Homes are typically comfortable environments, filled with things that help us feel relaxed. However, for some, the home environment may not always provide this sense of calm. Many children and adults face challenges in processing the various sensations in the environment. Some individuals need more sensory input to feel relaxed, while others require less. Unlike…
DetailsTIME TO GET OUT DOORS!!! With summer right around the door it’s time to get outdoors and have some fun. As you have probably experienced, it can be pretty tricky to get a child to sit down and work at the table. So below are some fun and exciting activities you can do with your…
DetailsThe most resourceful handbag WHAT? A core board is a visual and tactile form of communication, allowing an individual to point to words to convey a message. It is a very successful tool to support an individual who is developing their language. *Use of a core board will not stop your child from talking, but…
DetailsSensory Regulation is the process individuals use to manage the sensory input they encounter daily, helping them to feel calm and in control. Young children often need support in reaching sensory regulation as they learn the process of sensory regulation. Helping a child meet their sensory needs will allow them to reach regulation more consistently,…
DetailsStories can be very fun to read, especially if they have great pictures. But it can be even more fun to read a sensory story! Sensory stories involve a written text/story with the use of physical objects and materials to create sensory experiences. Several parts of the story are accompanied by a sensory experience to…
DetailsEcholalia is when children copy or repeat words that someone else has said. These may be from people who talk directly to them, TV ads or movies they watch, or other utterances that they hear during the day. There is no main cause of echolalia other than it being an alternative way of developing language.…
DetailsHow do you remember something you have learned? Can you remember where the bread is in the supermarket? Can you create a map in your head of how to get there or were you told instructions on the first visit? Was it easier when you were given a map of the aisles with the bread…
DetailsThere is a lot involved in learning how to pick up a pencil and write. Handwriting is a complex skill with lots of components, and each component builds on and influences the next one. We need to have good core and upper body strength to sit well at the table. We need to have good…
DetailsWhat is Early Intervention? We know that children develop at their own rate. You might have some who walks early and talks a little bit late, or vice versa. The milestone guidelines are useful to help us notice when our child’s development might be delayed, and whether we should be concerned about it. Early Intervention…
DetailsWe all know that routine is important, and we all know that children thrive on routine. It provides structure and predictability to the day. It also provides meaning and purpose and is important for everyone’s physical and mental health. For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the world can feel unpredictable and overwhelming, and so…
DetailsOne of the questions speech therapists always ask during initial assessment is: Does your child have a history of ear infections? Why? Because ear infections, depending on how bad they are, how long they last and how often they occur, can impact speech and language development in children. What is glue ear? Glue ear (otitis…
DetailsNote – if you are choosing a sound to practise without input from a speech therapist, be careful that you are choosing a sound that is ‘developmental’, not one that is too hard for him to say for his age. For Toddlers – ages 2-3 years Sounds we might focus on: M B P N…
DetailsSpeech clarity is what we use to refer to a child’s pronunciation of words. Can you understand what he is telling you? What about if you don’t know what he’s talking about – can you understand him? Can you understand him, but less familiar people – aunty, teacher, shopkeeper – struggle? A child doesn’t…
DetailsWe all have sensory preferences and dislikes, some people love the feeling of walking barefoot on grass, for other people walking barefoot on grass is akin to walking on hot coals! Some people love snuggling up in a woolen jumper, while for others this feels like being wrapped in barbed wire. Sensory processing is the…
DetailsFor lots of kids, (and some adults too) eating is tricky business! And for lots of parents, mealtimes can be a struggle. This can cause parents no end of stress when you are facing 3 meals and 2-3 snack times every day… and your child only wants to eat chicken nuggets! Picky eating is when…
Details
