Communication Zone Speech Therapy

09/06/2025

07/29/2025

04/22/2025

Your language matters

04/11/2025

Apr 2, 2025 By: daviddefusco Kayla Sullivan, a 2022 graduate of the Katz School’s M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology, works at P.S. 124 Yung Wing Elementary School, which has a large Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking population. By Dave DeFuscoKayla Sullivan, a 2022 graduate of the Katz School’s M...

02/16/2025

♥️SAVE this post for future reference so you know what to say to your toddler rather than just saying “no.”

Similar to using the speech strategy of “narrating”, it’s important to:

▪️Validate children’s emotions
▪️Elaborate you’re reasoning
▪️Provide a positive explanation

These are all teaching your child speech & language skills too like learning vocabulary for emotions, following directions, learning verbs, etc.

As a pediatric SLP working with young children, I’ve seen many of my clients get upset when they’re told “no”, but when they are provided with more positive statements vs. only saying a simple “no”, I honestly see a difference. Of course it’s not always guaranteed it’ll work, but I’ve seen it work most of the time!

If you think about it, toddlers hear the word(s) “no”, “stop that”, “no don’t do that, “no be nice” constantly throughout the day. And I’m not shaming parents who say this, I understand the intention behind it!

However, although some toddlers may not say as much, you’d be surprised how much they understand when we do explain things to them in a more positive way.

With that said, I’ve included some scenarios on what to say rather than “no” that may help you and your child.

💬Have you tried these types of phrases yet? What has worked for you and your toddler? Comment below!

📌SAVE, TAG, SHARE this with other parents who may benefit from these tips.

✨FOLLOW .slp for more speech tips, activities, & reels to help your child communicate!

10/23/2024

We 💯 should NOT *force* toddlers to learn their letters and numbers when they aren’t interested - just like we should NOT *stop* kids from learning letters and numbers if they are interested.

Play can look a lot of ways and all play is valid - it’s also developmentally appropriate for toddlers 🎉

10/02/2024

October is Sensory Processing Awareness Month.

08/27/2024

How much of their inclusion cup have you filled today?
Did you know that this visual is also available in several different languages?
Available through our online online store - digital category.
👇🏽
https://www.diversitykids.com.au/store/p214/%22Things_That_Fill_A_Child%27s_Inclusion_Cup%22_-_Visual_-_10_different_languages.html #/

08/20/2024

08/15/2024

08/20/2023

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

06/30/2023

👀 Visual Schedules- these can be game changers for many kids- but especially for Autistic kids!

🤔 WHY? They let kids know what to expect and takes away uncertainty AND can help with anxiety and set expectations.

Visual schedules can look a LOT of different ways and some kids may benefit from more concrete visuals, more detailed (step by step) lists, covering or marking off completed activities, and more.

This was the list I created in my notes app after the first few days of our vacation where Kam (7, who normally does great when traveling) was having some pretty strong tantrums about what I thought were random, no big deal things- like going to the bathroom before bed and changing his clothes - as well as wanting to play on his kindle all day, buy something at every store we went to, and me do his work to earn a jr ranger badge from the National park.

He definitely has more freedom when traveling and we always joke, “what do you think, that we’re on vacation?!” When he asks for things he generally wouldn’t have at home. I think it was confusing to him about what choices he was able to make and what things were not really optional- and the schedule helped. He even asked for his list when I forgot to make one some mornings!

I tried to put choices on his list when possible so he had some power in deciding things that were optional- and once we started doing this, he had ZERO tantrums (the last 11 days). It was a life saver for everyone (both the adults AND Kam)!

Have questions about visual schedules, let me know? 👇🏼