Flourish Speech and Language Therapy

18/11/2025

💬 Let’s Talk Tuesday: Simplifying Language (Clear and Easy to Understand)

When we talk to children who are still learning to communicate, it helps to keep our language simple — but that doesn’t mean it’s any less meaningful.

Simple language helps children understand what we say and gives them a clear model to copy when they’re ready.

Try this:
Instead of saying,

“Let’s put our shoes on now because we’re going to be late for nursery!”
you could say,
“Shoes on. Time for nursery.”

It’s shorter, clearer, and easier for your child to process — while still warm and natural.

Once your child starts to understand and use those short phrases, you can gradually add more words to build their sentences and vocabulary.

🪄 Simplifying language isn’t about saying less — it’s about being clear, calm, and just right for where your child is now.

18/11/2025

Let’s Talk Tuesday: Because the most magical gift isn’t something wrapped — it’s your time. 💛 Discover how simple moments and everyday play can mean the world: Read more here:

https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/toy-time?fbclid=IwZnRzaAOIe8pleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5CGNhbGxzaXRlAjI1AAEeCuSIKJzySVWMzR_mAooweqQPuvAkxb5mkCNvKAyBoXEU-j55xZEby0Q2BcE_aem_jel6wx-8y2bwjIxC9HVrgw

It's shopping season—what does the research say about toys and language development? We've got the details, plus a parent-friendly handout to share with families.

11/11/2025

🗣️ Let’s Talk Tuesday: Speech vs Language – What’s the Difference?

These two words are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things:

🗣️ Speech is how we say words.
It’s the sounds we make with our mouth, tongue, and lips.
Speech includes:
• Pronouncing sounds correctly (e.g. “s” vs “th”)
• Speaking clearly so others can understand you
• Using the right rhythm and intonation

💬 Language is what we say — and understand.
It’s the words, grammar, and ideas we use to share meaning.
Language includes:
• Understanding what others say
• Knowing the right words
• Putting words together into sentences
• Using language for different purposes (asking, telling, joking, etc.)

In short:
➡️ Speech = sounds
➡️ Language = meaning

Both are important for confident communication — but they develop differently, and sometimes one needs extra support.

11/11/2025

10/11/2025

✨ Exciting News! ✨

Last week, I was delighted to travel down to London to represent Apex Ability, the company I co-manage, in the finals of the SME National Business Awards.

We were honoured to be nominated in the Employer of the Year and Service Excellence categories — and absolutely thrilled to bring home the Silver Award for Community Business of the Year! 🥳🎉🏆

A huge thank you to our amazing team, clients, and community who make everything we do possible. ❤️

04/11/2025

Welcome to Let’s Talk Tuesday! Thinking Time

When you ask your child a question, do you ever find yourself jumping in to help them answer?
It’s such a natural thing to do — but children often need more time than we realise to process what they’ve heard and plan what they want to say.

Next time, try this simple strategy:
After you’ve asked a question, count silently in your head —
“1 elephant… 2 elephants… 3 elephants…” — all the way up to 10 elephants before you repeat or help.

That short pause gives your child valuable thinking time — helping them understand, organise their thoughts, and find their words.

💬 Try it this week and notice how much more your child can say when you give them space to think.

28/10/2025

Welcome to “Let’s Talk Tuesday”!
Each week, I’ll be sharing practical tips and answering your questions about helping children communicate in the best way possible.

Today’s tip is all about the “hand strategy”:
For every 1 question (thumb) you ask, make 4 comments (fingers) about what your child is doing or looking at/watching.

This approach surrounds your child with rich language they can absorb, learn from, and use when they’re ready.

Small changes make a big difference. Give it a go this week and see how much more your child joins in! 🌼

22/10/2025

🌟 A Little Communication Tip for Today

Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference. 💛

One simple way to help your child communicate is to narrate what you’re doing together. For example:

“We’re pouring the juice. Now we’re stirring. Look at the bubbles!”

Talking about everyday actions gives your child lots of language to hear and learn, without pressure to respond perfectly.

✨ Tip: Keep your sentences short, clear, and natural — it’s about building understanding and confidence, not perfection.

💬 I’d love to hear: what’s a fun thing your child has said recently that made you smile?

04/06/2025

Looking for an independent speech and language therapist?
Make sure you use ASLTIP (www.asltip.com) to find a qualified, independent professional you can trust.

Be cautious—some companies are acting as brokers, adding hefty finder’s fees on top of therapists’ rates. This can make a service that should be free on the NHS feel out of reach for all but the most privileged.

ASLTIP is the trusted directory for registered, qualified therapists—no middlemen, no hidden fees, just the support you need. 🗣️💬

The Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP) have been linking therapists to the public for over 30 years. Become a member today!