Tips and Tricks for Picky Eaters
If you’ve ever sat down to a meal with a picky eater, you know the struggle all too well. But why are kids so selective about what they eat? There is always a reason for behavior! Let’s dive into the reasons behind picky eating and how to navigate this tricky terrain....
Understanding Tongue Ties: Symptoms and Solutions
As a speech-language pathologist and myofunctional therapist, I have had the privilege of working with patients of all ages, helping them overcome a variety of challenges. One common issue I've encountered is tongue ties, or ankyloglossia. In this blog post, we'll...
Understanding Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
Welcome to the world of orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT)! If you've been searching for a natural and effective way to improve your oral health and overall well-being, you've come to the right place. In this blog post, we will dive into the basics of orofacial...
My Myo and Tongue Tie Journey
As I started to learn more tethered oral tissues (TOTs) and orofacial myofunctional therapy, I quickly realized I actually had many of the symptoms for both TOTs and orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD). I want to share my story to encourage other adults to look...
Summer Books
Happy Summer! We have had quite a bit going on over here, so I have been more MIA than usual. We're expecting another little baby girl in November! We are so excited, but it has been a tough few months dealing with nausea and exhaustion, but I am finally feeling more...
Spring Books
SLet's find some new Spring books! I am so excited that Spring is finally here! I am ready for more sunshine, warmer temperatures, and outdoor adventures. A new season is a great way to refresh some of the books in your library. I don't know about you, but I have...
Screen Time – Practical Tips for Parents
In today's world, screen time (for everyone) is increasing drastically. It can be difficult to know what to do for your children in terms of their screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time for children under two (except for video...
Valentine’s Day Books
Valentine's Day is around the corner. It is a great opportunity to switch out some of the books on your child's shelves. These are some of my Valentine's Day books! Valentine's Day books don't have to be full of red hearts and valentines. We'll be reading one of these...
Benefits of Reading Aloud
As a speech-language pathologist and preschool teacher, one of the main questions parents ask me is "What should we work on at home?" Parents want the best for their children. They want to teach them letters and math. Of course, these are important skills. However, my...
Where to Find New Books
With the holidays quickly approaching (how is it almost Christmas?!) you may have even more down time to fill with your child or children at home. I recently shared about some of my favorite winter books and the benefits of providing books relevant to the...
Winter and Holiday Books
I know it's technically still fall, but as soon as Thanksgiving is over, my brain switches to winter mode! I love to switch out my daughter's books as the seasons and holidays change. There are many benefits to doing this: Preparing for new experiences - Transitions...
Talking to Children about Gratitude
With Thanksgiving approaching, it's a great time to start talking to our children about gratitude and what it means to be thankful. These are complicated concepts that can be difficult for children to grasp. Here are some ways to introduce gratitude to children. Model...
Shop Local – Alexandria Holiday Shopping Guide
The holiday season is quickly approaching and parents are on the hunt for gifts for their friends and family members. This year has been a crazy one! Many local businesses have been hit hard. I know as a busy mom, I am often relying on Amazon or Target for my online...
Pretend Play – Where to Start
As the holidays approach, parents are wondering what toys to get their children. I want to encourage you to think about adding some pretend play toys to your child's holiday wishlist this year!Pretend play is a fantastic way to encourage speech and language...
Carryover – Why Home Practice is So Important for Speech and Language
I often have clients who are doing great in their therapy sessions (especially my articulation kiddos), but their parents report that they still struggle to say their sounds correctly at home. This is frustrating for everyone! However, it is important to understand...
5 Tips for Book Reading and Favorite Fall Books for Speech and Language
Whenever parents ask what they can do with their children at home, one of my first suggestions is always to read books. I wanted to share some of the strategies parents can use while reading books (that go beyond the words on the page) at home with their children...
Does my child need private speech therapy?
As a parent, it can be difficult to know if your child needs speech therapy. There is such a wide range of "normal" speech and language development. Here are a few people who may refer you and your child to a speech therapist: Pediatrician/Dentist Teacher or other...
Summer Speech and Language Tips
Summer provides lots of opportunities to encourage speech and language development for children of all ages! This summer is a little different. We've all been stuck at home. Both parents and kids might be getting a little stir crazy. These are some easy things you can...
Protect Your Hearing
This year, 4th of July celebrations may look a little different. We won't have crowds of spectators enjoying fireworks together, but many areas are continuing to have fireworks celebrations that can be enjoyed from a distance. This is a great time to talk about...
Teletherapy Basics
Telepractice/teletherapy has been utilized by SLPs for years. We joke that due to COVID-19, all SLPs have become teletherapists now. This is actually an amazing thing! There are so many benefits to teletherapy. Let's go through the who, what, when, where and why of...