Communicate Love All Year Through

expressions of love

February – the month of love; loving and caring for our family, our friends, our significant other. Don’t keep the love only in the month of February. Life gets in the way of the best plans. Set a small goal for you and your loved ones to communicate how much you love and appreciate each other (and others) on a more regular basis.  

The suggestions made for wishing others a Happy Valentine’s day can be incorporated throughout the year.  Change the message (ie: Get well; Have a great day; etc) or just sending love, not only helps your loved one practice communication skills but strengthens the bond between the well wisher and the recipient.

Start the ‘Star of the Month’ in your house.  Choose one person – start with YOURSELF – and share some information your family may (or may not) know.  Pick a special time – after dinner, during dinner, before bed – for the ‘Star’ to communicate a special something.  The ‘Star’ can share favorite foods, places, colors, animals. The ‘Star’ can share a favorite memory or story. For loved ones that communicate using alternative means, use a basic communication board or basic signs to share this information.  Use a family picture to communicate a favorite story or memory. Use labels from favorites foods to communicate that information to the rest of the family. The ‘Star’ practices communicating effectively and everyone learns more reasons to love and appreciate the ‘Star’.

Communicate love and appreciation at lunch.  Put a ‘love note’ to your loved ones lunch boxes, backpacks, or briefcases. A little reminder mid-day that someone is thinking of them and wanting their day to be special.  These ‘love notes’ do not need to be complicated or even in written form for that matter. Search for and print out pictures of favorite cartoon characters or superheroes and just put them where your loved one will see them.  Blot lipstick on a piece of paper and send a ‘kiss’ to your loved one – no words necessary. Cut a napkin in a heart and/or buy special character napkins to include in lunches every once in a while.

No matter your age, communicating a simple ‘I’m thinking about you’ message makes the day better and brighter.  

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Boxing Day!

Here’s to the success and survival of the big day!  Given the millions of new toys that may now ‘live’ in your home, nothing is quite as exciting for some children as the boxes that once housed those toys. Why is that a thing? Generation after generation have been stymied by the same question.

Who are we to question? Turn those hours of climbing in boxes into therapy opportunities.

Large or small, playing with boxes, or any toys, is a wonderful way to practice shared attention, turn taking, and sharing. These exchanges, for a moment or a while, are so important to developing conversation skills, play skills, and social skills.

Large boxes – let the creativity go wild. Large boxes are ideal for creating a playhouse, cave, tent, or castle. Add a few blankets and pillows and a flashlight and you have the makings of hours of imaginative play.  Not only are these great vessels to take imaginations to the outer limits, these are wonderful oases of quiet. The language opportunities are never ending. Every empty box needs decorations. A few crayons and stickers and a masterpiece is born. Requesting crayon colors or stickers or continuation of the activity are all ways to get a little language practice in with no one being the wiser.

Medium boxes aren’t just for sweaters or shirts anymore. Line the floor with opened boxes and create games of moving in and out of the boxes – lily pad jumping, indoor hopscotch.  These games can incorporate vocabulary and language concepts of in, out, go, stop, more, waiting for your turn, etc. All important skills for developing and practicing language.

Small boxes – the gems of the box family. Tape these closed and use as building blocks – great for individuals with dexterity issues. Build box towers. Up, on top, bottom, more, help, crash, boom, uh-oh – vocabulary and language concepts waiting to be part of the tower construction.  

Once the boxes lose their charm, it’s off to the recycling bin! However,  the opportunity to practice language and social skills will never lose its charm!

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

How to Manage Parades, Picnics and Firewords this 4th of July

pexels photo 450301

Don’t let the ‘ring’ ruin the day!

July 4th week!  Picnics! Parades! Fireworks! Tantrums!  Wait, what? Yes, you read that correctly, tantrums! Otherwise known as ‘melt-downs’, ‘explosions’, ‘losing your marbles’, whatever the name, the result of these moments in time can create a stressful situation for everyone involved, child, parent, siblings, and casual observers. As mentioned in previous posts, one way to better manage these moments is count on them and plan for them.

Count on the fact that there will be something your child will not understand, wants but won’t be able to clearly communicate, be afraid of, not want to wait for, etc.  You probably already know what that ‘something’ is without having to even be in the situation. This year, proactively prepare your child for these situations.

