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Learn & Grow Speech Pathology

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25.01.2022 BE LESS HELPFUL! . It’s counterintuitive but try not to anticipate all your little person’s needs - this takes away the opportunity to build the language needed to ask for it themselves. Asking for things is how so many of a child’s first words are used. . You can take this a step further though and actually create opportunities that they will NEED to communicate with you. You can create these opportunities by doing things like:... . - Putting toys that they want in containers they can't open by themselves (ideally see through so they can still see them) - Playing games with them that they will need your help to work (e.g. bubbles, balloons and wind up toys) and stopping after each go. - "Forgetting" to give them things they need (like giving them their weetbix but no spoon... . This is a general approach and I will have a few more specific ways of doing this coming this week. . What creative sabotage ideas do you use in your house? I'd love to see them! See more

25.01.2022 Happy Speech Pathology Week!!! . This year's theme is COMMUNICATING WITH CONFIDENCE!! . Check out my stories for more!... . To kick us off, here is your cheat sheet (video) to learning to sign along to "5 CHEEKY MONKEYS". . I'd love to see it in action at your place! See more

22.01.2022 Sing a Rainbow . Another favourite Sing and Sign song! . Check out my stories and highlights for the full version and the individual signs!... . Happy Speech Pathology Week!! See more

18.01.2022 SLOW DOWN! . I think this one speaks for itself. It's harder than it sounds to do but makes all the difference! . Speaking in a slow and animated way gives your child longer to process what you are saying to them and makes it more likely that they will repeat what you are saying. .... This one overlaps alot with some of the earlier tips - especially "emphasise key words" and "use simple language". See more

14.01.2022 SELF TALK . Be the narrator in your own film! . Narrate (or sing if you’re of musical persuasion) your day-to-day actions using simple language. Talk about what your doing, where you're doing it and add in any fun or silly noises that go along with it. This doesn't have to be exciting games - in fact - it's best done in the routines you're doing everyday!... . When getting your child dressed, talk about which clothes you’re putting on. E.g. Put one shoe on. Put the other shoe on. . During bath time, talk about the parts of the body you are washing. E.g. wash your feet, washing your fingers, splash, I'm all wet! . The expectation here isn't necessarily that they will copy you, but it's about adding language input for things in their day to day lives. See more

14.01.2022 I looked back at my Facebook history to find the first work related post I ever put up as a Speechie... It was this! . Sums it up beautifully! . This job is high energy and requires a real dedication to a high level of life long learning. The hours are often long and the emotional commitment is significant. The fun and laughs are also served in MASSIVE portions, the support from other professionals is amazing and the kids and families we meet... Well... It doesn't get better.... . In among the advocacy this week, I'm making sure I take a moment to celebrate being lucky enough to have one of the most rewarding jobs in the world! . Pssst... I was working at Sydney Children's Hospital when I wrote this (in case the clown and 6ft fairy had you stumped!). . . #SPWeek #speechtherapy #learngrowspeech #learnthroughplay See more

11.01.2022 Add Music! . I sing (albeit...not well) in almost every early language session I do. It's powerful for so many reasons but here are just a few: . Connection: Lots of children are naturally drawn to singing. It will often grab the attention of children who might not be necessarily drawn to spoken language. We need attention and connection as a foundation for any learning to happen!... . Predictability: We usually sing songs the same way each time AND lots of popular songs are repetitive in themselves. This repetition makes it easy and enjoyable for children to learn. . Encourages sound exploration and gestures: Before children can say many real words, they may start trying to "sing" along with their favourite songs. This is great as it gets them exploring with sounds and pitch. Lots of children's songs also have actions that go with them. Use of gesture is an important part of early language development (more on that tomorrow). . Builds foundations for verbal interactions and turn taking: When children learn through song that saying particular words or doing particular actions causes something to happen, they are learning the foundation of talking. For example, if they do the twinkle twinkle action while babbling and you understand that they are singing that song, they learn that they can communicate their ideas. If you pause in a song and they use words or actions to keep it going, they are learning about responsive communication and turn taking. . Some ideas to include singing in fun and useful ways: . Use songs at points of transition to highlight the transition point and help them know what to expect. E.g. if you sing a pack up song, then they learn what is expected at this time. If you sing a lullabye each night, it helps them build associations about bedtime behaviours. It's also a great way if forcing some "inner calm" as adults when we are feeling frustrated in a transition. I'll link a book on this in my stories. . Sing familiar songs with your child and pause at the high points to encourage them to "take their turn" by indicating with words or actions that they want to keep going . Give options in songs that have choices. E.g. "Old Macdonald" See more

08.01.2022 Sing a Rainbow . Another favourite Sing and Sign song! . Check out my stories and highlights for the full version and the individual signs!... . Happy Speech Pathology Week!! See more

08.01.2022 Hi!! If anyone knows of a University student currently studying Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Early Childhood or Special Education who is interested in some casual work as a Therapy Assistant for young children - please DM me or email [email protected]. Must love kids, be LOTS of fun and have access to own car.... Thank you!!

