Small Talk Therapy Clinic

11/16/2025

Meet another one of the many voices of Small Talk! 🦒

Hello! My name is Melodie.
I am an Occupational Therapist with Small Talk Pediatric clinic in Corydon, IN.
I have a grown son, 4 cats and a dog. I take care of my mother who also lives with me. I enjoy reading (many genres, though mainly sci-fi/fantasy and fiction), music, drawing, knitting, crocheting, spinning, generally all things artsy and craftsy, gardening/plants and am an avid recycler/re-user/re-purposer. I grew up on the West Coast, lived on the East Coast and now I live in the middle-ish.
My journey to OT in an interesting one as this is my 2nd career.
I was initially a soldier in the U.S. Army for 13+ years, largely at Ft Bragg with time spent in South Korea as well as a few visits to other States, working as a Parachute Rigger. I'd been honorably discharged from the Army, became a mom and then a single mom. For 6 years I worked as a CNA in long-term nursing facilities then the letter came. Use your G.I. Bill or it will expire. OK. Got it. What to do now? Hmmm... Nursing? PT? No, thank you. They're great, but not for me. What does OT do? I asked those that worked at the nursing home and discovered that...
The only thing that limits OT is one's imagination. WOW!
I,(being the artsy and craftsy type), thought "that's amazing and I could potentially teach someone else things that I too love to do!" It is so much fun to share one's interests with others.
I graduated from Spalding University August 2017 with magna cm laude (that felt nice) and began my OT journey.
I've worked as an OT in geriatrics (long-term care, assisted living), rehab (all adult ages), school system (in Florida Panhandle), and now outpatient pediatrics.
Within the last 8 years, I have found that my number one favorite thing is watching people (of any age, but especially kids) experience an "AHA!" moment. There's just something so magical about witnessing it. Plus socks. A great place to work in your socks. Toe socks.

11/14/2025

Oh, what a night!🩵🦒🩷 A special thank you to One Southern Indiana Chamber & Economic Development for hosting the ONCE Awards annual gala! Small Talk was selected as the recipient of the Rising Star Award!🎉

It reminds us that when we see the impact that our company and leaders make, we can't help but feel proud of the contributions and all the good deeds we can spread into our community! ❤️

Small Talk Pediatric Therapy is our First Harrison Bank Rising Star Award honoree for 2025!

Small Talk Pediatric Therapy Clinic is a multidisciplinary outpatient center serving Southern Indiana, offering Speech, Occupational, Physical, and Mental Health Therapy for children from birth through adolescence. With three locations, Small Talk provides compassionate, high-quality, patient-centered care in a welcoming environment. Their dedicated team helps children build lifelong skills, improve daily function, and enhance quality of life for patients and their families through expert, personalized therapy services.

Show Small Talk Pediatric Therapy some love for what they do for our local communities!

11/12/2025

🇺🇸 Honoring Our Veterans 🇺🇸

Today we pause to honor the brave men and women who have served our country with courage, dedication, and sacrifice.

Your commitment protects the freedoms that allow children and families to grow, learn, and thrive — and for that, we are deeply grateful.

From all of us at Small Talk Pediatric Therapy, thank you for your service and for inspiring the next generation through your strength and resilience. ❤️💙

11/11/2025

Welcome our newest additions to the Small Talk team! 🦒
Two absolutely precious baby boys!
Congratulations Darryl Copeland and MegMegan Redden

11/08/2025

🍁 Fall Fun with Movement! 🍂

Looking for playful ways to keep your kids active this season? Here are some fun fall-themed activities that build important motor skills while keeping everyone smiling! 😄

🍃 Leaf Pile Jumping
Rake up a big pile and let kids run, jump, and crawl through the leaves!
✨ Builds gross motor skills, coordination, and balance.

🎃 Pumpkin Bowling
Set up empty plastic bottles as pins and use small pumpkins as the bowling balls!
✨ Encourages hand-eye coordination and aiming skills.

🦉 Autumn Animal Movements
Get creative and move like fall animals!
🐿 Squirrel – scurry and hop
🦉 Owl – flap your wings
🐻 Bear – crawl like you’re hibernating
🦌 Deer – leap gracefully

🍂 These simple, seasonal games make movement fun while supporting your child’s growth and development!

11/06/2025

🌮 Happy National Nacho Day! 🧀

Nachos aren’t just a tasty snack, they’re also a fun way to support feeding therapy! Here are a few playful tips to make nacho night both delicious and developmental:

1️⃣ Explore textures
Crunchy chips, smooth cheese, and soft beans make the perfect mix for sensory play and desensitization.