Parades-

In the town I live in, the 4th of July parade is one of the premier events of the Summer – one NOT to miss! The parade route is lines with friendly faces 3 and 4 deep.  There will be at least 3 bands, firetrucks, and emergency trucks to entertain young and old. AND the best part – CANDY!!!! Every float will be tossing candy to the crowd! Fun?!??!  Not for everyone! If your community has a parade or if you will be at a parade at anytime with your child, consider a few of these tips:

  • Find a location along the route that is less populated and stake your claim.
    • Typically the start of the parade or early into the route is less crowded.  
    • Ask the homeowner if you can sit on their tree lawn (this simple question could be the start of a new friendship).
    • Ask if you can put lawn chairs or a blanket in the area that you will be sitting either the evening before or early in the AM – now you don’t have to be haired looking for a place to sit/stand during the parade.
  • Consider using some sort of music or headphones to help regulate the noise.
    • If your child will wear ear plugs or has noise canceling headphones make sure to use them before the parade starts – don’t want your child to be startled by the marching band’s drumline or the fire engine’s siren.
    • If your child will listen to music, have his/her favorite playlist on a portable device.  She/he can still enjoy the parade while listening to preferred music which will help dampen the other sounds.
  • Typically, the parade line-up is available somewhere – city website, friend of a friend is the chairperson, etc.
    • Preview the parade  – “First we will see the fire trucks, then we will see the marching band, then we will see the baseball teams, etc.”.
    • Help anticipate what is happening next – “After the clowns, we will see and hear the huge fire truck.”
    • Plan your entry and exit – “After the dance float, the parade is over and we will go home.”
  • Somehow, someway, make sure your child’s name and YOUR cell number are on your child.
    • Use a marker and write it on his/her arm.
    • Make a name tag and put it on your child’s BACK
    • If she/he will keep a necklace or bracelet on make one  – Pintrest is FULL of ideas.

Picnics –

Many choices and  many new foods can make for a frustrating mealtime for everyone.  Not only preparing the meal (or part of it) is stressful, but worrying that your child may or may not eat all day adds another layer of stress.  Do yourself a favor and try one or all of these tips.

  • Offer to bring something that requires little to no preparation – you’ll have your hands full – paper products, beverages, chips are all great options without the fuss.
  • Bring food you know your child will eat – it’s OK if she/he is not eating what everyone else it eating – it’s a picnic.  What’s on the plate is not what’s important; those sitting around the table are!
  • Make your child’s favorite breakfast – and plenty of it – so you know he/she has eaten a complete meal, even if the rest of the day is a steady diet of chips and watermelon.
  • Bring a special blanket or lawn chair for specific for your child.  Maybe it has a character on it that is calming or ‘hugs’ your child when he/she sits in it. Don’t give it up to anyone else, make it a special ‘safe’ place for your child.
  • Create or bring a small tent for your child.  Give them a space (much like the chair or blanket) that is away from the bustle of others – you may want to crawl in it with them at some time :).
  • Make a quick choice board of the different foods.
    • Bring tape, scissors and a piece of paper to the picnic.
      • Cut labels off of foods and tape them on the paper
    • Use your cell phone
      • Take pictures of the different food items
      • Put them in a collage – instant communication board

Fireworks –

Amazing and scary all in one! Hopefully some of these ideas will end up in you and your family enjoying the fireworks versus fearing the fireworks.

  • Location, location, location –
    • Look for a location where you can see the fireworks but maybe not hear them
    • Find a location where you can watch them from inside (ie: upstairs bedroom window)
    • Discover a location where your child (and you) feel safe
  • Headphones/music – see above in the parade section
  • Watch them on TV

Remember, these are just moments in time, so enjoy every one!  Prior planning puts everyone in a better place! Happy Fourth of July!

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy.

Making Learning Fun for Everyone: Lakeshore Summer Programs

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC is proud to announce our 2018 Summer Programs.

While the brochure is available on our website, we wanted to take a few moments to dive deeper into explaining these great opportunities.

Speech Boot Camp –

This camp is designed for children with apraxia, motor speech impairment or phonological disorders to provide intensive and individualized speech therapy over the course of 2 weeks.  This ‘camp’ is a one on one opportunity with Ellen Spear.  Each child would come for 30 minutes of intensive therapy hyper-focused on the child’s needs specific to speech production. Ellen will draw upon her expertise in this area as well as her certification in PROMPT.  This may be the opportunity your child needs to set into motion significant progress related to speech production.  June 18-21 and June 25-28. Space is limited. $60/session – this camp can be billed to insurance or paid privately.

Roller Coaster Makers Camp – 

designed for students entering the 9th – 12th grades who may struggle with social skills, making friends, and working in groups.  This camp will highlight a social skill per day and then incorporate that skill within the day’s construction of a roller coaster.  This camp will  combine STEM skills as well as social skills/executive functioning skills and will be led by VernaAnn Kotansky.  As a certified Assistive Technology Specialist and Speech therapist, VernaAnn will draw upon her love of science and technology to create an open and enriching experience for the teens in this camp.  Direction following will be a must as well as ability to work independently and demonstrate self-regulatory behaviors.  Every camper will take home a roller coaster, but not until the “Gallery of Roller Coasters” is shared with family and friends. June 19 – 22nd – 10am-12pm. $300. Space is limited to 6 students. Private pay only as this group is not a skilled service therefore we are unable to bill insurance.

