Speak To Me Kids

03/30/2026

Springtime scavenger hunt🍃🌼🌷🌿

Head outside and turn your walk into a language-building adventure!

Can your child find:

A flower 🌺, a bird 🐦‍⬛a bug 🐜, a big tree🌳, a cloud☁️ etc.

Boost speech & language by:

🌸Asking wh-questions (“Where did you find the bug?”)

🌸Describing (“Is the flower big or small?”)

🌸Expanding sentences (“I see a bird” → “I see a brown bird in the tree!”)

🌸Practicing location words (under, on, next to)

Learning + fresh air = the perfect spring combo

03/25/2026

When helping our children learn to speak modeling matters and so do the words we use! Here’s a helpful tip:

Instead of: “Say it.”

Try:

“Tell me what you need.”

“You can say, ‘I want ___.’”

(Model it first!) “I want the ball.”

Why:

“Say it” can put pressure on a child and lead to silence or frustration.

When you model the exact words and then pause, you’re teaching them how to say it — not just expecting them to perform.

Less pressure. More support. More communication.

Model → Pause → Let them try.

03/17/2026

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all of us at Speak To Me Kids!

Today we’re feeling extra lucky to work with so many amazing children and families. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your child’s communication journey!

Wishing you a day filled with smiles, laughter, and a little bit of magic!

03/16/2026

03/13/2026

☕️ Friday Fuel!

Speech therapists run on two things: coffee and communication goals! 😄

Whether it’s practicing new sounds, building sentences, or celebrating tiny wins, a little caffeine helps keep the energy going in our therapy room!!

Let’s go into the weekend ensuring we target those carryover goals and keep practicing with your kids!

03/10/2026

Let’s learn about “Environmental Sabotage”

Environmental Sabotage is a great speech and language strategy which intentionally creates minor obstacles in your child's environment. By making it a little more difficult to access a desired item (toy, snack, etc), you create a real life, motivating need for the child to initiate communication.

So “how” you ask?

* Withhold Essential Items: Give your child an activity but leave out a key component. For example, provide a coloring book without crayons, a container of bubbles without the wand, or a bowl of food without a spoon.
* Create Accessibility Barriers: Place favorite toys or snacks in a sealed container that the child cannot open, or put them on a high shelf where they can see but not reach them.
* Playfully Disrupt Routines: Act as if you have forgotten a step in a familiar routine. For instance, put them in the bathtub without water, or try to puzzle pieces in the wrong place, give them a plate without the snack.
* Offer "Wrong" Items: During a snack or play activity, intentionally provide the wrong item (e.g., a fork for soup or a ball when they asked for a car) to prompt them to correct you or ask for what they actually need.
* Play "Dumb": If the child points or gestures for something, you can playfully act confused or pretend not to understand, giving them a chance to use their words or a more specific sign/device to clarify their request.

Remember to:
* Keep it Fun
* Observe and Wait
* Follow Their Lead
* Ensure Success: Always provide the requested item after they make an effort to communicate

Remember to take time to talk today and everyday!

03/09/2026

⭐MEET OUR SPEECH STAR LEO!⭐

Leo has been receiving speech therapy services at Speak to Me Kids since 2021 and has been
working with Miss Amanda since 2025. Leo has
been working hard at STMK to work on expressive
and receptive language skills, social pragmatic
skills, and feeding therapy. Together, Leo and Miss Amanda have built a strong connection and
created a safe and trusting environment where he
feels confident exploring new foods and taking on
new challenges with courage and determination.

Over the past several months, Leo has made
outstanding progress in feeding therapy. Through
structured sensory exploration, he has become
increasingly comfortable interacting with new foods by touching, smelling, licking, biting and now eating them. What once felt overwhelming is now an opportunity for curiosity and growth. He has developed the confidence not only to try a wider variety of foods during sessions but also to
continue exploring new options at home. His
expanding food repertoire now includes steak,
chicken nuggets, burgers, salmon, salami,
spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, carrots, orange
slices, grapes, and a variety of snacks. This
progress reflects his hard work, growing
self-confidence, and increased willingness to
engage with new sensory experiences.

Leo is full of curiosity and loves learning about how the foods he eats turn into “superpowers” for his body. He’s excited to try new foods because he knows protein helps him grow big, strong muscles so he can lift his dog, Nicco, and carbohydrates give him the turbo charged energy he needs to zoom, jump, and race through obstacle courses like Mario.

Leo continues to shine at STMK and we
are so proud to have him as our Speech Star for March!

03/08/2026

We had a great time celebrating Miss Stefani, the mother to be! We are so excited for her next chapter!!

03/06/2026

In every session we try to make work fun! Board games with a purpose is always a great way to keep kids engaged while targeting speech and language goals!

Here’s one of our favorite speech and language games! S’match!

We like this game because it targets many skills in a fun filled way including:

* Memory
* Sorting and categorizing
* Early reading (cards have pictures and words)
* Taking turns and basic strategy

S’match is like memory with a twist! Instead of looking for exact identical pairs, you spin the wheel to determine how to match the tiles. Each match is based on different attributes chosen by the spinner -color, category and number.

Remember to take time to talk today and everyday!

03/04/2026

Did you know March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month?

Developmental Disability Awareness Month, is a time to celebrate inclusion, increase our understanding, and highlight the strengths and potential of individuals with developmental disabilities. At STMK, we are proud to support children with diverse communication needs, including those with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other developmental differences.

We strongly believe every child deserves a voice and the opportunity to communicate. Through individualized therapy, family collaboration, and evidence-based practices, we work to empower children to build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and participate fully in their communities.

Please take time this month (and every month) to Listen & Learn! Engage with individuals with developmental disabilities and learn from them.

02/26/2026

Remember to take time to talk!

02/25/2026

Let’s make a pacing board!!

A pacing board is a simple tool used in speech therapy to help control our speech rate and improve our speech sound production. A pacing board consists of marked spaces or circles where the speaker will tap as they speak, promoting slower and more deliberate speech. These circles provide a visual and tactile way to manage speech production.

Because they are effective in helping individuals control their speech rate, pacing boards can help with various speech disorders, including dysarthria, apraxia of speech, stuttering, and articulation disorders. Try making one at home today!!

An i mal
⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️

I see a house
⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️

Remember to take time to talk today!