Pop! Pop! Pop! Bubbles! BUBBLES are a GREAT TOOL to encourage development!

by Michelle Yuen, PT Every kid loves to pop bubbles, go ahead have lots of bubble popping fun – here are some activities ideas to help improve your child’s development! Catch bubbles. You can catch big bubbles with wet hands! So immerse your hands in the bubble mixture and catch and play with bubbles in your hands. This […]
“Why are you just playing when I want my child to talk?”

By PLAY Project Consultant, Brenna …. But I want my child to talk!!! This is what I hear from families very very very often. As a parent, I understand how helpful this is! If our kiddos could just TELL us what they need, life would be SO MUCH easier, right!? While I completely understand the […]
Why Speech Therapists Don’t Say “Say…{word}” (and parents shouldn’t either!)

One of the most common pieces of advice we give is for families to reduce, or better yet stop, telling their toddler to “say [word].” We know this seems counterintuitive.
Making It Fit- Helping Your Child Figure Out a Shape Sorter. ~ by Shine SLPs Rachel and Sarah

A popular toy for toddlers is a shape sorter! It teaches cause and effect, problem solving, using fine motor skills and turn taking. As therapists, when we use a shape sorter with our kiddos we use it as an activity for social interaction and making connections. If the kiddo isn’t interested or is wanting the […]
Open Cup Drinking with Babies and Toddlers: Why and How ~ By Amy, Shine Feeding Therapist

I have been a speech therapist for almost 18 years and a feeding therapist for almost 5 years. The two do not go hand in hand. We all learn a little about feeding/swallowing while in college, but I certainly did not learn all I know now about feeding while still in school. It would have […]
4 Tips (with video examples!) for Reading to an Infant/Toddler/Preschooler

Wondering how to make the most of storytime for your toddler? Whether they are not yet talking, just starting to say words or talking in phrases, here are some ways to make storytime more INTERACTIVE and PRODUCTIVE for your child. As a pediatric speech-language pathologist, i recommend the following: Overexaggerate mouth movements & use gestures […]
Communication: It’s More Than Words. By: Allie Zuercher, M.S. CCC-SLP/L

Communication is a vital piece to the human experience. It is how we relate, understand one another, it’s how we can work with others, tell someone our feelings, cast our vote, instill boundaries, order our favorite coffee, and the list goes on. Therefore, there is no doubt how frustrating it is when your toddler is […]
10 Books for Children with Speech Delays With Pro Tips from a Pediatric SLP!

Books have been an essential part of our therapy sessions for years! Young children’s books often have a rhyme or rhythm like a song that catches their attention. It is only when we catch our little one’s attention that learning takes place! Some of these books are repetitious with predictable phrases, making it easier to […]