💬 Want a simple way to boost your child’s speech? Focus on joint attention—when you and your little one look at the same thing together!

Look at this little one! 👀 They are looking at exactly the same thing as I am. This shared moment is joint attention in action!

Reading books together is a fantastic way to build joint attention and encourage early speech and language skills. As you read, point to pictures, name objects, and pause to let your child react. Simple books with engaging pictures and repetitive language work best!

Parent Tip: 📖✨
Try using “Look, Wait, Name” when reading with your child:
👀 Look at the picture together
⏳ Wait for your child to react (a glance, a sound, a point)
🗣 Name what you see: “Wow! A big dog!”

This simple strategy helps your child stay engaged, learn new words, and develop stronger communication skills.

03/13/2025

FYI ⚠️ ESF clients! Please park in the driveway for these next few days! We will have both cars in the driveway due to this so leave room for one car to get out as best you can. I appreciate your attention to this, sorry for any inconvenience!

03/11/2025

Supporting local kids’ sports teams is one of my favorite ways to give back! It’s all about community, moms helping moms, and families lifting each other up. Proud to sponsor SLHS Girls Softball this season! ⚾️💙

When women support each other, we can achieve anything. 💪

03/07/2025

I just came across an article in the latest People Magazine about an artist who creates incredible food art, and I am in awe of their talent! 🤩 The way they transform everyday ingredients into stunning masterpieces is next level.

Now, I love to have a little fun with food—maybe some fruit and veggie eyes & nose, spaghetti hair, and a ranch dressing or ketchup smile 😆—but this? This is pure artistry! 🎭✨

It got me thinking… how does this relate to feeding therapy? 🤔

🍽 Food play reduces mealtime pressure – When kids engage with food in a fun, no-stress way, they’re more likely to feel comfortable trying it.

🎨 Encourage sensory exploration – Touching, arranging, and even painting with food helps desensitize picky eaters to new textures, smells, and colors.

👩‍🍳 Boost mealtime confidence – Turning food into something creative gives kids a sense of control, making them more open to interacting with it (and maybe even taking a bite!).

Moral of the story? Food should be FUN! 🍉✨

03/03/2025

One of the most common concerns I hear from parents is about the number of words their toddler is saying. But did you know that receptive language—the words a child understands—develops before expressive language?

By age 2, toddlers typically understand 200-300 words. They can usually:
✅ Follow simple directions (e.g., “Get your shoes.”)
✅ Identify some body parts when named
✅ Point to familiar objects or pictures when asked
✅ Understand simple questions (e.g., “Where’s the dog?”)

Of course, toddlers don’t always respond when we ask them to—sometimes they’re too busy exploring their world! But understanding grows through fun, everyday interactions.

Here are a few ways I like to teach body parts:
🎭 Tickle Game – Say, “I’m going to tickle your belly!” and watch if your child covers it. This shows they understand even before they can say the word.
🫧 Bubble Pop – Blow bubbles and encourage your child to pop them with different body parts: “Pop with your nose! Now your elbow!”
👧🏽 Sibling Help – Have an older sibling model: “Touch your ear! Now help your little brother find his ear.”

Building receptive language isn’t about drills—it’s about engaging, playful interactions. Keep talking, keep playing, and your toddler will keep learning!

02/28/2025

“Wait… touching the food counts as progress?!” YES! 🎉

Feeding therapy isn’t just about eating—it’s about experiencing food in a way that feels safe! This little guy is helping put pizza bagels on the tray, and guess what? That counts as sensory exposure! Touching, smelling, and interacting with food (without pressure to eat) is a HUGE step for many kids.

If your child is hesitant around certain foods, try incorporating simple, low-pressure food experiences into their daily routine:

🥣 Stirring pancake batter (even if they don’t eat the pancakes!)
🍏 Sorting fruits and veggies by color
🍝 Scooping pasta onto plates
🍪 Rolling out cookie dough or sprinkling toppings
🍉 Washing fruit in a bowl of water
🎨 “Painting” toast with yogurt or nut butter

No bites required—just small, positive interactions with food. Over time, these moments help build comfort, confidence, and curiosity.

02/25/2025

Did you know pretend play starts developing around 18-24 months and grows in complexity as children get older? This little one is learning to play pretend with her baby doll and pretend nail polish—so cute! 💅👶

Why is pretend play so important? 🤔 It helps kiddos:
🗣 Build vocabulary & sentence structure
🧠 Develop problem-solving & social skills
🎭 Learn to take on different roles and perspectives

Parent Tips for Encouraging Pretend Play:
👧 2-year-olds – Offer simple props like a baby doll, toy food, or a pretend phone. Model actions like feeding the baby or stirring a pot.
👦 3-year-olds – Encourage role-play by setting up a “store” or “doctor’s office” with basic items. Let them take the lead!
👩‍🍳 4-year-olds – Add storylines! “Oh no, the baby is hungry—what should we do?” Expanding the play keeps the conversation going!

02/24/2025

Children learn best through play—it’s how they explore the world, develop new skills, and build confidence. This applies to mealtimes, too! If your child refuses to “take a bite” of a new food, consider other ways they can interact with it instead.

👀 LOOK – Can they describe its color, shape, or texture?
👃 SMELL – What does it remind them of? Sweet? Sour? Savory?
👐 TOUCH – Can they squish, stack, or stir it?
👂 LISTEN – What sound does it make when they tap it on the plate or crunch it?
🎨 PLAY – Can they make a silly face with it or pretend to feed a stuffed animal?

Exposure without pressure is key! Over time, these playful interactions help children feel more comfortable with new foods, making them more likely to take a bite when they’re ready. So next time your child hesitates, remember—playing with food is a step toward eating it! 🍽️✨

Address

Herndon, VA

Website

http://www.expressivespeechandfeeding.com/

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