⭐ Did you know that the right toys can help little ones build their language skills? Here are some of Mrs. Katelyn's favorite toys for encouraging communication, vocabulary, and social interaction!
🐴 Barn & Farm Animals – Great for teaching animal names, sounds, and action words like "jump," "run," and "eat"! Plus, they encourage pretend play and storytelling.
🍳 Toy Kitchen & Play Food – Perfect for role-playing conversations, sequencing events (“First we mix, then we bake!”), and learning food names and categories.
⚙️ Gear Stacking Toys – Help with cause-and-effect language (“Turn it and watch it go!”) and introduce action words like “spin,” “twist,” and “push.”
🫧 Bubbles – A fun way to work on requesting (“More bubbles, please!”), commenting (“Wow! Big bubble!”), and turn-taking in play.
🐢 Wind-Up Toys – Encourage joint attention, waiting (“Ready… set… GO!”), and simple problem-solving as kids describe what’s happening.
🚗 Race Car Tracks – Teaches action words (“go,” “stop,” “fast”), encourages turn-taking & social skills, and supports problem-solving & cause-effect learning, but can lead to solo play without interaction and fast action may limit conversation.
While tablets and toys with buttons, lights, and sounds can grab kids' attention, they don’t always provide the best support for language growth. Here’s why:
🚫 Limited Interaction – Kids often just push buttons instead of engaging in conversation or imaginative play. Screens replace face-to-face conversation.
🚫 No Creativity Required – The toy does the "talking," so children may not feel the need to use their own words.
🚫 Quick Play & Less Engagement – These toys can lose their novelty fast, leading to short, repetitive play sessions.
🚫 Passive Learning – Instead of active problem-solving or storytelling, kids often just listen and watch. Kids tap
and watch instead of actively talking.
🚫 Screen
Waiting for a patient to reach their goals is exciting, a little suspenseful, but always worth it! We're cheering on our amazing patients as they work toward their goals—one milestone at a time! ⭐️ #PediatricTherapy #SpeechTherapy #OccupationalTherapy
Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) is a way that some individuals process and learn language. They learn language in chunks or phrases rather than learning single words and building phrases and sentences. These chunks or “gestalts” can be things like memorized phrases, scripts, or intonational patterns that are learned through experience, often from watching TV shows, movies, or conversations. The idea is that Gestalt Language Processors might not always understand the meaning of the individual words in those chunks right away, but the whole phrase or pattern feels meaningful and functional. Over time, with support and guidance, these chunks can become more flexible and used in new contexts. It’s a unique form of language development, focusing on pattern recognition and repetition rather than starting from basic vocabulary and grammar rules. As seen in this video, this movie scene is meaningful to him and he loves to script it. We build a connection by having a back and forth verbal interaction, using these gestalt phrases that are important to him, that is noted by meaningful eye contact! *Disclaimer: This movie scene is being used for educational purposes only. I do not own the rights to the footage, and it is being shared under the fair use doctrine. All copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. #GLP #gestaltlanguageprocessing #speech #speechtherapy
⭐️ Why Crawling Matters for Visual Motor Skill Development ⭐️
Crawling is a key developmental milestone that lays the foundation for visual motor skills, which are essential for tasks like handwriting, cutting, and drawing. Crawling strengthens the connection between the eyes, brain, and hands, as it requires coordinated movements and bilateral integration. It also helps develop depth perception, spatial awareness, and the ability to track objects visually.
When children skip crawling or have difficulty with it, they may experience challenges with fine motor skills, balance, and coordination.
🤩 How Occupational Therapy Can Help? 🤩
Occupational therapists (OTs) can assess the underlying issues affecting crawling, such as muscle tone, strength, or sensory integration. Through targeted interventions, OTs use play-based activities to promote crawling patterns, improve core strength, and enhance motor planning. These foundational skills support a child’s overall development and readiness for school-related tasks.
💛 If your child struggles with visual motor skills or skipped crawling, an OT can provide individualized strategies to help them thrive! 💛
Testing our boss to see how well she knows our voices 🎤👀 How do y’all think she did? #VoiceChallenge #BossEdition
Santa is here! 🎄🎅 #merrychristmas #santa
🎉 Happy Boss’s Day! 🎉
Today, we celebrate incredible leadership and support of the best boss! Thank you for your guidance, encouragement, and your friendship. Here’s to more laughs and time well spent together!
Why not show our appreciation with a little fun from today! 😉
#BossDay #Appreciation
✨SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN✨
Be on the lookout for more information coming soon about upcoming Sensory Santa event, including the date, location, and how to register. It’s the perfect opportunity to create a magical and inclusive holiday memory!
Just a little office humor! We love our Mrs. Laura! 🤣💕
The squirrels are always running at Collective Therapy and we forget! Happy “I Forgot” Day on July 2nd…a day late because Morgan forgot! 🤦🏻♀️🐿️ #july2 #iforgotday #collectivetherapy #speechtherapy #occupationaltherapy #therapy #pediatric #office #funny #fun #fyp #foryoupage
