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Mighty Minds Speech Therapy, 1 Mount Quray Street, Midstream Estate, Midrand (2025)

20/11/2025

🧩 Let’s talk about phonological awareness, the foundation for learning to read and write!

Phonological awareness is a child’s ability to hear, play with, and recognise the sounds in words, like rhyming, blending sounds together, or breaking words into smaller parts.

These early sound skills are the building blocks for reading and spelling. When children can tune in to how words sound, it helps them understand how letters and sounds work together.

Here’s why it matters:
🤍Building blocks for reading: It helps children connect letters and sounds more easily.
🤍Growing vocabulary: It supports how children recognize and remember new words.
🤍Preventing literacy challenges: Strengthening sound awareness early can help prevent reading difficulties later on.

Helping kids “tune in” to sounds sets the stage for confident, joyful readers! 📚

19/11/2025

🗣️ 5 Tips for talking with a child who stutters.

Stuttering can make communication stressful, but small changes in how we interact can make a big difference for children. Here’s what research suggests:

1️⃣ Reduce the Pace – Speak slowly and calmly, pausing after your child finishes. Your relaxed speech models fluent communication better than reminders like “slow down.” For some children, easing the pace of daily life can also help.

2️⃣ Full Listening – Give your child your undivided attention when possible. Really listening shows them their words matter and reduces pressure to rush.

3️⃣ Mindful Questions – Instead of rapid-fire questions, comment on what your child says and pause. This allows them time to respond comfortably.

4️⃣ Turn-Taking – Encourage family members to take turns speaking and listening. Fewer interruptions create a safer space for your child to express themselves.

5️⃣ Building Confidence – Use descriptive praise to highlight strengths, not just speech: “I like how carefully you set the table!” Recognising talents unrelated to talking boosts overall self-esteem.

These strategies support communication, reduce stress, and help children feel confident using their words.

17/11/2025

💬 Calling all Speechies!

Over the past few months, I’ve poured my heart into creating something I wish I had when I first started my private practice: a practical, step-by-step course on how to set up, run, and manage a paediatric speech therapy practice with confidence.

It’s packed with real examples, templates, and systems I use every day in my own clinic, from admin and billing to assessments, reports, and therapy planning.

Before deciding whether to share it more widely, I’d love to know:
👉 Would you be interested in a course like this?
👉 What format would work best for you (online videos or live sessions)?

🧩 Modules include:
Starting & running a private practice
Assessments & reports
Early intervention, language, literacy & more
Stuttering assessment & therapy

Your feedback will help shape what comes next! 💡

11/11/2025

When speech sounds aren’t quite perfect (yet!)

It’s very common for young children to pronounce words differently from adults - speech development happens gradually as their mouth muscles strengthen and they learn to coordinate sounds.

For example, many children might say “tat” for “cat” or “poon” for “spoon”, these are called speech sound errors, and they’re a normal part of learning to talk.

You don’t need to correct every mistake. Instead, model the correct pronunciation naturally.
👉 If your child says, “I saw the tat,” you could respond, “Yes, you saw the cat! What was the cat doing?”

This gives them a clear, positive example to hear and repeat, without creating frustration or interrupting their confidence.

Every gentle model you give helps your child’s brain and speech muscles learn how to form sounds more accurately over time. 💛

10/11/2025

🎈 Play is your child’s most natural form of expression.

Through play, children explore, experiment, and communicate, often long before they have the words to do so. Every giggle, pretend scenario, or block tower is a chance to learn new skills: how to take turns, problem-solve, express emotions, and use language meaningfully.

In speech therapy, play isn’t “just for fun” - it’s how we connect, teach, and grow communication skills in a way that feels safe and enjoyable for your child. 💛

When children play, they’re not only learning what to say, but also how to share their ideas with the world.

31/10/2025

Your Child’s First Words: One of the Sweetest Milestones! 🥰

That magical moment when your little one says their first word is more than just adorable; it’s a huge step in communication and connection.

Here’s what to know:
- Most children say their first word around 12 months, but anywhere between 10–15 months is typical.
- First words are often simple and meaningful: mama, dada, ball, more, bye-bye.
- Before words come, you’ll see signs like babbling, pointing, and lots of imitation. These are all building blocks for talking!

Encourage first words by:
- Talking to your child throughout the day,
- Labelling what they see and do,
- Responding with excitement when they try to communicate.

