Learning in Steps

24/12/2025

🍳 Cooking = Language Learning! 🗣️

Cooking together isn’t just fun — it’s a powerful way to build speech & language skills at home.

👶 How cooking supports language development:
• Builds vocabulary (mix, pour, hot, cold)
• Supports following directions (first, next, last)
• Encourages turn-taking & joint attention
• Promotes describing & commenting
• Strengthens functional communication (“more”, “help”, “all done”)

🥣 Try this at home:
✔ Narrate what you’re doing
✔ Give simple instructions
✔ Ask choices: “Do you want apple or banana?”
✔ Pause to allow your child time to respond

✨ Everyday moments = therapy moments!

28/11/2025

✨ Building Language Skills With Prepositions! ✨

Prepositions are the little words that help kids understand where things are. They’re important for following directions, describing, and storytelling!

🧩 What are prepositions?
Words like in, on, under, behind, next to, between, in front, over.

🌟 Why are they important?
Prepositions help children:
• Follow instructions (e.g., “Put the toy in the box”)
• Use clearer sentences
• Build early problem-solving and spatial awareness
• Understand books and classroom directions

🎯 How to practise at home:
Try these fun, everyday ideas:
• Hide a toy and ask your child to find it “under the pillow” or “behind the couch.”
• Make a teddy go “on the chair,” “in the bag,” or “next to you.”
• Use snack time! “Put the spoon on the table.”
• During play: “Drive the car through the tunnel.”

💬 Therapy tip:
Start with real objects and simple actions—kids learn best when they can see and do!

26/11/2025

26/11/2025

Speech Therapy at the Shops! 🛒
Everyday outings are filled with language opportunities — you just need to know where to look! Here are simple ways to build speech and language while doing your grocery run 👇

🔹 Build Vocabulary:
Label what you see — colours, sizes, categories & describing words.
“This apple is red.” “The milk is cold.”

🔹 Ask WH Questions:
“Where is the bread?” “What do we need next?”

🔹 Practice Following Instructions:
Keep it fun!
“Grab two bananas.” “Find the blue box.”

🔹 Encourage Social Skills:
Greeting the cashier, asking for help, taking turns at the checkout.

🔹 Boost Early Literacy:
Point out letters, sounds & simple words on signs and labels.

✨ Tip: You don’t need extra time — just use the language already around you!

🧡 Supporting little communicators in everyday moments.

21/11/2025

🦷 How Teeth Impact Speech 🗣️

Did you know your child’s teeth play an important role in how they produce sounds?
Here’s how dental development can influence speech:

✨ Missing front teeth
Can make sounds like /s/, /z/, /th/ sound “slushy” or distorted. This is very common during the early school years and often improves once adult teeth come through.

✨ Bite alignment
An open bite, overbite, or underbite can affect tongue placement for sounds like /s/, /sh/, /ch/, /j/, /t/ and /d/.

✨ Crowding or spacing
May change how air flows or how the tongue moves, which can impact clarity for certain sounds.

✨ Tongue posture
Dental structure can influence resting tongue position, which is linked to both speech and feeding.

🪥 When to check in with a professional?
If your child is hard to understand, or if speech sounds don’t improve once new teeth erupt, a speech pathologist and dentist can work together to help.

🗣️ Healthy teeth support healthy speech!

19/11/2025

🌟 Joint Attention: A Big Skill for Little Communicators! 🌟

Joint attention is the shared focus between a child and another person—usually shifting attention between an object and a person.
It’s a foundational skill for communication, connection, and learning! 💬🤝

🧠 Why Joint Attention Matters:
• Helps children learn new words
• Builds social connection
• Supports turn-taking
• Encourages imitation and play skills
• Strengthens early interaction and engagement

🎈 How We Build Joint Attention in Therapy:
• Using fun, motivating toys 🧸
• Following the child’s lead
• Pausing to build anticipation
• Using simple gestures, sounds, and facial expressions
• Celebrating every moment of shared focus 💛

Joint attention is one of the first steps toward meaningful communication — and we love supporting children as they grow this skill! ✨

17/11/2025

🌱 Feeding in Speech Therapy – More Than Just Eating! 🍽️
Did you know feeding support is a big part of paediatric speech pathology?

Feeding is closely linked to:
✨ Oral motor skills
✨ Sensory processing
✨ Safe swallowing
✨ Early communication and mealtime connection

In therapy, we might work on:
🥄 Trying new textures
🧃 Building tolerance to tastes, smells + temperatures
😋 Strengthening oral motor skills for chewing
🫶 Reducing mealtime stress for children and families
🍽️ Creating positive, playful food experiences

Every child deserves to feel safe, confident, and successful at mealtimes. If you have concerns about your child’s feeding, we’re here to help. 💛

12/11/2025

🗣️ What is LAMP?
LAMP stands for Language Acquisition through Motor Planning. It’s an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) approach designed to help children with complex communication needs find their voice. 💬

💡 How it works:
LAMP pairs consistent motor patterns (the way we press AAC buttons) with words and natural communication experiences. This helps children build connections in the brain between movement, language, and meaning.

🌟 Why we love LAMP:
• Builds independence in communication
• Encourages spontaneous language use
• Supports motor learning and consistency
• Helps children develop real words and sentences

💬 Every child deserves a voice — LAMP helps make that possible.

10/11/2025

🗣️ How Pets Can Support Speech & Language Development!

Did you know pets can be amazing communication partners for children? 🐾
Here’s how our furry friends help build speech and language skills:

🐕 Encourage talking: Children love chatting to their pets! Talking to pets helps kids practise sentence structure, vocabulary, and expressive language in a relaxed, pressure-free way.

🐈 Model social communication: Feeding, playing, or caring for a pet encourages turn-taking, giving instructions, and understanding routines.

🐾 Build vocabulary: Naming body parts, toys, and actions (“The dog is running!”) helps expand a child’s vocabulary naturally.

🐇 Support emotional connection: Pets make children feel safe and supported — perfect for practising communication and confidence.

💡 Therapy tip: Bring pets into play-based sessions (even through toys or pictures!) to spark motivation and conversation.

09/11/2025

✨ Educators play a huge role in supporting speech and language! ✨

Speech and language skills grow best when supported across all settings — including the classroom. 👩‍🏫💬

Here are some simple ways educators can help:
🗣️ Model clear, slow speech
📚 Use visuals and gestures to support understanding
🤝 Give extra time for responses
🧩 Repeat or rephrase key words and instructions
🌟 Celebrate all communication attempts!

When teachers and speech pathologists work together, children thrive! 💕