Meryl Chinman

11/03/2026

https://merylchinmanid.wixsite.com/merylchinman/post/chewing-blowing-and-tongue-exercises-won-t-fix-your-child-s-speech-but-they-do-help-with-eating

Many parents are surprised to hear this, but chewing, blowing and tongue exercises are not designed to improve speech.Activities like chewing practice, blowing bubbles, blowing whistles, or doing tongue “workouts” are often believed to strengthen the mouth for speech. While these exercises may l...

24/01/2026

https://merylchinmanid.wixsite.com/merylchinman/post/mouthing-in-young-children-a-speech-therapist-s-perspective

As speech therapists, we are frequently asked by parents and teachers whether it is “normal” for babies and toddlers to put everything in their mouths. While mouthing can look concerning, it is often a developmentally appropriate behavior and an important foundation for feeding, speech, and self...

17/01/2026

Hello 2026! Let's communicate....

04/12/2025

It's been a year! Intense, exhausting, challenging and filled with lots of frustration. BUT, when it comes to a close like this, I am reminded of how blessed I am to work with these special, little people.👪

The card on the left is from a beautiful young lady that I helped over a year ago. She has not forgotten me!💗

The card on the right is from a long term client who's daughter spent 6 years with me. From age 3 years when she had no vocabulary and language. She leaves for abroad ready to take on the world! We both cried today. 😭

What a privilege it is to help these little people communicate 🗣🙏

27/11/2025

It's a race until the finish.....

26/10/2025

https://merylchinmanid.wixsite.com/merylchinman/post/punctuation-is-in-peril

17/10/2025

Small fingers learning through play

25/09/2025

Lots of learning happening...

05/09/2025

It's been a while since I posted ... it's been a busy time!!

29/07/2025

https://merylchinmanid.wixsite.com/merylchinman/post/speech-vs-language-what-s-the-difference

29/07/2025

https://merylchinmanid.wixsite.com/merylchinman/post/speech-vs-language-what-s-the-difference

If you have been wondering why your child has been referred to a Speech Therapist when their challenges seem more about understanding and/or expressing ideas; here's why!Many people use the terms speech and language interchangeably - but they are not the same thing.What is Speech?Speech is how you p...

01/06/2025

The car is actually a fantastic place to teach mindful listening! It's a contained space with fewer distractions and plenty of opportunities for meaningful conversation.Why is the car ideal? • No eye contact pressure: This helps anxious or shy children feel safer. • Natural transitions: After sc...