All Categories

Is Your Toddler Getting Therapy From An SLP or Someone Else?

9/26/2013

I saw this article in my Facebook news feed this week, and I found it very interesting! I provided speech therapy for the early intervention program in Savannah, Georgia for 7 years. There were times that some of the children in Savannah were being seen for speech therapy by a special instructor or developmental interventionist (SI/DI) instead of a speech-language pathologist (SLP). However, the SI/DI was providing services to these children only until an SLP was available since the SLP's had full caseloads.

I've recently started providing speech therapy services for the early intervention program in MS, so I'm still learning how this program works! If your toddler receives speech therapy through your state's early intervention program then you should definitely read this article by Smart Speech Therapy, LLC to make sure he or she is getting services from the appropriate provider.

DI or SP: Why it's important to know who is treating your child in Early Intervention

0 Comments

Guest Blog Post - I Say Tomato, You Say Tomate

9/5/2013

0 Comments

Last week I wrote a blog post called The Effect of Different Languages on Toddler Speech & Language Development. In that post I talked about how it is okay for your toddler to learn another language in addition to his or her native language. You can read that blog post by clicking on the title above.

I came up with the idea for that blog post from my friend, Melanie Simon, who asked me if she should speak more than one language to her children. She was worried that it may cause language problems down the road. Not only was she interested to learn the answer to her question, but she also used it as a basis for her own blog post.

Her blog is called La Americana, and it is about her mixed household and the blending of two cultures and two languages among five family members. Please take a look at her blog post titled, I Say Tomato, You Say Tomate, to learn more about how her family speaks two languages, including her toddler daughter, Ana!

0 Comments

The Effect of Different Languages on Toddler Speech & Language Development

8/30/2013

1 Comment

A friend of mine, and a lifelong friend of my husband, asked me about the effects of different languages on children's speech. She is from the United States, but her husband is from Cuba. She has just started a blog, La Americana, about her mixed household and the blending of two cultures and two languages among five family members. I will feature her blog post next week about this topic since it relates to so many families.

Many parents want to expose their toddlers to more than one language but are afraid that doing so may cause a language delay. Children, especially toddlers, are like sponges. They soak up everything they hear and see, so this is a perfect age to teach them more than one language.

If you do suspect that your toddler has trouble communicating with you, experts suggest that you speak with your toddler in the language you're most comfortable with. That language may be English, Spanish, French, etc, even if a different language is spoken at school. If you think your toddler has a language deficit in one or both languages please seek the help of a certified speech-language pathologist. You can find out how to locate a local SLP by reading my blog post, Help! My Toddler Is Not Talking.

For more information on learning two languages please check out this article on the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Website, Learning Two Languages.

To learn easy and practical speech and language tips to help your toddler talk and communicate faster, be sure to check out my book on Amazon Kindle, Talking With Toddlers - 52 Tips to Boost Speech and Language Skills.

1 Comment

Top 5 Websites for Toddler Activities

8/24/2013

0 Comments

There are so many fantastic activity websites for toddlers on the internet. There’s a whole new world of activities ranging from arts and crafts to messy play. You can use these activities for rainy days, hot days, or any day that you want to give your toddler something creative to do. Keep in mind that all of these activities can be used to build your toddler’s speech and language skills such as following directions, describing, and conversation. Here are some of my favorite websites:

Hands on As We Grow – Kids activities, kids crafts, art projects, parenting tips, moms share, and more

First School – Printable activities, online games, seasonal activities. I use the printable activities at least once a month with the toddlers I work with in speech therapy.

Toddler Toddler – A variety of activities for your little ones, including instructions for each activity.

Rainy Day Mum – Includes activities for general play, creativity, toddlers, babies, and preschoolers.

Activities Children – Activities for toddlers, children with special needs, and printable activities such as masks for pretend play.

To learn more speech and language tips to help your toddler talk and communicate faster, be sure to check out my book on Amazon Kindle, Talking With Todders - 52 Tips to Boost Speech and Language Skills.

0 Comments

Benefits of Sign Language for Toddler Speech & Language Development

8/16/2013

2 Comments

One of the best things you can do for your baby or toddler is to teach him or her sign language. Not only is sign language fun, but it’s also a great bonding experience for you and your child. Many babies are learning sign language and are able to communicate their wants and needs before they are even able to speak.

However, some parents are concerned that sign language will hinder speech development. Don’t worry, it won’t! Research has shown that sign language builds speaking skills, and some toddlers who sign may start speaking sooner.

Here are some great benefits of using sign language with your toddler:

Gives your toddler another way to communicate with you.

Decreases frustration and tantrums when your toddler has a difficult time talking.

