Category Archives: PlayWorks Blog 2022

Increasing Communication Opportunities for Language Learners

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We’ve all been there. Your language learner is indicating they want something. They might be crying, vocalizing, reaching for, or gazing at the item of their desire. As caretakers, we often anticipate their needs and are readily available to help. In this space between their indication and your response, however, is a great language learning opportunity. Our goal is to increase language use by: capitalizing on these organic moments, purposefully creating opportunities for communication, and providing models of language. Here are some helpful tips and tricks used in speech therapy sessions that can be used in the home and out in the community: 

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Spring Sensory Bins

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With April showers comes May flowers, mud and gardening! As the weather becomes warmer and our time outside increases, here are a few sensory bin ideas that can target your child’s need for exploration and keep all their senses alert! Sensory bins are a great way to introduce your child to new sensory experiences from smells to various textures.

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Spot the Difference: Understanding Vision and Perception

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Your child is sitting in the exam room chair for their annual eye check-up, and they are asked the notorious question that you always seem to overthink: “Which is better… 1… or… 2…” Did you know that optometrists are testing for visual acuity when they ask that question? But did you also know there are many more aspects of vision than just visual acuity that could be influencing your child’s ability to learn and play? Read on to learn more about how to spot the difference between visual skills!

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Echolalia, Echolalia… What Do You Mean?

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Like most things, the views on echolalia lie on a continuum. They range from considering its use non-functional, to tolerating it, to really accepting and celebrating it. We, as parents, caregivers, clinicians, and professionals, can facilitate further acceptance by understanding language learning differences, embracing echolalia, and educating others! 

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Crawling, Can My Child Skip It?

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Why is crawling such a big deal? What if my child doesn’t seem interested in crawling? These are all common questions that are brought up by parents. Crawling is much more than just a means of mobility. It provides a child with some important strengthening, coordination, and cognitive benefits that will help them much later than the baby and toddler years.  

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The Development of Play and How to Promote Play-Based Experiences for Your Young Child

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What is Play?

  1. Play is enjoyable and valued by the player.
  2. Play is intrinsically motivating.
  3. Play is spontaneous and voluntary. 
  4. Play involves some active engagement on the part of the player.
  5. Play is linked with creativity, problem-solving, language learning, and the development of social roles, and a number of other cognitive and social phenomena.

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Supporting Emergent Literacy

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Did you know that before your child can even pick up a book they are already practicing emergent literacy skills? Read on to learn how to support your child as they begin to explore reading!

What is emergent literacy?

Emergent literacy skills are foundational language based skills that support future literacy, academic success, and social communication. Emergent literacy is a stage of development beginning at birth in which children explore and learn skills that lead them to reading and writing in the future (Roth et al., 2006). This is vital for early language and literacy development and can be supported daily! 
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