Milestones Matter Therapy

12/24/2025

12/23/2025

A tiny elf helper delivering holiday cheer. Thanks to our providers for their exceptional service!

12/19/2025

🎁 The Gifted Toy

Choosing gifts that are communication gold 🥇

Not all toys are created equal—some do more than entertain. The right toys help kids build language, social skills, and confidence through play.

🧱 Shape sorters & blocks → vocabulary, spatial concepts (in, out, up, down), action words

🎯 Cause-effect toys → joint attention, engagement, requesting, early language

📘 Interactive books → vocabulary, engagement, WH-questions, turn-taking

🔤 Sorting & sensory play → sentence building, descriptive language, categorization

🎲 Simple games & pretend play → vocabulary, turn-taking, social language

✨ Play is learning—when you choose the right toys.

12/12/2025

Happy Hanukkah! 🕎 Holidays are the perfect time for connection and massive language growth. As SLPs, we see every tradition as a communication opportunity!

Here are 3 simple ways to boost language skills during any cultural celebration:

🗣️ Discuss Traditions: Use "wh" questions (Who? What? Why?) to talk about the history and meaning of your customs.

🧠 Learn New Vocabulary: Introduce new words for special foods, clothing, or objects (like a menorah or dreidel!).

🪜 Practice Sequencing: Review the steps of a tradition ("First, we light the candle. Next, we sing a song.")

Celebrate, connect, and communicate!

12/09/2025

Holiday Safety: Swallowing Tips for Every Age 🎄Holiday parties mean delicious food, but safety always comes first!

As your friendly neighborhood Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), we’re sharing key tips to keep your loved ones safe at the holiday table.

If you are a caregiver to someone with difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), follow these 3 quick tips:

🍴Small Bites: Use a teaspoon to manage portion size and encourage a slow pace.

🪑 Stay Upright: Ensure your loved one sits up straight during the meal and for 30 minutes afterward.

‼️ Know the Signs: Watch for frequent coughing, throat clearing, or a gurgly voice—these mean it’s time to stop and check in with their SLP.

👉 Caregiver Tip: Worried about safe eating? Contact us for a free consultation on dysphagia management.

👶Our little guests need careful preparation for round foods!

🍇The Grape Rule: Cut grapes, cherry tomatoes, and other round foods into halves or quarters until your child is at least 5 years old.

🤏 How to Pass the "Squish Test": To check if a new food is safe for your baby/toddler's gums, pinch it between your pointer finger and thumb. If it squishes easily into a mash, it's safe! If it doesn't, cook it softer or cut it smaller.

Stay safe, warm, and enjoy your holiday season! ☃️

12/03/2025

Today, December 2nd, marks Special Education Day—a day to recognize the tremendous significance of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)! 🇺🇸

This landmark law ensures that every child, regardless of ability, has the right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).

We know that true inclusion is a team effort. Our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are proud to collaborate closely with educators, teachers, and families to help create that supportive school environment.
How SLPs support inclusive education:

🗣️ Listening & Speaking: Providing targeted interventions so students can participate fully in classroom discussions.

📚 Reading & Writing: Collaborating on literacy goals, especially for children with language-based learning disabilities.

🤝 Social Communication: Helping students understand and navigate complex social interactions with peers.
When we all work together, we ensure every voice is heard and supported!

Happy Special Education Day! 💙

12/02/2025

🎁 It's , and we invite you to make your generosity go twice as far!

✨ This holiday season, let your shopping matter. We've created a special Gift Guide featuring incredible businesses that go beyond beautiful products—they are actively empowering adults with disabilities through meaningful employment and skill development.

Every purchase you make today supports dignity, purpose, and inclusion in our community. Choose gifts that truly give back! 💙

➡️ Download the "Shop with Purpose" Gift Guide here: https://milestonesmattertx.com/2025-purchase-with-purpose-gift-guide

We're so proud to highlight organizations like Friendship Bakehouse, Brookwood Community, Celebration Company , Aspire Accessories Bitty & Beau's Coffee Hope Village Houston, and Fundamentally Awesome

Welcome to our annual gift guide, curated by the team at Milestones Matter Therapy, where we believe that every purchase can make a profound impact! As an inclusive practice dedicated to compassionate client-centered speech therapy services across the lifespan , we know the immense value of fosterin...

