Blue Sage Pediatric Speech & Language Therapy

12/07/2025

Trying to find holiday gifts that are fun and support your child’s development? I put together a short SLP-approved list of low-tech toys sorted by age. These are classic toys that can help support and develop play skills, attention, vocabulary growth, and social interaction at home, among tons of other important skills (ESPECIALLY when you play together!) 💙

I've included ideas for toddlers all the way through elementary ages, so you can find ideas for exactly where your child is at right now.

If you’re shopping this week and want something that encourages real interaction instead of more batteries and screens, I hope this gives you a starting point!

I pulled some ideas from this article from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association ("Non-Tech Gift Ideas to Boost Kids’ Language and Learning" https://www.asha.org/about/press-room/non-tech-gift-ideas-to-boost-kids-language-and-learning/?srsltid=AfmBOorYhQQF-qI3viSQZZdDITAt0l8htrxL6uHsJoE_BofB-ygwpjQN) I would definitely recommend checking it out for even more suggestions!

And if your child isn't communicating the way you’d expect for their age, you’re welcome to reach out anytime. I’m always happy to guide parents toward next steps or home strategies. 💙

Feel free to email me at DeAnna@BlueSageSpeech.com or visit me online at www.BlueSageSpeech.com

12/06/2025

Fun, friends, and connection—your child deserves it all (and more)! Our Kids Club is a virtual space for kids ages 6-12 who stutter. Games, fun, and a lot of laughter await every other month and all kids are welcome to just be themselves.

Join us for our last Kids Club meet-up of 2025 on Sunday, December 21, at 6:30 PM ET!

Register here: westutter.org/event-details/nsa-kids-club-2025-12-21-18-30

12/02/2025

Here’s a quick look at the services we offer for families in North San Antonio (Stone Oak, Timberwood Park, Shavano Park, Bulverde, surrounding areas) and across Texas (virtually.)

At Blue Sage Pediatric Speech & Language Therapy LLC, we help children who are struggling to communicate so they can lead fulfilling and successful lives, enjoy strong relationships with friends and family, and advocate for their own needs, wants, and ideas.

Every child’s plan is fully personalized to their unique needs and family goals. 💙

We can help your child with speech sound difficulties, language delay (comprehension and expression,) stuttering, social skills, neuro-diversity affirming communication, and other complex communication needs.

Initial consults are always free. If you have questions, please give us a call/text at 726-233-5620 or email at DeAnna@bluesagespeech.com to schedule a chat. I'd love to point you in the right direction to get started with your child's communication journey.

11/27/2025

This time last year, Blue Sage was still just an idea and a hope.

Now it's real, and that's because of the families who welcomed me into the heart of their homes and trusted me to support them in their child's communication journey.

I’m grateful for every child who let me step into their world, every parent who showed up with motivation and curiosity, and every moment of connection and joy.

Thank you for being on this journey with me, and I can't wait to keep growing together.

Wishing your family a peaceful, cozy Thanksgiving weekend. 🧡🍂

11/22/2025

Communication Green Flags You May Be Missing!

Many parents who are concerned about a language delay spend a LOT of time looking at and worrying about "red flags." But every child I have EVER met has also had strengths. 💙

Here are a few "green flags" worth celebrating! 🙌🥳

1. Your child looks to you when something happens!
That quick glance is connection, shared attention, and the start of back and forth communication. It signals SHARED JOY! It's the equivalent of saying "Mom! Did you see that?!"

2. They use their body or gestures to get your attention!
Grabbing on to you or your clothes, bringing you an object, guiding your hand to show you something they need, these are purposeful ways of sharing wants or ideas. They also show us that your child is able to INITIATE communication, which is a huge win!

3. They respond to routines or familiar phrases!
Thinga like anticipating the good part of a game or video, running to (or away from 😂) the bathroom when you say "bathtime!" Or running to get their shoes when they see you grab your purse are all wonderful indicators that your child is seeing the patterns in daily life! We can build upon these familiar routines to teach new skills.

4. They try to include you in play!
Handing you a block or pulling you toward a toy shows trust, connection, and social engagement. Your child WANTS to communicate with you, and we can help teach them how!

If your child is showing these skills, that's amazing and absolutely worth celebrating! Please let yourself enjoy these moments of childhood. 🧸

If your child is not showing these green flags yet, it doesn’t mean something is "wrong." It may just mean they may need a little extra support.

At Blue Sage Pediatric Speech & Language Therapy, we specialize in childhood language development and have extra training in supporting Autistic communicators and their families. If you ever have any questions at all, please reach out! Consult calls are always no-cost.

Reach us at:
www.bluesagespeech.com
726-233-5620
DeAnna@BlueSageSpeech.com

💙

11/17/2025

Holiday Communication Check-In for Parents

The holiday season can be such a busy time for families! Here is a QUICK guide for parents noticing new speech or language concerns this season.

Developmental Milestones

Is your child meeting communication milestones?
Kids grow SO FAST during the toddler and preschool years. If you're unsure whether your child is meeting these milestones or not, we can help!

