Language-Based Learning Disability: Games to Improve Language Skills

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A child who is diagnosed with a language-based learning disability can face a variety of challenges, especially in school. There are countless types of therapies used and directions taken by SLPs, in special education classrooms, and by teachers who adjust curriculum to meet these children’s needs. Help keep some of the fun in therapy and learning new skills by trying some of these games and activities.
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10 Online Deals for Speech and Communication Resources

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One of the wonderful things about the World Wide Web is accessibility to resources. When it comes to online deals for speech and communication resources, parents, teachers, and SLPs alike can all find inspiration and activities to use with kids without spending a fortune. The key is knowing where to look – and these next 10 bargains can be your first stops for resources on everything from literature activities to articulation exercises. Continue reading

Help! My Child Doesn’t Qualify for Speech Therapy in School

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When Speech Therapy in School isn't An Option

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What Can I Do To Help My Child?

It can be one of the most frustrating things that a parent can face – believing that his or her child needs help and not knowing how to provide it. If your child is struggling with speech or communication issues but the school has said he or she doesn’t qualify for speech therapy at school, there are still several options you can use to help your child. Other options within the school, private SLPs, at-home activities, and other professional services can all be of help to your child’s communication development. Continue reading

The Art of Communication: 3 Ways to Build Communication Skills

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School may be back in session but that doesn’t have to stop you from helping your child develop communication skills outside of school. Whether your child already attends music therapy sessions, is a tactile learner who struggles with verbal communication, or works with an SLP during school for a speech disorder, there are enrichment options you can use with your child. The best part of all is that these are not only effective for developing communication skills, but they can benefit your child’s overall learning development – and be fun on the side.

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Failing Communication Skills By Middle School – It’s Not Too Late!

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It's not too late to improve communication skills.

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It’s not too late. That is perhaps the most important thing that parents and educators need to remember when working with older elementary and middle school children who have failing communication skills. Their speech, listening, reading, writing, or other abilities might be lagging, but there is still time to help them overcome or learn to navigate these challenges. The steps that might be taken and the resources that might be utilized might look different for a 5th grader compared to a 5 year-old receiving speech therapy, but the effects will hopefully be similar – effective communication skills. Continue reading

Is My Child Reaching Communication Milestones?

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Reaching Communication Milestones

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Questions Parents Must Ask Themselves

Since the day (or even before) your child was born you likely have had questions tumbling through your mind about everything from diaper choices to healthy growth and development. Your elementary age child has grown beyond those first steps, but still has many communication milestones to reach. If you are concerned that your child isn’t on track for these, there are several questions you must ask. Continue reading

Communication Milestones for the Later Elementary Years

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Image Courtesy of mentoringminds.com

As the time approaches when many children are headed back to another year of school, many parents are left wondering if their children are ready for what lies ahead. Communication milestones is one term used to describe an intricate weaving of skills and tools that are acquired. These skills include those involving reading, writing, speech, language, use of voice, and more. Communication milestones for children in the older elementary years can be more subtle in nature, but they are nonetheless extremely important.

Communication Milestones in 4th – 6th Grades

Most children have established a foundation of communication by the time they enter kindergarten, and the early elementary years are spent building on those, especially in areas such as reading and writing, as well as more complicated conversations. The older elementary years are no less important than these early years, but their progress might not seem as noticeable. It is during this time when the skills continue to increase at a steady pace, often all the way through high school (and hopefully beyond).

When it comes to communication milestones for older elementary students, look to see that your child is developing in these various areas, both in and out of school. Continue reading

Developmental Milestones: Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten?

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Image Courtesy of wells-school.com

 

Preparing for kindergarten is about more than getting that first pair of gym shoes or new box of crayons. There are several communication developmental milestones that preschoolers and those kids entering kindergarten should reach in order to make those early education years as smooth as possible. Communication is comprised of three general tools:

  • Voice – the actual vocal sounds made when air moves from the lungs
  • Speech – talking by using coordination between muscles, the jaws, lips, and other parts of the oral region
  • Language – a common set of rules that let you express your ideas and feelings, and that can occur through writing, sign language, singing, speech, and non-verbal communication Continue reading

Using E-Readers to Encourage Reading Skills

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Image Courtesy of trendhunter.com

Image Courtesy of trendhunter.com

Literacy is a hot topic in education circles around the globe, and a correlation can even be seen between a nation’s literacy rate and its economic stability. So maybe you agree with the importance of literacy, but how can you actually help your child with communication disorders become a successful reader? E-readers can be an important tool for encouraging these kids who are struggling to develop reading skills. Continue reading