Monmouth Speech & Cognition

03/11/2026

4 Speech Goals We Set That Are NOT About Talking

Goal 1: Listening and Auditory Processing. We work on a child’s ability to understand what they hear, follow multi-step directions, and filter out background noise.

Goal 2: Play Skills. How a child plays reveals how they think and communicate. We use symbolic play, turn-taking, and joint attention as therapy goals.

Goal 3: Social Communication (Pragmatics). Reading facial expressions, understanding tone of voice, knowing when to speak vs. listen, and staying on topic in conversation.

Goal 4: Cognitive Processing and Memory. Especially for school-age kids, we target working memory, sequencing, and the ability to organize thoughts before speaking.

03/11/2026

🧠 Children regulate through their bodies and relationships long before they regulate through words.

Consistency, predictability, co-regulation, and sensory input aren’t indulgences — they’re biological needs. ✨

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03/07/2026

Quiet doesn’t mean not communicating, but it does mean we need to listen a little more ❤️

03/05/2026

When your child picks up a doll, they’re not just playing, they’re entering a powerful language-learning laboratory.

Pretend play with dolls and figures builds crucial communication skills naturally:
• Vocabulary: They name objects, characters, and actions.
• Narrative Skills: They create stories with a beginning, middle, and end.
• Social-Emotional Language: They express feelings (“The baby is sad!”) and practice empathy.
• Following Directions: They narrate steps (“First, feed the doll, then put her to bed”).
• Conversational Turn-Taking: If playing with others, they learn dialogue and role-playing.

We love using child-led play in therapy because it meets them where their motivation and imagination are highest.

What’s your child’s favorite pretend play scenario right now? Tell us in the comments!

EarlyIntervention SLPLife ChildDevelopment ParentingTips SocialEmotionalLearning

03/02/2026

Some happy news showcasing how with the rapid growth in technology it also means growth in different tools to help individuals communicate more freely and confidently!!

Jakob Jordan, the son of Q102 morning co-host Jenn Jordan, has made remarkable strides in communication over the past two years, thanks to innovative therapi...

03/02/2026

That wave in front of a bustling play city is more than just cute, it’s communication in action! Gestures like waving, pointing, and pretending are foundational building blocks for language and social connection. In speech therapy, we call these “pre-verbal skills,” and they are essential for developing joint attention, social reciprocity, and intentional communication. By narrating and expanding on these moments (e.g., “You’re waving hello! Hello to the fire station!”), we help bridge the gap between gesture and words, all within the rich, vocabulary-boosting context of imaginative play.

Gestures PretendPlay SLP PediatricTherapy Communication

02/26/2026

If your child consistently simplifies words in predictable ways, it might be a phonological disorder, not just a few mispronounced sounds. We help children learn the ‘rules’ of speech sounds to improve clarity. Questions about your child’s speech patterns? Send us a DM!

02/21/2026

Don’t let the cold stop the learning! Simple, playful interactions in the snow can build vocabulary, direction-following, and social communication. What’s your favorite winter activity with your kids?

02/19/2026

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) each bring unique skills to the table, and together, they do even more. 💙

From communication and cognition to daily living and sensory skills, our specialties overlap, complement each other, and work hand in hand to support the whole person. 🧩✨

Collaboration isn’t just helpful, it’s how we deliver the best care and improve quality of life for our patients. When we work together, everyone wins. 🤝

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day!💖

Emotional understanding is a cornerstone of communication, and it starts long before the words come. 💬❤️

Building emotional language isn’t just about teaching feelings; it’s about creating safety, modeling the words, and recognizing all the ways children express what’s inside, through words, faces, gestures, and behavior.

Swipe through to explore how you can nurture this essential skill every day. 👉

Which feeling word have you been practicing with your little one lately? Share below! 👇

02/04/2026

Not all screen time is created equal! Some older shows are slower-paced, predictable, and great for co-viewing. Swipe for our regulated-friendly picks!

02/03/2026

We love partnering with amazing Occupational Therapists (OTs)! 💙
While OTs focus on daily living skills like brushing teeth and getting dressed, Speech-Language Pathologists support communication, language, and cognitive skills.
Our roles are different—but they overlap in meaningful ways to support the whole child. When we collaborate, kids get more connected, well-rounded care. 🤝
At Monmouth Speech & Cognition, teamwork is part of how we help children thrive.