Mrs. Marci's Speech Party

02/01/2022

Meet Mrs. Kelley! 🎉
In December, Kelley Centi joined our team, and we are so excited to have her! She is an experienced speech language pathologist having spent time working in elementary and junior high schools, as well as in home health.

Mrs. Kelley is also a mom and wife and understands both the excitement and challenges that come with family life! Just look at her precious family!

Having Mrs. Kelley on our team has allowed us to increase our availability for speech parties! Yay! If you are interested in speech therapy for your little ones, or would just like more information, please call or email us! We would be happy to help you in the process. 🧡

09/24/2020

Hello party people! Keeping up with social media will probably never be my thing 🙃 BUT I wanted to give a little update: ⠀
Mrs. Marci’s Book Party! 📚🎉 ⠀
⠀
I am hosting a language enrichment group for 3 year olds this fall, and it has been a blast! They are the sweetest kiddos! We spend our time playing, reading, learning, crafting, exploring the outdoors, eating snacks, and just being silly! 🤪😉 I’ll *try* to post some of our fun activities as we go!⠀
⠀
Mrs. Marci’s Book Party has been the perfect way to add more celebrating into life during this strange season! 🧡

04/14/2020

🎉 MINI SPEECH PARTY | picture schedule 🎉 Here is our family’s simple picture schedule taped on the end of a bookshelf. We prefer a schedule that gives us routine and predictability more than sticking to a strict time schedule. ⠀
⠀
So here's what we do!.. the white papers stay everyday and the pink post it notes change daily. Each morning we plan out our day by adding in the pink activities into our outline of a schedule. This allows kiddos to feel ownership in the day and have things to look forward to! As we go through our day, Olivia excitedly says, "we need to check the list!" or "what's next!" This is so helpful for both of us! ⠀
⠀
Most days, it has helped minimize grumbling about nap and reduce questions about screen time! 🤪 I let Olivia choose when she has screen time but she only has one post it note so she knows once it's done to not continue asking all day. (Of course she still tries sometimes but hey, she's 3 🤷🏻‍♀️) ⠀
⠀
🎯 Also I add in things that must be done by taking turns as we add our pink notes to the schedule, such as adding our ERRANDS post it when we need to pick up groceries.⠀
⠀
With multiple kids, you can adapt this to meet the ages and schedules in your home. Maybe all taking turns adding to the schedule or giving each kid their own. Be flexible. Move things around as you need. ⠀
⠀
🗯 This simple schedule will also be developing areas of language as you use it:⠀
-sequencing⠀
-vocabulary ⠀
-inferencing⠀
-cause and effect⠀
-turn taking⠀
-following directions ⠀
-and add activities into your options such as reading, pretend play, music time!⠀
⠀
And remember, every family has different needs and rhythms so make this work for your family’s needs! 🧡

04/01/2020

🎉 MINI SPEECH PARTY | cut and count 🎉 We traced, cut, put in order, glued, and counted with stickers! ⠀
⠀
🎯 Language targets:⠀
-Vocabulary (labeling stickers, scissors, shapes, colors, etc.)⠀
-Sequencing (counting)⠀
-Following directions⠀
-Asking for help⠀
-Sensory (sticky glue 😝)⠀
-Conversational skills (ask questions and make comments while working together)⠀
⠀
👉🏼Adapt this to meet the needs of your kiddos. Maybe 1-3 is where you should start, or spell their name. Take this idea and make it work for your kiddos! And remember, it does not have to be perfect! 🧡⠀
⠀

03/31/2020

Hi party people! 🎉 It’s been a lonnng minute since you’ve heard from me! We added a new little buddy to our family in October, and life has been reallylbusy ever since. And to be honest, I’m just not very good at this social media game. 😬🤷🏻‍♀️ But in light of COVID-19, not working, and spending everyday at home with the littles, I’ve decided to break the silence and post some mini parties to hopefully help give ideas of simple ways to support speech and language at home! These will be simple, nothing fancy, minimal prep, and fun! (And short and sweet so that I can keep up with posting! 🤪) My hope is that these help you have some intentional moments throughout the strange days to come. These are not meant to be a burden or another obligation. Only an idea to use if it works well for your family! 🧡 First coming soon! 🥳 | 📷:

02/28/2019

Our house always has playdoh within reach! 🖐🏼 Although playdoh can be an easy quiet time activity, it is also a great opportunity to play with your child and enhance their speech and language development! 🎉

Check out the blog to see:
-what our playdoh set up includes
-what we are targeting
-strategies you can use

Do you let your kids mix all the playdoh colors together or play with one color at a time?! Confession: it makes me cringe a little when the colors mix! 🤷🏻‍♀️ Have fun on your next playdoh speech and language adventure, no matter how your colors mix!