Increases your toddler’s vocabulary and language skills

Improves attention skills

Promotes fine motor growth

Some of the best signs to start with are “more”, “all done”, “eat” and “drink” because they cover some of your toddler’s basic needs. Other good signs to teach your toddler include “yes”, “no”, “milk”, “mama”, and “daddy.” You can learn how to sign some of the signs listed above and get a free sign language printable chart by visiting this website: http://www.babysignlanguage.com/wp-content/uploads/chart/baby-sign-language-chart-us.pdf

To learn more speech and language tips to help your toddler talk and communicate faster, be sure to check out my book on Amazon Kindle, Talking With Todders - 52 Tips to Boost Speech and Language Skills.

Happy signing!

2 Comments

Toddler Speech & Language Fun At The Zoo

8/9/2013

0 Comments

Last weekend, my husband and I wanted to take our 18 month old twin toddlers somewhere special. We decided to take them to the local zoo, which we are so lucky to have in our own city. We really enjoy getting them out and about, and we want to cherish these times of them being so small while we can. They had so much fun and were mesmerized by all of the animals, especially the giraffe (see the picture), bear, and flamingos - which one my twins called a duck…ha!

Did you know that the zoo is a great speech and language skill building experience for toddlers? Here are some of the reasons why:

Boosts vocabulary – toddlers learn the names of a variety of animals, what they look like, and where they live

Stimulates the senses – toddlers can see the differences in various animals, they can smell a range of smells (food, animals, environments), and they can feel and touch many textures in the petting area.

Increases speech sound development – your toddler can work on sound imitation by learning the sounds that each animal makes. Sound imitation eventually leads to words.

Great conversation starter – talk with your toddler about what he/she saw, ate, did, and experienced. Be sure to ask open ended questions.

Choice making activity – it gives your toddler a choice of what he/she wants to see and do first. By giving your toddler choices you are creating another way for him or her to communicate with you, and it also creates a sense of independence.

So, make a visit to a zoo near you. There’s nothing better than watching your toddler have fun while learning at the same time!

To learn how you can help your toddler talk and communicate faster, be sure to check out my book on Amazon Kindle, Talking With Todders - 52 Tips to Boost Speech and Language Skills.

0 Comments

Is My Toddler a Late Talker or Language Delayed?

8/1/2013

1 Comment

Your toddler wants to communicate, but he doesn’t know how to do it. To get his point across, he grunts, cries, and points to objects he wants. You’ve taken your child to his pediatrician just to be told, “He’ll out grow it.” You may become frustrated when you see other toddlers using words and often ask yourself “Why can’t my child talk?”

Your toddler may be considered a late talker. What is a late talker? A late talking toddler is a child 18 months (1 ½ years old) or older who is using a limited number of spoken words for his or her age. Late talking toddlers usually have a vocabulary of less than twenty words beginning at 18 months. Some toddlers speak late due to hearing loss, speech disorders, language disorders, and various diagnoses such as autism, cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome. However, late talking toddlers are usually typically developing in all other skills (fine motor, gross motor, cognition, and social/emotional) but speech.

To find out if your toddler is a late talker or may have a language delay, check out this article by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) called Late Blooming or Language Problem?

If you are concerned about your toddler's speech and language development it's important to remember that you do have options! You can talk to your child's pediatrician, contact a local speech-language pathologist, or schedule a meeting with your state's early intervention program. I wrote a past blog post that explains how to locate these professionals called, Help! My Toddler Is Not Talking. It's never too early or too late to ask about your toddler's speech and language skills!

To learn how you can help your toddler talk and communicate faster, be sure to check out my book on Amazon Kindle, Talking With Todders - 52 Tips to Boost Speech and Language Skills.

1 Comment

/b/ Sound Toddler Speech and Language Activities

7/25/2013

0 Comments

A few weeks ago, I promised the fans of my Talking With Toddlers Facebook Page that I would give away something free if we reached 200 fans. Well, we reached that and then some! We are now up to 253 likes. If you haven't yet liked our Facebook page please go like it now. In addition to toddler speech and language tips, we offer parenting articles, toddler recipes, children's activities, and lots of great information for your kids!

I've decided to offer the freebie via my blog. Although I'm a little late getting it together (my family and I are in the process of buying a house now that we're settled in Mississippi after moving here in December of last year), I thought late was better than never, right?

The freebie focuses on the early developing speech sound /b/. Toddlers should be able to say this sound by the age of 2 to 3. Not only does this lesson focus on the /b/ sound, it also targets vocabulary and toddler language skills. The activities for the /b/ sound were taken from my book, Talking With Toddlers - 52 Tips to Boost Speech and Language Skills. Be sure to check out my book if you're looking for more ways to stimulate your toddler's speech and language skills!

Here's your freebie:

early_speech_sound_b.pdf
File Size:	258 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

With the file below, you can have your toddler point to the pictures as you name them, he/she can name them as you point to them, you can talk about them with your toddler while targeting the /b/ sound, hide them around a room and let your toddler find them while naming the pictures, etc.

initial_b_words.pdf
File Size:	77 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

0 Comments

Toddler Speech Therapy Basics

7/18/2013

0 Comments

There are so many terms used in speech-language development. You may hear words such as articulation, fluency, expressive language, speech disorder, etc. It can be very confusing and difficult to understand that it makes your head spin trying to process it all! I'm about to teach you the basics, so hopefully this post will help it make more sense to you!