Every little “ba!” and “uh-oh!” counts, it’s all part of their beautiful journey into language ❤️

27/10/2025

🎲 Fun Games to Boost Your Child’s Speech and Language Skills! 🎲

Speech therapy doesn’t have to feel like work; it can be playtime with purpose!

Here are some simple, fun games that help little ones find their voice:

1. I Spy
Great for: Vocabulary & sentence building
👉 “I spy something red!” helps kids describe, name, and think about what they see.

2. Sound Hunt
Great for: Speech sounds
👉 Pick a sound (like “s”) and find things around the house that start with that sound: “sock,” “spoon,” “sand.”

3. Animal Sounds Game
Great for: Early speech & imitation
👉 Take turns making animal noises: “moo,” “woof,” “meow!” Kids love it, and it builds early sound skills.

4. Story Time Switch-Up
Great for: Language & imagination
👉 Read a short story, then let your child “change” the ending or describe what might happen next.

5. Pretend Play
Great for: Conversation & social language
👉 Set up a shop, doctor’s office, or restaurant, and use role play to spark back-and-forth talking.

6. Sing-Along Songs
Great for: Rhythm, words, and memory
👉 Repetition in songs helps your child learn new words and phrases naturally.

Every giggle, sound, and word is progress. Keep it playful, that’s where learning truly happens!

22/10/2025

💭 How Do You Know if Your Child Is Really Stuttering? 💭

Not all bumps in speech are stuttering; many young children go through a normal phase of disfluency as they learn to talk!

✨ Normal disfluencies (common in 2–3 year olds):
• Speech sounds smooth and relaxed
• Feels like your child is thinking or processing their ideas

⚡️ Stuttering may sound more tense or “stuck”:
• Speech feels rushed or effortful
• Words may break apart
• Your child might change words or add extra sounds to avoid stuttering

If your child stutters on more than 10% of sentences or shows effort and tension, a speech therapist experienced in stuttering can help. 💬

20/10/2025

Learning Through Play = Speech Success 🎲

Speech therapy doesn’t have to rely solely on worksheets and drills. Incorporating games makes learning engaging and effective.

Here’s how games support children’s speech and language development:
- Encourage natural speech and practice of new words.
- Stimulate cognitive skills without feeling like traditional “work”.
- Promote social skills such as turn-taking, sharing, and eye contact.
- Combine movement, listening, and visual learning for multi-sensory development.
- Build confidence through small, achievable successes.

When therapy feels like play, children are more motivated to communicate, explore, and develop essential language skills. ✨

17/10/2025

Is your toddler between 18 and 30 months and not talking as much as you expected? 💬

Every child develops differently, but there are a few signs that can help you understand if your child might be at risk for a language delay:

- Understanding: Your child should understand simple directions and words before using them.
- Gestures: Pointing, waving, and other gestures show that your child is learning to communicate.
- New words: You should hear new words or simple word combinations each month.

If your child doesn’t seem to understand, gesture, or use new words often, it might be time to check in with a speech therapist for extra support 💛

14/10/2025

Worried that speaking two languages might make your child’s speech delay worse?

Good news, it won’t! ✨

Research indicates that children with speech or language delays encounter similar challenges in both languages; bilingualism does not cause or exacerbate these delays. ⏱

So go ahead and keep speaking both languages at home. It’s a beautiful gift for your child’s future! 🎓

25/09/2025

Stuttering vs Cluttering: know the difference!

Both stuttering and cluttering are fluency disorders, but they affect speech in very different ways. Understanding the difference is important for getting the right support.

✨ Cluttering:
- Speech may sound rapid, unclear, or disorganised.
- Breaks in flow often feel like spurts or unsure speech planning.
- Listeners might struggle to follow because words come too fast or feel jumbled.

✨ Stuttering:
- The speaker usually knows exactly what they want to say.
- Speech may be blocked, repeated, or prolonged.
- Listeners can often hear the struggle to get the words out.

Important Note: Cluttering is less well-known, so it’s sometimes mistaken for stuttering. Raising awareness helps individuals get the right support and improves communication confidence.

If you think your child might be struggling with a speech fluency disorder, it’s best to seek professional guidance from a speech therapist.

Mighty Minds Speech Therapy

20/11/2025

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31/10/2025

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25/09/2025

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