08.01.2022 Recasting is a technique we use to correct or add to what a child has said without interrupting the natural conversation flow or creating the negative associations children can feel when they are being corrected. Sometimes this is called responsive modelling. . The key here is to keep the feedback: Responsive Aacknowledging the message they are trying to share not just HOW they said it)... Natural Use a tone of voice that matches a natural comment instead of a correction. Try to comment in the same tone of voice as you might say something like Oh really, Yeah, of course or something else that we naturally say in conversation to acknowledge what someone has said to us. I’d avoid saying things like do you mean unless you really don’t understand. Positive This should be fun and engaging for your child! . Broadly speaking, there are two things we do when we recast or say it back Simply correct the way they said it Make the sentence grammatically correct AND add information . For example, . Child: That ball. Adult: Yeah, That IS a ball. Or Yeah! That is a big red ball. . OR . Child: Tom break car Adult: Oh no! Tom broke your car?! . So much of getting the most out of this strategy is in your tone of voice and picking the moments. It’s a great way of promoting language development at all different levels (even school age!) so is absolutely worth the time it takes to help build into your day to day interactions. . . . . #20languagetipsandtricks #speechtherapy #childdevelopment #playbasedlearning #speechtherapylife #earlyinterventionspeech #earlyintervention #everychildmatters #importanceofplay #learnthroughplay #learngrowspeech See more

07.01.2022 The things we do and ways we interact with our kids don't make up the whole picture but they DO make a difference. . There's so much in child development that is out of our control (sex, social advantage, genetics, etc.) but the research is clear - this is not the whole picture! . Among other things, children of parents who show responsive interaction, involve their children in routines, etc. are more likely to have better language outcomes. It sounds like a lot of pressure...! The reason this is actually great news though is because it means that we have the opportunity to make a difference! . Identifying the children early that could do with some extra support gives us the chance to put the right pieces in place at home when it can make the biggest difference. . If you want to know more about all the ways that Speech Pathology services can look and be funded, check out my document "I think I need to see a Speech Pathologist". Link in bio. See more

06.01.2022 If I could choose one strategy as the most effective one to improve the quality of book sharing... this would be it!! . A little less questioning, a little more commenting! . Lots of parents use questioning as a way of starting and keep interactions with their kids. Of course we do! It gets them to talk, it helps show us what they know and it's a natural part of adult conversations. But .... did you know that asking too many questions can have the opposite effect and actually... reduce your child's talking (or at least the range and level of it?) . When we ask questions, we are often directing children into saying something specific which is less likely to have them use new and varied language. On top of that, when we ask questions we already know the answer to (that are just "testing" kids), we can make them feel pressured. This is also not showing them what a fun, engaging conversation should look like (it's more like a job interview). . So what do we do instead? . Swap some of those questions for comments! . Instead of saying "what's that?" (When pointing to a red truck). Try saying "Wow! That's a red truck!". The first question is testing them which is missing an opportunity to show them new language. By swapping it for a comment, you have now maybe given your child the chance to learn "red" or "truck" vocabulary. . Instead of "what are you doing?" (When it's obvious), try saying "Look at that TALL tower you're building". Again, this time we actually add something to the interaction by modelling verbs like "build" and descriptions like "tall". . You can make comments on all kinds of things: Likes ("I LOVE watermelon") Actions ("You're digging a hole") Fun Words ("Wow!" "Bang!) Descriptions ("huge", "sticky", "tricky") People Words ("mine", "yours") . There is still a place for questions - but I like to stick to the "rule of hand" (four comment fingers to one question thumb). Check out the guide above for how to level up your questions. . . . . . . #20languagetipsandtricks #speechtherapy #childdevelopment #playbasedlearning #speechtherapylife #earlyinterventionspeech #earlyintervention #everychildmatters #importanceofplay #learnthroughplay #learngrowspeech See more

04.01.2022 Be the narrator in the movie starring your child! . Just like self talk (from last week), parallel talk involves commentating what is going on in your child’s world. They are both ways of providing language input for your child so they can understand vocabulary in the world around them (and then start using that vocabulary). If self talk is talking about what you are doing, parallel talk is talking about what your child is doing. . If your little person is playing with cars, ...describe what they are doing. E.g. You're pushing the truck. Oh no! The trucks crashed! The trucks rolled over." . Instead of asking questions, narrate with comments. Instead of asking, What color is that? try saying, That’s green. You're coloring with green! When your child is eating, label their foods and describe them. Such as, You are eating Berries! Yum, red, juicy berries. See more

02.01.2022 PUT IT UP HIGH! . Following on from our "sabotage"strategies - today's tip is to put things out of reach. Just like other sabotage strategies, this helps create an need for your child to communicate and is GREAT for some of those reluctant talkers. . This might look like:... - Putting a favourite toy on a shelf out of reach but still in sight - Putting your child's cup/dinner on the table out of reach (and act like you haven't noticed) so they need to tell you to give it to them . The trick with any of these strategies is to walk the fine line between creating an opportunity and just p***ing of your little one. Try to keep the tone silly! If they don't ask you in the esy you thought they might, make sure to model the word/words they could say and then give it to them. . Being able to wait a good length of time is often really useful here! See more