Lakeshore Has Gone To The Dogs! A Reading Summer Camp – 

designed for students entering the 1st to 3rd grades – Lakeshore is proud and excited to introduce Stan the Therapy Dog and his amazing handler (and elementary school teacher with 20 years of experience) Patti Cramer. This program will run 3 sessions which will focus on practicing reading strategies to improve Accuracy, Fluency and Comprehension.  During each session: Day 1 :Reading Accuracy-assess and practice reading strategies to improve a reader’s accuracy; Day 2: Reading Fluency– Work on pacing, phrasing, punctuation and reading with expression; Day 3: Reading Comprehension– introduce and practice various strategies to improve reading comprehension. Students will read books at their independent level to accomplish these tasks. Students will have one on one time with Patti. They will also work together on these strategies and they will have the opportunity to read to Stan to show off their skills.  Session 1: June 11-13,  Session 2: June 18-20, Session 3: June 25-17  – 10:00-11:30am.  Space is limited to 4 students per session. Cost $250/session. All 3 sessions- $700.  Private pay only as this group is not a skilled service therefore we are unable to bill insurance.

Guided Makers Social Skills Camp –

designed for students entering the 5th – 8th grades who struggle with social skills, making friends and working in groups.  STEM skills are every important in today’s world and this camp will begin to introduce those skills in combination with social skills. Social skills will be introduced daily and campers will practice these  social skills while making “STEM creations” and working in a group.  This camp will be led by VernaAnn Kotansky as well.  Campers will take home their creations.  The camp will culminate with a “Makers’ Gallery” for friends and family to enjoy all the creations! June 12 – 14th – 10am-12pm. $300. Space is limited to 6 students. Private pay only as this group is not a skilled service therefore we are unable to bill insurance.

Superflex: A Superhero Social Thinking Curriculum – 

designed for students ages 8 – 11 years old.  Following the amazing adventures of Superflex, your campers will gain the Superhero skills to combat the likes of the horrible villains ‘Rock Brain’, ‘WasFunnyOnce’, and ‘Glassman’ to name a few. This class will be led by Ellen Spear.  Your child will be engaged in the world of Superflex while learning and practicing the ever important social skills.  Perfect timing for a refresher as they begin to prepare for the start of the 2018-19 school year!  August 6-9th – 3-4pm. $300. Space is limited to 6 students.  Private pay only as this group is not a skilled service therefore we are unable to bill insurance.

Registration Information – Spots are Limited

Registration deadline for all programs is May 25,  2018. Payment is due in full by the date of the first class for all programs.  There will be no refunds for missed sessions. We reserve the right to cancel and reschedule session days  at any time.  We accept cash, check and most major credit cards as payment. 

Upon registering, we will send you a packet of information that must be completely filled out and returned by June 6, 2018.

We reserve the right to cancel the class entirely should registration not meet minimum requirements.  All clients that did register will be notified at least three (3) days prior to the first class and refunds will be given at that time.

Register for all programs by calling (1-440-471-7901) or emailing Kelly (krigo@lakeshorespeech.com) at Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC

 

 

How to Celebrate Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness month.

We here are Lakeshore are proud to work with families and for individuals on the Autism spectrum. There is no one way, one recipe, one program that fits all children with Autism.  We celebrate these differences!

Celebrate Every Success – Big or Small

Those working with children with Autism strive to finding the keys to unlock communication skills. While progress in finding those ‘keys’ at times can feel painfully slow, your speech-language pathologist is here for you to continually push, model, and encourage you and your child.  Even the smallest step of forward progress is cause for celebration!
Lakeshore Speech celebrates with you and your child!

How to Celebrate Childhood Apraxia of Speech

What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?

Childhood Apraxia of Speech is some degree of disrupted speech motor control.In other words,  a child diagnosed with CAS experiences  difficulty rapidly and accurately moving and sequencing  the tongue, lips and palate for the required movements for continuous and intelligible speech production.  While the data on incidents of CAS in children is lacking, the estimates of some sources indicate that CAS is low incidence with perhaps 1 – 10 in 1000 children affected or 3 – 5 % of speech-impaired preschoolers.

What does this look like at home, one the playground, in preschool?