What is language?
The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) says:

Language is made up of socially shared rules that include the following:
- What words mean (e.g., "star" can refer to a bright object in the night sky or a celebrity)
- How to make new words (e.g., friend, friendly, unfriendly)
- How to put words together (e.g., "Peg walked to the new store" rather than "Peg walk store new")
- What word combinations are best in what situations ("Would you mind moving your foot?" could quickly change to "Get off my foot, please!" if the first request did not produce results)

Receptive language is what your toddler or child understands. It is sometimes referred to as language comprehension. A toddler or child with a receptive language disorder has a difficult time processing and understanding what you say to him or her.

Here are some activities you can do with your toddler to improve receptive language skills.

Play “Simon Says” to help your toddler follow simple directions.

Teach your toddler basic body parts such as eyes, nose, and mouth.

Have your toddler point to pictures as you name them.

Expressive language is what your toddler or child says or expresses. A toddler or child with an expressive language delay has a difficult time speaking and telling you his/her wants and needs.

Here are some activities you can do with your toddler to improve expressive language skills.

Have your toddler repeat simple sounds such as animal sounds and vehicle sounds during play ·

Help your toddler point or gesture to an item he/she wants instead of crying for it.

Try to have your toddler say the word or part of the word for a wanted item.

What is speech?
The American Speech-Language Hearing Association says:

Speech is the verbal means of communicating.

Speech consists of articulation, voice and fluency. A toddler or child can have a speech disorder, a language disorder, or a combination of both. If a child has an articulation disorder, he/she has a difficult time producing certain sounds. For example, a he/she may say "pish" instead of "fish" or "dun" instead of "sun." A child with a voice disorder may sound hoarse and raspy as a result of voice abuse or misuse such as yelling on the playground at recess. When a child has a fluency disorder you may notice that he or she stutters when speaking.

Here are some activities you can do with your toddler to improve articulation, voice, and fluency:

Use short, simple phrases when talking with your toddler
Allow enough time for him/her to get the message across to you
Practice good vocal habits that your toddler can observe and learn

So, that's the basics of toddler speech therapy. I hope it helped you understand the topic a little better. If you are concerned that your child may have a speech or language disorder, please don't hesitate to contact a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. He/she can conduct a comprehensive speech-language evaluation to determine if speech therapy is needed.

To learn more speech and language tips to help your toddler talk and communicate faster, be sure to check out my book on Amazon Kindle, Talking With Todders - 52 Tips to Boost Speech and Language Skills.

0 Comments

My Toddler is Stuttering-Should I Be Concerned?

7/11/2013

1 Comment

Over the past few weeks I've had several moms of toddlers ask me about stuttering. Some questions have come from moms I know personally, and some questions have come through email and social media. The main question I have been asked is, "My toddler has started stuttering. Should I be concerned, and how should I fix it?" So, here is my professional opinion on toddler stuttering.

What is stuttering? The American Speech-Language Hearing Association defines it as:

Stuttering affects the fluency of speech. It begins during childhood and, in some cases, lasts throughout life. The disorder is characterized by disruptions in the production of speech sounds, also called "disfluencies."

It is very common to hear your toddler stutter from time to time. He/she is beginning to put sounds and words together to form thoughts and sentences. Most toddlers love to talk and are eager to tell you everything they know - the good, the bad, and the ugly! Because their brains are working at top speed, their little mouths may have a tough time catching up. As a result, you may hear your toddler repeat a word or sound over and over again. You will probably hear your toddler stutter when he or she is tired, excited, or frustrated. The good news is that most children outgrow this!

However, it can may become a problem when:

your toddler tenses up his/her body or mouth like he/she is trying to push out his/her words.
your toddler avoids speaking all together
your toddler's pitch rises when he/she stutters
your toddler stutters on the majority of his/her speech throughout the day (experts say on more than 10% of his/her speech)

You can help your toddler by:

speaking at a slower rate of speech
allowing enough time for him/her to get the message across to you
avoiding saying things like "slow down", "stop", and "relax" as this may add more pressure to your toddler to speak
limiting the number of questions you ask; instead comment on what he/she says
being supportive

Helpful resources about stuttering:

American Speech-Language Hearing Association

If you do suspect that your toddler may have a more severe disfluency please don't hesitate to talk to a pediatric speech-language pathologist. You know your toddler better than anyone else! You can learn how to find a local SLP by reading one of my other blog posts, Help! My Toddler Is Not Talking.

To learn more speech and language tips to help your toddler talk and communicate faster, be sure to check out my book on Amazon Kindle, Talking With Todders - 52 Tips to Boost Speech and Language Skills.

1 Comment