Valued Voices

I have so many strategies and activities that can help your little one learn to communicate and regulate, I wish I could fit them all in one video, but, unfortunately, I can’t! Send me a DM or click LINK IN BIO to schedue a complimentary consultation with me today! Let’s dive deep into how we can work together to support your kiddo!

St Patrick’s Day is such a fun holiday to get creative with your little ones! Try making this simple leprechaun trap and see if you can find a pot of gold this season! Materials: ??Tissue Box (empty) ??Rainbow Colored Construction Paper or Cardstock. ??Glue or tape ??Scissors ??Coloring Tools ??Gather all materials needed. ??Start by cutting out your “road”. This should be about 6” wide and can be as long as needed (but at least 10” or so) ??Move on to cutting strips of the rainbow colored paper about 1” wide. Depending on the length of your “road” you may need more/less strips to make the rainbow. ??Fold the ends of your rainbow strips so that they bend over the road, but can be glued down easily. ??Adhere all of the rainbow strips along the road leaving space for your tissue box trap ??Cover the tissue box in construction paper, wrapping paper, or other decorations. ??Glue the tissue box to the road with the opening facing the rainbow (so the leprechaun can walk inside). ??Make a sign to attract your leprechaun. . Optional: Decorate your road and trap with gold coins, glitter, four leaf clovers, etc. Put the trap somewhere easily accessible by your neighborhood leprechauns!

Vroom, vroom! ?? Playing with cars is more than just fun—it’s the perfect time to model language and affirm your child’s efforts! Try narrating their play (‘The red car is zooming so fast!’) or expanding their words (‘Car go! Yes, the car is going up the ramp!’). This not only builds their vocabulary but also boosts confidence as they feel heard and understood. ?? Keep it playful and engaging—those little words make a big difference! ??? #SLPTips #LanguageThroughPlay #ChildDevelopment

?? Did you know gestures are a way of communicating and such a powerful tool to boost your child’s communication skills? Here’s how to make the magic happen: ?? Pair a gesture with a word to connect meaning. ?? Add gestures to new words to help your child learn new vocabulary and language. ?? Keep it simple—easy gestures + clear words go a long way. ?? Repeat gestures throughout the day during different moments. ????????? Consistency is key, and every small gesture counts! ? Start today and watch your child’s confidence and understanding grow. ?? #ParentTips #CommunicationSkills #GesturesForLearning

?? Bubble play just got a language boost! ?? Learn how to use a gestalt language processing approach to model phrases like ‘pop it!’ or ‘let’s do it again”—and watch your child’s language skills bloom ??? Examples are waiting for you in the post—time to make playtime both fun AND meaningful! ???? #GestaltLanguageProcessing #BubblesAndLearning #PlayWithPurpose

Teaching little ones the concept of ‘more’ can do so much MORE for their language development! ?? By modeling this simple yet powerful word during everyday moments—snack time, playtime, or storytime—you’re helping them build vocabulary, express needs, and connect with the world around them. ?? Keep it fun, interactive, and consistent—because every word counts! ??? #LanguageDevelopment #ParentTips #MorePlease

Are you looking for a fun afternoon activity in the spirit of groundhog day? Try shadow tracing! This is a super wonderful way to practice visual motor skills, pencil grasp, and coloring skills. Start by picking a sunny spot, and setting up a table or a spot on the floor. Grab a toy, paper, and coloring tools, and set the toy up so that the shadow casts onto the paper. Then trace the outline of the shadow to recreate the image on the page. Let us know below if you tried this holiday activity!

Looking for books to support your kiddo’s development? We’ve got you covered! In our last book post, we dedicated it to toddlers, and so this post is for kiddo’s age 5 and up-although they are great for any age! Check out these 5 incredible picks that engage young minds and honor their unique ways of learning. ??? 1. “Can I Play Too?” by Mo Willems: Part of the beloved Elephant & Piggie series, this story teaches social-emotional skills alongside language as the characters find inclusive solutions to playful challenges. The repetitive dialogue and humor are ideal for neurodivergent kids, offering structure and predictability while enhancing communication skills. 2. “Aaron Slater, Illustrator” by Andrea Beaty: This book tells the story of Aaron, a young boy who loves to draw but struggles with reading. It’s a beautiful tale about finding one’s voice through art. 3. “The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle” by Leslie Connor Mason: a bright fifth grader with learning differences, navigates friendship and mystery in this heartwarming story. Each of these books supports your kiddo’s development in encouraging, neuroaffirming ways. 4. “Mother Bruce” by Ryan T Higgins This story is about finding your friends despite differences, and how our loved one’s love us no matter what. Bruce is a very grumpy bear who stumbles across eggs, which hatch into goslings who think Bruce is their mother. Bruce learns a lot along the way about found families and being loved no matter what. 5. “Train Your Angry Dragon” by Steve Herman This story centers around a boy and a very angry dragon. It can be hard to accept when things don’t go your way, and this book helps kids learn how to keep their cool. Comment BOOKS or follow LINK IN BIO for quick links to each book. Which one will you try first? Share your thoughts below! ????

??Did you know balloons could boost language skills? ?? Playing with balloons isn’t just fun, it’s an awesome way to expand your child’s language and spark communication! Think words like ‘up,’ ‘pop,’ ‘catch,’ and phrases like “let’s get more”, “that’s so much fun”, “it’s so big,” and so much more! Plus, it’s a great opportunity to connect through play! ?? Give it a try with your little one and discover the magic of learning through laughter! Share your favorite balloon play moment in the comments, we’d love to hear! ? #LanguageThroughPlay #BalloonsAndBeyond #GrowingWithWords”

Movement activities are so important for boosting your little one’s vestibular system! Swinging is such a wonderful way to work on: ??Bilateral Coordination ??Balance ??Motor Planning ??Visual tracking ??Emotional regulation And More!