Being Understood

Are relatives or friends having trouble understanding your child? This is one of the biggest signs parents notice around the holidays because there are so many gatherings!

Group Play

Is your child able to participate full in group play or other holiday activities?
Struggles with following directions, transitions, or keeping up with peers can signal a communication delay.

Frustration

Does your child get frustrated when trying to communicate? Big feelings, meltdowns, or avoiding talking can be signs they need support.

Reassurance

At Blue Sage Pediatric Speech & Language Therapy, we offer free 15-minute phone consultations to help you understand what you’re seeing, determine if more support might be needed, and help you take the next steps in getting that support.

Visit us at www.bluesagespeech.com or call at 726-233-5620 to schedule your free check-in. 💙

11/11/2025

🌿 Coffee & Connections is back this Friday! ☕️
Join us for a thoughtful conversation on Marianismo, Autistic Identity, and Self-Care with therapist Cecilia Hernandez, LMFT-A.

Many of us carry cultural expectations about what it means to be “good,” selfless, or strong — and those expectations can feel especially heavy for autistic women and femmes. Cecilia will guide us through exploring these layers with compassion and care. 💛

✨ Friday, November 14 at 9am on Zoom
Free and open to the community.
CECs available for $10 per certificate.

➡️ Register here: bit.ly/ACNRegister
Questions? coffee@acn-sa.org

Let’s learn together, connect with one another, and make space for gentleness. 🌼

11/07/2025

Being a mom isn’t easy—and being a mom who stutters, or raising a child who does, can add a whole other layer to the mix.

From modeling communication to advocating for their child at school or with doctors, NSA moms open up about what it’s really like to navigate parenting while stuttering. They talk about the insecurities, small victories, and how they found courage in places they never expected.

Through community, these moms show that no parent has to walk this path alone. If you stutter, your child stutters, or both, there’s understanding and guidance waiting for you.

See how belonging to a supportive community can make all the difference. Link in comments. 👇

10/31/2025

Wishing everyone a safe and fun Halloween! 🎃

10/28/2025

10/19/2025

I know how anxious we can get about our kiddos, especially if you feel like they might be falling behind for their age. I'm here to reassure you that getting help does NOT have to be scary! At Blue Sage, I make it a priority to work WITH parents as a team so we can best support their child. There's no fear mongering when you work with me, I promise.

At our initial assessment, we will complete a comprehensive assessment to determine your child's current strengths and weaknesses. Everything is individualized right from the start, including how we assess for those skills. If a standardized test isn't right for your child, I'll pull from my 10 years of experience in pediatric home health speech therapy so we can evaluate in a way that works for them.

After the eval, we will work together to create a sustainable therapy plan that works for your family. I can come to your home, grandma’s home, your child’s daycare, preK, or private school, or we can do virtual sessions (or a hybrid mix of any of these options.) We can do more or less frequent sessions depending on your needs. Because Blue Sage is fully private, there are no insurance restrictions keeping us from doing what makes the most sense for your child and your family.

I know seeking help can feel scary, but I want to do everything I can to make the therapy process comfortable and supportive. Families can tell the difference! I've been blessed to receive some beautiful testimonials, I'll share excerpts from a couple of them here. (All testimonials shared with permission!)

"...immense empathy, care, and kindness at each and every visit."

"DeAnna never ceased to amaze me at her persistence and positivity."

"...her patience knowledge and caring manner helped the whole family feel comfortable and at ease with the process."

"I would recommend to any and everyone."

🥺💙

10/17/2025

Let’s Talk About Virtual Speech Therapy!

When I work with families virtually, I get to see kids in their real environment, surrounded by their favorite toys, pets, and people. In that way, it's actually a LOT like in-person home based therapy! Like home therapy, virtual sessions help me teach parents how to build language during the moments that already happen every day: snack time, playtime, even a few car rides (because sometimes you're on a road trip but don't want to miss out on speech!)

We might play a game on-screen, use things you already have around the house, or work together to problem-solve something that came up that week. We have done scavenger hunts, show and tell, introduced all of the pets 🐱🐶, the options are endless. Parents get to see exactly what I’m doing and learn how to keep things going between sessions, which is where the most growth usually happens!

Virtual therapy can be a great fit for families who want consistency, flexibility, and to be super hands-on in the process. Virtual sessions can also be great for older kids who want a little more independence, as long as they can click the link to log in, they are good to go! These sessions can be fantastic for families who live in rural areas as well as families who live here in San Antonio but outside of my travel zone. I've worked with children of all ages and abilities through virtual therapy, and it can be just as effective as in person treatment.

If you’ve ever wondered how virtual speech might look for your family, or if your child's needs can be met with virtual services, you can book a free consultation right from my website. I’m happy to walk you through it, answer your questions, and help you figure out what makes the most sense for your child. 💙 (P.S., if virtual doesn't sound like a good fit for whatever reason, I promise I will tell you my honest, professional opinion and do the best I can to point you in the direction of another provider who can help you!)

https://bluesagespeech.clientsecure.me/
(Click "Request Appointment")