🧡Mrs. Marci

Playdoh can create a great opportunity to play with your child and enhance his or her speech and language development!

02/19/2019

🎉 Parallel talk happens when you describe the actions of the child while they are playing (or doing anything really!) I encourage you to take time everyday, no matter where you are, to interact with your little ones using 🧡

Parallel talk happens when you describe the actions of the child while they are playing (or doing anything really!)

02/14/2019

Happy Valentine's Day! ❤️ One of my favorite ways to celebrate is with homemade Valentines! And don't forget to throw in some flowers! 🌸🤗 Homemade cards for any occasion are a great way to create opportunities for speech and language development with your littles! 💌

01/24/2019

Guys, it’s almost February, but Happy New Year!! 🎉🎉 We made the most of the holidays over here and are trying to embrace the newness of 2019 with new hopes and goals, but also just trying to get back into a normal routine....anyone else feel that? ⠀
⠀
Anyway, I thought I would say HELLO 👋🏼 to those of you I know, and ✨WELCOME✨ to those of you who are new here! I am Mrs. Marci, and this is my little space where I hope to provide ideas and activities that you can use with your kiddos for speech and language development at home (or wherever you may be!) ⠀
⠀
I’m a momma and a speech-language pathologist, so all of the things I share, I am doing right alongside you, both with my own daughter and with my kiddos that I spend time with in therapy! Some days these things go well and create enjoyable time together, and other days it just doesn’t go as planned, AND THAT’S OKAY! 🤗⠀
⠀
Will you fight “mom guilt” and comparison with me in 2019? 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼 I’m going to limit my time browsing social media, which helps me not get lost comparing my life to others. Theodore Roosevelt said, “comparison is the thief of joy” and even though he didn’t have an instagram account, I think he knew what he was talking about! How can you fight mom guilt and comparison in your life this year?! ⠀
⠀
If you have concerns about your little one's speech and language development, I'd be happy to chat with you about therapy! You can also check out the website for other info and resources. 🧡⠀
(👉🏼link in bio)

10/25/2018

MINI PARTY OF THE WEEK | washing dishes 🎉⠀
⠀
Washing dishes can be fun, right?? 🍽 Real talk, my husband is the dishmaster at our house! BUT sometimes my girl and I help him out! 🤗 There are so many language opportunities in this all-the-time household chore!⠀
⠀
⚠️WARNING: water will end up in places other than the sink and your patience might [will] be tested! For language learning’s sake, grab some towels and go for it anyway! 💦⠀
⠀
WHAT ARE YOU TARGETING?⠀
• Vocabulary⠀
-all the things you’re washing⠀
-cleaning supplies⠀
-opposites (wet/dry, clean/dirty, hot/cold, on/off, empty/full)⠀
-verbs: scrub, rinse, scrape⠀
-glass/metal/plastic⠀
-fragile⠀
-sharp⠀
• Sorting⠀
-clean or dirty⠀
-fragile or not fragile⠀
-utensils⠀
• Following directions⠀
-hand me the…⠀
-wash the…⠀
-dry the…⠀
-be careful!⠀
• Social skills⠀
-turn-taking⠀
-problem solving (water on the floor)⠀
-helping⠀
⠀
STRATEGIES TO USE⠀
-Explain what you are doing and why before you get started.⠀
-Modeling: demonstrate what needs to be done “Mommy is scrubbing the dirty pot,” then say “your turn” and give the child an opportunity to follow your instruction/model⠀
-Self talk! (👉🏼see previous post)⠀
-Play! 🎉 Children learn through play so use this opportunity to engage your child in playful interactions. Make up silly songs, make the spoon and fork have a conversation, pretend to eat or drink, hide your hands or dishes in the bubbles.⠀
-When giving directions, do your best to give a why! (Mommy is going to wash the knives BECAUSE they are sharp which means they could hurt you.)⠀
⠀
For all of you multi-taskers out there 🙋🏻‍♀️ this can be such a win! You’re playing, teaching, and cleaning all at the same time! What are some other ways you have learned to multi-task with your kiddos?⠀
⠀
🧡Mrs. Marci⠀
⠀