"He doesn't look at me when I talk to him"... One of the most common phrases we hear from parents or teachers when doing and autism evaluation. Goals for teaching eye contact are found frequently on Individualized Education Plans and this is often practiced by making cues (visually by pointing or a picture card, or… Continue reading Teaching the Purpose of Eye Contact
Category: Social Language
Setting Up School At Home
Our homes are a place for relaxation and family. But across the world people are being asked to turn it into a school zone too. Let’s take the time to think about how we will do this in order to set up your child for success in the immediate future and into future years. Designate… Continue reading Setting Up School At Home
Social Skills While Social Distancing
During this time of uncertainty we’ve been asked to practice “Social Distancing”. Schools are cancelling nationwide, restaurants are closing, and at home play dates are being discouraged. Here is a short list of some things you can do to have social interactions and practice those social skills while also protecting those you love by using… Continue reading Social Skills While Social Distancing
Tips for Getting Toddlers to Play Together
Using where they're at to set realistic expectations in play Children show their first signs of social interactions with a social smile at about 4 weeks old. However, it's not until age 2 that your child will begin to truly play with peers their same age, not just their caregivers (Scott, 2020). Prior to 2… Continue reading Tips for Getting Toddlers to Play Together
The Importance of Pointing and Other Gestures
Photo by mentatdgt on Pexels.com During an evaluation or consultation one of the first things Speech Language Pathologists pay attention to is gesture use. And for good reason- it is an important indicator of later language development and can help identify children at risk of language delays. How a child's gestures impact language development Long… Continue reading The Importance of Pointing and Other Gestures
Learning to Play with Toys
What “play” means is constantly evolving in a child’s early years. In the first year of life it’s mostly caregiver and object exclusive. They are figuring out their immediate world around them and that takes a lot of work through exploration! As parents, if we know the stages to look for we can help nurture… Continue reading Learning to Play with Toys
Language and Play Dates 