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.

11/18/2025

Hi ESF families! 🎁

Expressive Speech and Feeding is excited to team up with Toys for Tots this year. The official collection boxes are running a little behind, so to keep things moving I’ll be putting a big bin outside my house each day from 8am–8pm for anyone who’d like to donate. You can bring a donation right to your therapy session, easy peasy!

📍 2622 Quincy Adams Dr
Please feel free to drop off new, unwrapped toys anytime during those hours. Your generosity truly helps local kiddos who might not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season.

Thank you for helping spread a little extra joy in our community! 🎄💫
❤️ Janine, Expressive Speech and Feeding, LLC

10/31/2025

🎃 happy halloween from ms janine!👻

our playgroup had so much fun with a mummy game yesterday! one friend got wrapped up in toilet paper while the other practiced teamwork, patience, and communication to make the best mummy! lots of laughs, problem solving, and turn taking all around. 🧻💬✨

wishing the ESF family a safe and happy halloween! 🧡

10/16/2025

In early intervention, simple tools can make a big difference. One of my favorites is sound books like Hear Bear Roar by Eric Carle.

These books do more than entertain. They help children explore cause and effect, improve attention, and connect sounds with meaning.

For little ones, pressing a button and hearing an animal roar can encourage imitation, joint attention, and early language development.

Some of my other favorites:

🧑‍🌾Around the Farm (Eric Carle)

🎃Hoot Howl Halloween (Becky Wilson)

🦸Marvel Sound Storybook Treasury (PI kids)

Fun fact: One of my 2nd born’s first words/sounds was THWIP (the spiderman sound) from the last book mentioned above 🕸️

📚 Do you use sound books with your child? Which ones are your favorite?

10/09/2025

Messy = progress! 👶💥

One tip for moving beyond purees or diced foods: offer soft, easy-to-hold pieces (like ripe fruit wedges) so your baby can explore chewing and self-feeding safely. 🥑

That’s what this cutie is doing — and he’s clearly as happy with his progress as his parents are! 💛

10/02/2025

🎉 Today’s social group was all about K-Pop Demon Hunters! From decorating soda pop can covers to playing riddles and singing along to our favorite songs, the kids practiced sharing, turn-taking, and flexibility- all while having a blast. 😈 🎶 🥤 💃 🎤 🗡️

Every session is fully customized, hands-on, and so much fun! 🥳

09/05/2025

This week’s social playgroup dyad was extra special because we got to celebrate both kiddos’ birthdays (they actually share the same birthday, how fun is that?! 🥳).

Every session is completely customized for the kids in front of me, and birthdays are the perfect chance to tie in connection, fun, and practice of important social skills in a natural way.

Why playgroups? They give the kids a safe and supportive space to:
🌟 Learn how to compromise during play
🌟 Practice being flexible when plans change
🌟 Build confidence in connecting with others with language
🌟 Engage in meaningful interaction...without pressure for eye contact or forced conversation

My approach celebrates neurodiversity. It’s not about forcing kids to “fit in”. Instead, it’s all about supporting them as they grow their own social toolbox at their pace, in their way.

🎂 Happy birthday to these two! I feel so lucky to be part of their lives 🤗

08/28/2025

Did you know that reading books isn’t just about building language and early literacy skills? It’s also an incredible way to fuel your preschooler’s imagination and support pretend play development!

Children get ideas for pretend play not only from the people around them, but also from the stories they hear and see in books, TV, and movies. Books provide entertaining characters, fun scenarios, and exciting problem-solving adventures that kids love to act out!

👶🍎 The Very Hungry Caterpillar: After reading, you might see your child crawling like a caterpillar, pretending to munch through apples, pears, and strawberries….or even building a cocoon out of pillows and emerging as a beautiful butterfly! 🐛🦋

🚜💨 The Little Dump Truck: This book can inspire construction-themed play. Your kiddo might fill and dump toy bins, wear a hard hat, and pretend to work at a busy building site, just like Mr. Dump and his driver. 🏗️👷

✨ Pro tip: After reading, try saying, “That was fun! Do you want to pretend we’re in the story?” Then step back and let your child take the lead!

07/29/2025

Doesn’t get any better than this smiling face stuffing her face!!!!

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.

Address

Herndon, VA
20171

Website

http://www.expressivespeechandfeeding.com/

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