12/01/2025

🚨 A Quick Reminder for Our Amazing Families! 🚨

With the end of the year approaching, now is a great time to check in on your Speech Therapy Benefits!

➡️ Have you met your insurance deductible?

➡️ Do you have flexible spending (FSA) or health savings (HSA) funds that need to be used before the New Year?

We are a small, client-centered private practice serving Bellaire and Galveston, TX , and we want to help you maximize your coverage for your child’s comprehensive speech therapy services.

Don't let those benefits expire! Give our office a call, and we can help you look at your schedule and plan for the rest of 2025.

Contact us today to schedule your final sessions of the year!

https://milestonesmattertx.com

Nancy L. Foreman & Associates provides quality Speech therapy in Galveston, TX for individuals struggling with communication disorders & more.

11/30/2025

A Gentle Reminder for Families during the Holidays✨

Holiday gatherings can be beautiful AND overwhelming. A few reminders for sensory-friendly success:

🎧 Pack noise-canceling headphones
🧸 Bring comfort items (fidgets, favorite toys, chewy necklaces)
🛋️ Choose a “quiet corner” at grandma’s house
🥣 Bring preferred foods to reduce sensory and feeding stress
⏱️ Take breaks—movement helps regulation!

🍁 Your child does NOT need to hug, pose for photos, try every food, or “perform” to make the holiday special.

Connection > perfection. ❤️

11/27/2025

🧩 Thanksgiving is full of social expectations… but we can support success with simple strategies:

👁️ Preview the plan---Use a visual schedule or short story to explain what will happen: eating, visiting, dessert, playtime.

🗯️ Practice “expected/unexpected” scenarios gently ---“What can we do if the house is loud?” “Where can we take a break if we need quiet?”

👐 Offer a ‘social exit script.’---Teach phrases like:
“I’m going to take a break.”
“I’ll be right back.”

🍂 Social communication grows best when we support regulation + predictability.

11/27/2025

✨ FEAST on Communication This Thanksgiving! ✨

The holidays bring new people, new routines, and LOTS of opportunities for meaningful connection! Whether you're gathering with family or friends, here are some ways to support your child's language skills at the Thanksgiving table:

🗣️ Model, Don't Quiz-- Try narrating instead of asking rapid-fire questions: "I'm scooping mashed potatoes onto my plate." This natural approach reduces pressure while building language.

🤲 Offer Choices --Choices reduce overwhelm and increase communication: "Do you want turkey or rolls?" Simple options empower your child to participate.

💬 Practice Expressing Gratitude --Encourage your child to share one thing they're thankful for. Pre-teaching phrases like "Happy Thanksgiving!" or "I'm grateful for..." builds both vocabulary and emotional connection.

🍽️ Build Sensory Vocabulary-- Talk about the food using descriptive words! Instead of just "good," try "spicy," "crunchy," "smooth," or "sweet."

👨‍🍳 Follow Directions in the Kitchen-- Involve your child in food prep with one- or two-step directions: "Get the big spoon and stir the gravy." This supports receptive language and listening skills.

📖 Share Stories-- Ask open-ended questions like, "What's your favorite Thanksgiving memory?" Storytelling helps build strong narrative skills.

🌟 Honor All Voices-- Remember to respect different communication styles and needs (including AAC use). Every voice deserves to be heard at the table!

Most of all—follow your child's lead and celebrate the small wins.

Wishing all our Milestones Matter families a warm and communicative Thanksgiving! We are so grateful for you. 💙

➡️ What's your family's favorite table topic? Share in the comments!

11/26/2025

🍽️ Holiday meals can feel overwhelming for picky eaters — here are 3 gentle tips:

1️⃣ Keep a “safe food” on the table--

Even if it’s not Thanksgiving-themed, having predictable food helps reduce anxiety and increases participation.

2️⃣ Explore foods without pressure--

Smell it, touch it, poke it with a utensil, compare colors… ALL progress counts!

3️⃣ Use the “Thanksgiving Food Scientist” approach 👨‍🔬--

Encourage your child to describe foods using their senses—Is it crunchy? Soft? Warm? Shiny? This builds comfort and language skills.

💛 At Milestones Matter Therapy, we support families in creating positive mealtime experiences rooted in connection, not pressure.