Cozy chats about speech, language and learning

Social Language

How Technology is Rewiring Childhood Mental Health

How Technology is Rewiring Childhood Mental Health

Jonathan Haidt “Technology is rewiring childhood mental health.” Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness takes a hard look at the rise of anxiety and depression among young people in the age of smartphones…

The Magic of Joint Attention: Observing Our Little Ones at Family Dinners

The Magic of Joint Attention: Observing Our Little Ones at Family Dinners

This summer, our family started a new tradition of weekly dinners, alternating between two homes. It’s been a delightful experience, especially watching our grandchildren interact with each other. The two girls, both one year old, are a joy to observe. What has really caught my…

Effective Strategies for Teaching Greetings to Students on the Autism Spectrum

Effective Strategies for Teaching Greetings to Students on the Autism Spectrum

Teaching greetings to a student on the autism spectrum using a multi-sensory approach can be highly effective, especially for those who crave sensory stimulation. Here’s a structured plan that incorporates various sensory modalities: 1. Visual Supports 2. Auditory Supports 3. Tactile Supports 4. Kinesthetic Supports…

Mastering Emotion Vocabulary: Multi-Sensory Strategies

Mastering Emotion Vocabulary: Multi-Sensory Strategies

Understanding and expressing emotions is a crucial part of social communication. For students on the autism spectrum, especially those who crave sensory input, teaching feeling words and how to express emotions can be challenging yet rewarding. A multi-sensory approach can make this learning process more…

Incorporating Social Skills in Speech and Language Therapy

Incorporating Social Skills in Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapy plays a crucial role in the development of communication skills in children, particularly those with speech and language challenges. However, there’s an often-overlooked aspect of communication that is vital for a child’s overall development: social skills. Incorporating social skills training into…

Powerful Changes with Early Intervention for Speech and Language Disorders

Powerful Changes with Early Intervention for Speech and Language Disorders

Communication is a fundamental aspect of human life. It shapes our interactions, relationships, and ability to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas. For some children, however, the development of speech and language skills may not follow the typical trajectory. Speech and language disorders can pose significant…

The Power of Picture Books: Supporting SEL in the Classroom

The Power of Picture Books: Supporting SEL in the Classroom

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to consider the holistic development of children. Social and emotional development is at the center of schools’ focus as schools are realizing that academics only are not enough to ensure a child’s success. Promoting social and emotional…

3  Ways To Teach Greetings and Names a Beginning Social Skill

3 Ways To Teach Greetings and Names a Beginning Social Skill

A potential friend is only a ‘Hello’ away. Paul Liebau One of the first social skills that I love to teach is greetings and student’s names. As a speech and language pathologist I know that although it might seem like a very simple skill when you…

What are Pragmatic Language Skills?

What are Pragmatic Language Skills?

What are pragmatic language skills? Pragmatic language refers to the social language skills that we use in our daily interactions with others. This includes what we say, how we say it, our non-verbal communication (eye contact, facial expressions, body language, etc.) and how appropriate our interactions are in a given situation.

How to Work with Mixed Groups in Speech and Language Therapy

How to Work with Mixed Groups in Speech and Language Therapy

How do you work with mixed groups in speech and language therapy? Working in groups in speech and language therapy can be challenging. Often the students will not all be on the same level. You may need to work with a classroom group in which…