Karen to Communicate

06/13/2022

We may associate ADHD with kids being “hyper” or going from task to task quickly, when another predictor is not being able to regulate emotions. Every toddler tantruns. A child that may present with ADHD may be the kids that may have a tantrum or outburst for “little problems”. It is good to handle and help regulate their emotions from early on.

All toddlers throw tantrums. But if your child’s extreme meltdowns come out of nowhere, that could be a sign of ADD. Here, an ADHD expert explains early warning signs of emotional dysregulation and how to teach self-control to a young child who feels things intensely.

05/13/2022

Source: The Therapist Parent

05/04/2022

05/03/2022

This is great *updated* info about typical age of acquisition, but it’s just ☝️ thing to consider when determining if a child needs speech therapy. Here are some other things to think about, as well…

1️⃣ How much those errors are impacting overall intelligibility.

2️⃣ How frequently those errors occur in the language they speak.

3️⃣ How relevant the errors are to the child… does their name have that sound?

4️⃣ What type of error they exhibit, if it’s atypical (like backing or a lateral lisp), then we should prioritize intervention.

5️⃣ Are they stimulable for the sound in error? If they are, then that sound is more likely to emerge without intervention (Miccio, Elbert & Forrest, 1999).

What would YOU add to this list?

05/02/2022

It’s Better Speech and Hearing Month as well as Apraxia Awareness.

Day 2 of Apraxia Awareness Month! Since childhood apraxia of speech is a problem planning and programming the *movements* a motor based approach using the principles of motor learning is essential.

05/01/2022

04/02/2022

Today is Autism Awareness Day…we not only have to be aware but Understand, Accept, Love and Support those who have it. It is a difference not a disability. We should see the world through their eyes more than they should experience ours. I have worked with many over the years as they are toddlers and preschoolers. Some with a diagnosis and some with a suspected diagnosis. No one is the same, as they have their own strengths. It can be the most challenging and rewarding to work with families as educating parents and family about the diagnosis takes steps. There may be a period of denial before acceptance. When the acceptance is there…it is learning through that child’s eyes that is the most wonderful gift in the world. 💙

03/08/2022

What skills are needed before baby/toddler starts saying words?

02/15/2022

Never “wait and see”…the new CDC developmental norms are not going to help one’s academic success. I am always an advocate of, if there is concern early on, get help. Helping your child succeed is better than waiting and possibly having more deficits as they grow. You are your child’s advocate, not the doctor. If there is a concern regarding your child’s speech and language, reach out to a local speech language pathologist, and have a screening or assessment. They look at the whole speech and language communication model. As an Early Interventionist, this is a little unsettling. The way our kids are being taught to learn is very disheartening.

12/24/2021

Christmas, Birthdays, Halloween, Disney on ice. All of these things are FUN, yet do you ever find your toddler melting down way MORE than usual??And you're just looking at them like, this is FUN!? What is HAPPENING?! 😩

I get it, "What part of endless presents/treats/joy is hard?!" BUT. Hear us out.

Toddlers have a REALLY hard time with:
➕ Holidays
➕ Family Gatherings
➕ Loud Noises
➕ New Places
➕ Being out of Routine

Why? Toddler brains LOVE stability, routine + knowing what's coming next🧠. Holidays, while fun, can also be overwhelming for a toddler brain, being thrown into a day full of the unknown + no idea what's coming next.

For them, it's like: "Normally when I wake up, I potty, eat breakfast+get dressed. But today, we woke up, headed right to the car to grandma's house, there were lots of people and we did 'presents'? That feels REAL DIFFERENT. What's next?!"

Enter panic🚨

The key to avoiding/minimizing the meltdowns is✨PREP✨

This year, you might be celebrating with friends/family for the first time in a loooooong time. Or, maybe you're staying home + celebrating. Either way, it's still something out of their normal routine. PREP them on all the details of what your family is doing. More details are better!

DAY BEFORE
✨"Tomorrow, we will wake up, drive right to grandma’s house and have breakfast there. Your cousins will be there, we will open presents together. We will stay all day, have dinner there, the go home.”✨

DAY OF:
PREP+narrate throughout the day. "Now we're opening presents, then we'll eat lunch."

PRO TIP: Timers are a GREAT tool to ease those transitions:

✨"In 2 minutes, we're saying bye bye & going home. Do YOU want to push the button on the timer?"✨

PREPing can SERIOUSLY help with lowering the meltdowns! BUT the truth is, they just have a hard time with new/different things. Key: Lower YOUR expectations. Expect meltdowns, so that YOU are prepped + ready to handle them with grace like the warrior parent you are🌈

✨Want to learn how to discipline in a way that both WORKS and protects your child’s self esteem? Struggling with tantrums + all things toddler? Our course is here to help! For caregivers of kids ages 1-6, link in bio!✨

12/17/2021

Can you name them?

11/08/2021

100+ open-ended toys to grow with our kids. Let's give them the best tools for play.

10/23/2021

Some simple sign language can facilitate toddler’s frustration as they are learning to communicate. It’s easy to incorporate sign language into a daily routine. It may start with modeling and pairing with word and using hand over hand assistance to help learn a sign. Sign Language does not inhibit a baby/toddler from learning to speak verbally, but it is used as a bridge to get to that point.

09/05/2021

Music and the Brain

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Anita Collins shares how learning music influences our brain develo...