Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC

01/14/2026

School anxiety and avoidance are mental health concerns, not behavior problems. For many children, school can feel overwhelming, unsafe, or unmanageable, even when they want to succeed. Anxiety may show up as physical complaints, emotional distress, or difficulty separating from caregivers.

In our latest blog post, we explore school anxiety and avoidance through a mental health lens, including common signs, underlying causes, and supportive strategies that prioritize emotional safety and regulation.

When anxiety is ongoing and overwhelming, school avoidance can develop. School avoidance occurs when a child stops attending school because being at school feels unsafe or intolerable.

01/13/2026

School anxiety and school avoidance are related, but not the same.

School anxiety refers to worry or distress about school. A child may still attend school, but experience significant stress related to academics, social situations, sensory demands, transitions, or changes at home or school.

School avoidance can sometimes be a consequence of ongoing anxiety, especially when a child feels overwhelmed or unsafe. Over time, avoiding school may feel like the only way to get relief.

That said, not all school related resistance reflects school avoidance or clinical anxiety. Sometimes kids avoid school for typical developmental reasons, testing limits, wanting control, or simply not wanting to go. Understanding why a child is struggling is key. Support works best when responses are based on the underlying need, not just the behavior.

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01/12/2026

Something's comiiiiiing! 🤗💃🏻🕺🪩

01/11/2026

January is National Hobby Month! As it turns out, the staff of DLST has a lot of hobbies.

Like...a lot.

Come check it out!

01/09/2026

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Did you know that babies start forming taste buds at 8 gestational weeks? However, babies don’t truly experience flavors until later in the first trimester. As pregnancy continues, flavor compounds from the parent’s diet enter the amniotic fluid, giving babies early exposure to different tastes before they’re born.

Who knew?!

babies don’t truly experience flavors until later in the first trimester. As pregnancy continues, flavor compounds from the parent’s diet enter the amniotic fluid, giving babies early exposure to different tastes before they’re born.

01/08/2026

It's a new year, which for many means a new insurance. At Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, we are happy to take most of the major insurances as well as some Medicaid (Priority Health, BCBS, state) and Medicare plans!

Looking for mental health or speech therapy services? Contact us today!

#616

01/07/2026

Post-holidays, it may seem hard to figure out what to do with all the new toys your child may have received! Want to make them a little more language enriching? Check out our blog post today! :)

https://duncanlakespeechtherapy.com/dlst-blog/make-any-toy-a-language-enriching-toy/

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Enhancing your child's language development doesn't hinge on purchasing specific toys; it's about how you engage with them during play. Here are some strategies to transform any toy into a language-enriching tool.

01/06/2026

Whoopsieeeee! Tami got a little delinquent with the social media! We just wanted you to know that we are back and ready for 2026, BABY!

01/02/2026

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Your brain may be small compared to the rest of your body, but it is busy. It uses about 20 percent of your body’s total energy even though it only makes up around 2 percent of your body weight. No wonder thinking, learning, planning, and communicating can feel exhausting sometimes. Be gentle with yourself. Your brain is working hard! 💪🏼

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! We hope you enjoy your day (resting? Anyone else?)!

12/31/2025

Grief doesn’t take a break just because it’s “holiday season.” If you’re feeling sad, overwhelmed, or anxious, you’re not alone. In our latest post, we offer practical, gentle guidance for families navigating grief during the holidays: from honoring traditions to caring for yourself and leaning on support. Come check it out!

If your family is navigating grief this season, you are not alone. Here are strategies that can help support emotional well being for both children and caregivers.

12/30/2025

...where are we and what day is it? What is fiber?