Blacksmith Pediatric Speech Therapy

03/14/2024

👍Teaching your child a “target” word every few weeks is a great way to build their comprehension and expressive vocabulary.

📂OPEN is a great word to start with! Every single day children need help with opening a variety of items. This freebie shows you 24 different snack ideas to model OPEN & four great strategies to try. Don’t forget to pair sign language with the spoken word!

Click this link for a downloadable version:
https://www.blacksmithsp*echtherapy.com/resources

03/23/2023

A toddler’s independence is both hilarious and confusing! 😂👶🏻

Are you a toddler parent who's constantly amazed by your little one's independence? 🤔 We totally get it! Toddlers are the masters of doing things their own way, and sometimes it leaves us scratching our heads in confusion. 🤯

But that's the beauty of it all, isn't it? Watching our little ones explore the world on their own terms, even if it means wearing mismatched shoes or insisting on wearing a superhero cape to the grocery store. 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️

As pediatric sp*ech therapists, we love working with toddlers because they are so full of surprises and laughter. We also know that their autonomy is a crucial part of their development and growth. So, embrace your little one's quirks and let them be their own unique selves. 😍

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03/17/2023

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! 🍀🌈💚

Our guess is you're already planning something silly for St. Patricks Day!

🍀Is a Leprechaun coming to your house?
🍀Are they leaving a mess?
🍀Green footprints on the wall?
🍀Green "p*e" in your toilet (or sprinkles)?
🍀Gold coins hiding in your child's room?

These are all "unexpected" or "silly" moments you've created to elicit language (and you didn't even know it!). This strategy encourages a big reaction from your little one! 😂 Big reactions=opportunities to use words, sign language, sounds, facial expressions, or gestures.

So, whether you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day with family or friends don't be afraid to do something unexpected and spark some language fun with your kiddo!

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03/15/2023

📢 Did you know that when children have around 40-50 words in their vocabulary, they start to combine them together to form short phrases and sentences? This is an exciting milestone in their language development!

❗️Children need more than nouns! Verbs, pronouns, adjectives, and prepositions allow your child to combine words together.

🧠 As they continue to learn new words, their sentences will become longer and more complex. They'll also start to use pronouns like "I," "you," and "me" and learn about the concept of "mine" and "yours."

👩‍👧‍👦 It's important to support your child's language development by talking with them during play/daily routines and modeling new words and phrases throughout the day. Consulting a sp*ech therapist can also be a helpful tool to ensure your child is meeting their language milestones.

👉 If you have concerns about your child's language development, don't hesitate to reach out to us for an evaluation. Early intervention can make a big difference in your child's communication skills and overall development!

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03/14/2023

🔊 CORE WORD OF THE WEEK: MOVE 🔊

Movement is an essential part of our daily lives, and it's a word that can open up a world of possibilities for communication! Whether you're going for a walk, playing a game, cleaning, or doing a dance, "move" is a powerful word that can help your child express themselves.

For our core word of the week, we're focusing on "move" and all the ways it can be used. Here are a few examples:

👉 "Ready, set, MOVE my body!" - Use this phrase to encourage movement during songs or to comment when your child is dancing.

👉 "MOVE my chair mama!" - Model this phrase when your child needs help during eating routines.

👉 "MOVE the blocks over here!" - Use this phrase to practice giving directions and spatial concepts.

So let's get moving and use "move" to help us communicate more effectively! What are some other ways you can use this word in your daily life?

Swipe for more ideas you can use at home !

*echtherapy *echtherapyideas *echtherapy *echslc *echtherapytips *echlanguagepathology

03/07/2023

📢 Exciting news for our SLC community! 🎉 We now accept Select Health Insurance plans! We're thrilled to be able to offer our services to more families and children in our community.

If you or a loved one is in need of sp*ech therapy, please don't hesitate to contact us or fill out this form to help us learn more about your child and the services we provide: https://forms.gle/myjdDx7atjMymb558
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03/06/2023

Did you know that certain types of books can be more beneficial for supporting your child's sp*ech and language development? Here are some types of books that can be especially helpful:

📘Lift-the-flap books: These books encourage your child to be actively engaged in the story and to anticipate what's coming next.

📗Simple words books: Books with simple, clear language are great for helping your child learn new words and understand concepts.

📙Rhyme and repetitive books: Rhyming and repetitive books can be especially helpful for young children, as they help them develop their phonological awareness and understand the patterns and rhythms of language. Plus, the repetition can help reinforce new vocabulary and concepts.

📕Touch and feel books: These books are great for engaging your child's senses and helping them learn new words and concepts through tactile experiences. They can also be helpful for children who are more kinesthetic learners.

By choosing books that incorporate these features, you can help support your child's sp*ech and language development while also having fun together. So the next time you're looking for a new book to read with your child, keep these factors in mind! Check out our "top tips" on the last slide.
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04/27/2021

Wind-up toys are one of the BEST toys for communication! They provide natural opportunities to communicate. If the toy stops...wait ✋...encourage your child to sign "more" "help" or use words by modeling what you want them to do: "Oh you want HELP. Okay I can HELP you!"

Our favorite thing about wind up toys is how fun and engaging they are!

Follow https://www.instagram.com/cariebertseminars/ for more awesome tips on play-based activities to promote communication.

04/26/2021

These are our guiding principals at Blacksmith Pediatric Sp*ech Therapy. Families need to feel heard, supported, and comfortable before starting with therapy 🤜🤛. Please add what is important to you in the comments!

Helping young children become better communicators, empowering families to do the same. Schedule a no-pressure, free-consult today. We combine virtual & in-home services to maximize positive change for your child and family. Have you been wondering about your child’s sp*ech & language development?...

04/13/2021

Joint attention is sooo important for our little ones! Did you know it's the foundation for most sp*ech and language skills and social communication? This skill is POWERFUL.

So Megan, how can I help my child improve these skills? Here you go!

👀Instead of asking lots of questions focus on connecting with your child & staying in an interaction with you. If they want to look at the same page in a book for 5 min let them!

👀Get eye to eye with your child. Play with your child on the floor and stay in front of them. Hold their favorite toy up to your face!

👀Imitate what your child does, use lots of gestures, and reduce pressure to use words!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNnUpT9M9Nz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

04/07/2021

Did your little one find eggs last weekend?! Use those eggs to support their communication skills. Here’s some ideas:

👍Questions! Take turns hiding the eggs in the house..where did you hide the egg? What did you find inside?
👍Back & Forth communication-build anticipation by opening an egg sooo slow, p*eking inside and saying “wow! Look what’s inside! It’s so amazing” Take turns with your child, they will likely start to copy what you do
👍Choices! Should I open it or close it? Should we hide the blue egg or pink egg? Should we hide it or eat it?!

Most importantly, have fun! The more your child is engaged in this activity the more sp*ech and language skills they are learning😃
https://www.instagram.com/p/CNWAZVdsQBS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link