2️⃣ Build together
Let your child help assemble the nachos. Scooping, sprinkling, and layering encourage motor planning and independence.

3️⃣ Try new flavors
Offer one “safe” food like plain chips alongside one “learning” food such as guacamole or melted cheese.

4️⃣ Keep it low pressure
Encourage interaction by asking questions like “Can you touch or smell it?” instead of focusing only on eating.

5️⃣ Celebrate every step
Even small progress, like touching or licking a new food, counts as success.

Feeding therapy helps kids build comfort, confidence, and curiosity with food—one chip at a time. ❤️

11/05/2025

🌟 It’s always fun to challenge your balance! 🌟

In physical therapy, we love turning balance work into a game—whether it’s through obstacle courses, stepping stones, or balance paths! 🪵💪

You can try this at home too:
✨ Walk along curbs, rocks, or uneven ground
✨ Step over cushions or lines on the floor
✨ Create your own mini obstacle course

Balancing builds strength, coordination, and confidence—plus it’s a great way to get moving and have fun together! 🎯

11/04/2025

📱 Social Media and Mental Health 💭

Did you know?
Adolescents who spend 3–4 hours or more on screens each day have a higher risk of developing a mental health disorder.
(Source: Screen Time and Teen Mental Health: Is More Always Worse?, Psychology Today)

But here’s the good news — small changes can make a big difference! 🌟

Try these 5 simple ways to protect your mental health from too much screen time:
1️⃣ Limit screen time before bed
2️⃣ Unfollow negative or stressful accounts
3️⃣ Take short breaks every hour
4️⃣ Replace scrolling with a quick walk or stretch
5️⃣ Spend more time face-to-face with friends and family

Healthy habits with technology can help your mind stay strong, calm, and connected. 💪💬

11/04/2025

🌟 Encouraging Daily Routines 🌟

Did you know everyday moments are some of the best opportunities to build your child’s communication skills? 💬

Here are a few ways to turn your routines into learning time 👇

🗣 Self-Talk
Describe what you’re doing as you go about your day.

“I’m pouring milk into your cup.”

“I’m washing the dishes.”
✅ Helps your child connect words with actions and builds understanding.

🏷 Labeling
Name the objects, people, and feelings your child sees.

“That’s your blue cup.”

“Daddy’s shoes!”
✅ Adds vocabulary and helps children make sense of their world.

🎶 Singing
Songs make language fun and predictable!

Try nursery rhymes or songs with motions like “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
✅ Builds rhythm, memory, and early sentence patterns.

📖 Reading
Even short story times matter.

Point to pictures, pause, and let your child help turn pages.
✅ Strengthens attention, listening, and early literacy skills.

✨ Remember—every moment you talk, label, sing, or read together is a moment your child’s language is growing!

11/03/2025

🎯 Small Talk Attendance Challenge is Here! 🎯

The holiday season is full of joy—but it’s also easy for routines to get off track. Staying consistent with therapy during November and December helps your child keep building skills, confidence, and progress all the way into the new year! 🌟

Here’s how to keep your child’s growth going strong 👇

💬 Why Attendance Matters
Each session builds on the last—missing appointments can slow progress and make it harder for your child to reach their goals.

🎁 How to Participate
Attend all your scheduled sessions from November 3–December 26 (in person or telehealth).
Every child with perfect attendance wins a prize—and gets entered into a Grand Prize Drawing for:
🏆 A Sensory Basket
🏆 A Spinning Chair
🏆 A Scooter

✨ Let’s finish the year strong, keep routines steady, and make therapy fun through the holidays!

11/03/2025

👻 Our ghosts have packed up their clipboards and floated off to their next adventure! Word around the clinic is they’re on their way to help more kids find their voice, their balance, and their confidence — just like we do every day at Small Talk.

While we’ll miss seeing them in the motor gym and sneaking snacks from the break room, we love knowing they’ve learned from the best. 💚

At Small Talk, our mission is simple — helping every child reach their full potential through speech, occupational, physical, and mental health therapy. Whether ghost or kid, everyone deserves a little support to grow stronger and shine brighter. ✨

11/02/2025

👻 Our ghosts have been spotted using the motor gym after hours this weekend — multiple sightings! 👀

During the day, our motor gym helps kids build strength, coordination, balance, and confidence through play-based activities designed by our amazing therapy team. 💪✨

At night, though… it looks like our spooky visitors have been working on their gross motor skills too! 🏃‍♂️🎃

Our friendly ghosts have had a blast with us this Halloween season, but their stay is almost over — be sure to catch their final appearances before they float away! 👻💨