Rainy Day Fun
Rainy days with a toddler can sometimes be challenging. You might find yourself not being as active as you are during sunnier months because the go-to favorite of the park is not possible in the rain. Here are a few ideas of developmentally appropriate activities for toddlers in the community and at home to help… Read more »
Using LEGOs to Build Social Skills and Language
Social skills play a role in all stages of life from family relationships and friendships to romantic relationships and career success. Social skills are a challenge for many children with autism. Social skills that pose a challenge for some children with autism include turn-taking, social flexibility, and problem-solving. In recent research studies, researchers have shown… Read more »
Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder
It is our sense of vision that allows us to see and make sense of the words on this page. However, our sense of vision may not always process information correctly, leaving us to feel disorganized, confused, and unsure of what we see. What if the way you processed the title of this article made… Read more »
Ruling Out Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can affect a child’s learning, communication skills, language, and speech. The earlier a child is identified with a hearing loss and introduced to intervention, the better their chances of lessening their delays in speech and language. Newborn hearing screening The California Department of Health Care Services put in action a statewide Newborn… Read more »
The Development of Print Knowledge
Children start to learn language from the day they are born. As they grow and develop, so do their speech and language skills. They learn to understand and use language to express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings to communicate with others. During this stage of early speech and language development, children also learn skills that… Read more »
How Do I Make My Child Talk?
Parents of young children frequently ask, “How do I make my child talk?” There is no way to “make” a child speak, but we can use techniques to keep a child interested and motivated so he or she wants to try to speak. Children learn through play The most important thing to remember is that a… Read more »
Social Communication Development in Toddlers
If you have ever been confused or concerned by your child’s communication and social skills, know that you’re not alone. Many parents wonder whether their child is adequately communicating and socializing with peers and adults. Communication and social interaction skills are closely connected and delays in both areas often go hand-in-hand (Gabrielsen et al., 2015)…. Read more »
10 Great Summertime Activities for Motor Skills
Summertime is a great time to play and explore outdoors. Many fun summertime activities are also great for facilitating gross motor development and fine motor development. Here are our 10 favorite summer fun activities to stimulate motor skills: 1. Create your own sandbox. Set out a plastic swimming pool in the backyard and fill it with sand… Read more »
Seven Reasons To Include A Sibling In Your Child’s Early Intervention Therapy
If your child is receiving early intervention services, consider including siblings in the process whenever possible. Siblings already act as a child’s model, motivator, playmate, and best friend. Just as it is vital to include parents in therapy sessions, the same can be applied to siblings of the client. Benefits of including siblings in therapy… Read more »
Sensory Motor Skills: What are they and why are they important?
Sensory-motor skills are the basic foundation for learning. All the activities and movements we did as infants, toddlers, and children help prepare our body and our brain to learn. These skills are essential to developing the ability to participate in classroom activities and affect academic achievements. What are sensory motor skills? Sensory and motor skills… Read more »