A child with CAS may experience a limited number of vowel sounds, difficulty imitating mouth movements and/or words/sounds, or a variety of errors that may be unusual or idiosyncratic.  Children with CAS may or may not experience receptive language deficits.  Depending on the child, negative behaviors associated with not being understood may also be evident.

What does a parent do?  Where do you go?

An experienced Speech-Language Pathologist in the area of CAS can help navigate families and children through the CAS journey.  As a parent/caregiver, do not feel intimidated asking if your SLP has experience in the area of CAS.  The therapists at Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC. are happy to answer your questions about CAS as well as provide specific therapeutic interventions.

February is CAS awareness month.  If you would like more information, please feel free to ask your Speech-Language Pathologists as well as visit The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Learn How to Use and Model Social Skill Filters

“I can’t believe you just said that!” We have all experienced a moment when our child blurts out a thought  that should have stayed in their heads.

Join Ellen Spear, MA, CCC-SLP, of Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC, as she helps children use their “social filter” and understand how words and actions have an effect on others. Using role play, video, and smalll group activities,  this hour long program will focus on deciphering the hidden rules of  inside thoughts vs expressing a thought out loud.. We will  determine whether we need to use our “thinking bubble”  or “talking bubble” across a variety of different social situations and learn about the where, when, and who of venting.

Where: Lakewood Public Library
When: Saturday, February 3, Sessions begin at 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm

Online registration at www.connectingforkids.org

How to Use Coupons to Build Communication

Coupons can help create communicaiton

Junk mail,  inserts in the Sunday papers….those shiny glossy teeny tiny piece of paper worth $.25, $.50, $1!!!!!  If you are savvy shopper your coupons are organized and ready to go with every shopping trip.  If you are not the organized savvy shopper, your coupons are a crumpled at the bottom of your purse or better yet in a pile on the kitchen counter, never to see the inside of a store.

Coupons are not just for saving a few pennies!  Coupons open the door for communication!  There are a number of easy – and fast – ways to not only create a mode of communication for your child, but to help she/he practice specific sounds, increase story telling, turn taking, and the list goes on!

How to Use Coupons to Create a Communication Board

Coupon Communication Board:  use coupons or the adds surrounding the coupons to make a simple communication board for your child.  Cut the object on coupon object out and tape or glue it in a grid form on a piece of paper.  The next time you are playing 20 questions trying to figure out what your child would like for a snack, a drink, breakfast, lunch or dinner simply pull out your “Coupon Communication Board” and have she/he point to the choice.

Expanding Communication

Coupons expand communication: not only can coupons create a wonder communication board, but those glossy adds make for wonderful ‘stories’ to talk about.  What do you see?  What is that?  Who is that? What are they doing?  Should a doggie be allowed to play with toilet paper?  Does candy really talk?  Touch something blue. Do you see anything that flies?  The number of questions to elicit and expand communication is endless!

No need to go crazy trying to find that ‘just right picture’, they’re right under your nose. Coupons are for communication!

 

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Consider Making Your Resolutions for the New Year!

Speech-Language Therapy Resolutions for a New Year

“What’s your resolution this year?” The most frequently asked question from January 1st – 10th of any year.  After about 10 days of asking we are all pretty certain that either a. all resolutions have been broken or b. there were none to begin with.  For 2018 we might consider to resolve ourselves versus struggle to meet unrealistic resolutions.  Resolve ourselves to find the good in all actions and words. Resolve ourselves to be present…present to our children, our partner, our friends, our corner of the world.  Resolve ourselves to laugh more, to smile more, to find the joy, to communicate!

Developing Communicaiton Skills is a Team Resolution

So how does this remotely relate to speech-language therapy?  Good question! Communication is not just made up of one mode of expression – talking. Rather communication is any way we get our message understood – talking, facial gestures, hand gestures, sign-language, AAC devices, etc. ; being understood is what communication is all about.  Speech-language therapy is a means by which we learn how to communicate in a mode that is most effective and efficient.  Speech-language therapy does not happen in a bubble and a Speech-Language Therapist (SLP) cannot make effective change in communication  without the support and team-work of a child’s entire TEAM .  Speech-language therapy is most effective when the entire TEAM is on the same page working towards the same end.   The resolve of the entire TEAM has to be finding, practicing and expecting  a child to communicate in the most effective and efficient mode.  As the main members of the TEAM, parents/caregivers need to communicate with the SLP.  Your SLP wants to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly….what worked, what didn’t work.  Your SLP should be able to clearly explain how to best manage and create an environment for successful communication in a manner that works for the ENTIRE TEAM.  The time spent communicating with your SLP is equally as important as the time she/he spends working with your child.  By resolving ourselves to communicate more effectively, our children not only learn by our example but those around us will as well.

 

Hats off to the start of amazing things in 2018!

 

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC