Simmons Early Intervention Therapy

12/08/2025

Holiday-Friendly Mental Health & Stress-Reduction Tips
The holidays can feel magical — but also overwhelming. Changes in routine, busy schedules, loud gatherings, and sensory overload can challenge even the calmest kiddos.
Here are some gentle strategies to help your child (and family) enjoy the season with less stress:
* Keep some routine intact — try to stick to regular sleep, meal, and downtime schedules as much as possible. Predictability helps kids feel safe and grounded.
* Give advance notice for plans and transitions — let children know what’s coming, especially if plans change (visits, travel, family events). Use visual calendars or simple countdown charts if helpful.
* Offer quiet space & sensory breaks — holiday parties can be lots of noise and stimulation. Have a cozy corner, favorite toy, or calm activity ready so kids can step away from the hustle when needed.
* Let feelings be real — if a child feels anxious, sad or overstimulated, that’s okay. Encourage them to talk about their feelings, or offer quiet time. Validating emotions builds emotional resilience.
* Focus on connection over perfection — slow down. Simple shared moments — reading a book by the fireplace, baking together, telling holiday stories — can strengthen bonds more than a packed holiday schedule.�

Read more about our mental health services: https://www.simmonseitherapy.com/mentalhealth
Contact us today!

We are proud to offer a comprehensive range of behavioral health and wellness services to our community, including substance abuse treatment, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), peer support, and DWI education.

12/07/2025

✨ New week, new opportunities ✨�
We have limited openings for online speech therapy sessions for ages 2–12.
✔️ Licensed therapists�
✔️ Parent coaching included�
✔️ Flexible scheduling�
✔️ Covered by many insurance plans
Your child’s communication matters — and we’re here for every step.
�Contact us today!�

12/05/2025

FUN FRIDAY GAME!�Try “I Spy (Sound)” 👀
Pick a sound your child is practicing, like S:�“I spy something that starts with S… shoes! sock! soap! stairs!”
This helps with:
✔️ Sound awareness�✔️ Sound production�✔️ Listening skills
No prep. No stress. Just fun. 😄
�Tell us what sound you're practicing!
�

12/04/2025

12/03/2025

12/01/2025

Why December Is a Great Time for Speech & Language?
Winter and holiday season bring a natural boost in motivation for many kids. Whether it’s holiday stories, decorating, or sharing presents there are lots of chances for language use at home. These activities offer relevant vocabulary, social communication, and shared family conversation.
Despite the busyness, routine supports communication progress. Because kids may be home more often or spending extra time with family, these moments can become opportunities for informal practice practicing greetings, describing decorations, narrating events, and sharing holiday memories.
That makes now a great time for families to engage with us, or continue support, so holiday fun turns into language growth.

11/28/2025

It's finally Friday! We've got you covered for !

❄️ Yeti Spaghetti Speech Session Plan (30 minutes)
Ages: 3–4
Targets: /s/, /sh/, /r/, /k/
Skills: articulation, vocabulary, turn-taking, following directions
Theme: Silly Yeti + spaghetti noodles

🍝 1. Warm-Up (3 minutes): “Wake the Yeti”
Do silly Yeti voices while practicing target sounds:

/s/: “Ssssnow! Ssssilly Yeti!”
/sh/: “Shhh… Yeti is sleeping!”
/r/: “Rrrrroar like a Yeti!”
/k/: “K-K-K cold!”

Let each child say one sound and “wake” the Yeti.

🧵 2. Main Game: Pull-the-Spaghetti Yeti (10 minutes)

Use plastic straws (spaghetti) over a bowl with a Yeti on top.
How to Play:
Kids take turns pulling 1 straw. Before pulling, they say a target picture or word below.
Target Word Lists for 3–4 year olds
/s/

sun
sock
sad
sit
seal
soap
bus
mess

/sh/

shoe
shark
sheep
ship
shhh
shell
shower

/r/ (early /r/ words most kids can attempt)

run
row
rain
red
rock
rocket
ring

/k/

cat
cup
cow
car
cookie
coat
corn

If the Yeti falls: everyone makes a silly sound using the target for that round.

🎣 3. Articulation Sorting: Feed the Yeti (7 minutes)
Use a bowl/cup with a Yeti face and small items (pom-poms, paper noodles).

Setup:
4 bowls labeled S, SH, R, K
Kids sort picture cards into the correct Yeti bowl.

Language Targets:
“Where does sun go?”
“Does this start with sh or s?”
“Feed the Yeti the /k/ food!”

Supports sound discrimination + early phonological awareness.

🍽️ 4. Yeti’s Dinner Sequencing (5 minutes)

Kids build a “plate” with yarn spaghetti and picture foods.
Give 1-step and 2-step directions for this age:

“Put one noodle on the plate.”
“Add a cookie and a corn.”
“Last, give Yeti the red rock (just to be silly).”

Encourage expressive speech:
“What did YOU put first?”
“What did you add next?”

❄️ 5. Goodbye Game: Yeti Says (5 minutes)

A speech-friendly Simon Says.
Commands using target sounds:

/s/ — “Yeti says sit,” “Yeti says slide,” “Yeti says scoop snow”
/sh/ — “Yeti says shiver,” “Yeti says shake”
/r/ — “Yeti says roar,” “Yeti says run”
/k/ — “Yeti says kick,” “Yeti says clap” (works on initial /k/)

Keep it quick, silly, and movement-heavy.

11/26/2025

11/20/2025

Phonological Awareness Game 🔤
Rhyme race! Put pictures on the floor: cat, log, sun, goat. Call a word—kids hop to the rhyme. Rhyme awareness supports later reading & spelling.

11/18/2025

Build seasonal vocabulary with a leaf bin: rake, crunch, swirl, pile, toss. Pair verbs with gestures to boost understanding (and it’s great sensory input!).

11/17/2025

11/14/2025

Friday crafting to do with your little fairy! 🍂💫✨