Each month we curate a selection of free or low cost activities in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan that are language enriching and, as speech therapists, we recommend to support development. Here are a few activities happening in November: Brooklyn Children's Book Fair; November 9th, 11 am-3:30 pm Location: Brooklyn Museum Plaza; Eastern Parkway- Prospect Heights, Brooklyn The Brooklyn Children's Book Fair is an annual event that brings together children's book authors to read a

Newborn language development and ways to support it in daily interactions.

Exploring the benefits of a collaborative environment for speech therapists and occupational therapists to support clients.

Language development for Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs) is a process that involves various stages. GLPs acquire language in chunks or "gestalts" rather than starting with single words. These gestalts are called Delayed Echolalia and may include phrases, songs, or even entire shows or books, and serve as essential building blocks for future language development. When caregivers and educators understand the importance of delayed echolalia for GLP's language development, the

At Speech Language Play NYC, we are strong advocates for movement in speech therapy sessions. Some may choose to sit at a table, but that's not our expectation for what speech therapy will look like. There are a few reasons for that:  It's developmentally expected that some children would want to be moving around Movement is necessary for some kids; it supports attention and regulation When a child is regulated and having a good time, progress in speech therapy goals will mor

Ms. Rachel is a YouTube sensation who so many families and children adore. And it makes sense! She's warm, full of energy, fun and engaging. She uses strategies and approaches that can support language development for many young children, making her a great option for families who want to put a show on for their children to watch.  What makes Ms. Rachel so engaging, from my lens as a speech therapist? She uses many intentional and supportive strategies and techniques to help

The signs your child is a gestalt language processor (GLP) go beyond using delayed echolalia . Knowing other characteristics to consider in determining if a child is a gestalt language processor will allow you to interact with them most effectively, seek speech therapy from an NLA-trained speech therapist, and help your child reach their full potential.  Let's talk about some of the signs your child may be a gestalt language processor: Use of delayed echolalia Delayed echolal

Speech therapy is helpful for late talkers who need support to develop their first words. Let's choose toys that will be the most helpful to elicit language. Note: This post is about the first-word development for Analytic Language Processors. We also talk a lot about Gestalt Language Processors on our blog and recommend reading this post for more information on GLP language development.  Kids who babble and coo and then eventually start saying their first words are called A

Let's talk about the language development of Gestalt language processors (GLPs). It's important to keep in mind that a GLP will ALWAYS be a GLP. What does this mean? GLPs are people who develop language with a top-down approach. They initially produce "chunks" of language, also referred to as gestalts or delayed echolalia, then learn to break those chunks down into flexible language that can be mixed and matched. For some gestalt language processors, they can go through this

Speech and Language Milestones: A Guide for Parents Understanding the typical speech and language milestones for your child can help you track progress and determine when it's time to seek support in the form of a speech therapist, occupational therapist, or even a physical therapist. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) provides valuable insights into these milestones, offering a guide for parents to support their child's communication development. In this

Creating a  language-rich environment for your child  can be crucial for fostering their speech and language development at home. Although hitting those speech and language milestones is a HUGE deal, there's a whole lot of groundwork to lay before that! Your child's language development depends on many factors, but the most crucial one is...their environment! Want to create a language paradise that will make your child's vocabulary bloom? Let's explore what we can do at home

A child's first words in their speech and language development are often nouns (e.g., doggie, mommy, daddy).   Nouns are tangible, we can point to them, hold them, and show them to a child who is learning their first words. But, as language develops, it's important to incorporate verbs as well. When a child has about 50 single words, they are ready to start combining the words into phrases (e.g., Daddy ball, Mommy up). This often happens between 20-24 months old. To support t

Speech therapist recommended activities in Brooklyn throughout February Storytime at Books are Magic on Smith Street Where: Carroll...

Speech therapist recommended activities in Brooklyn.

The holiday season continues! In the last blog post about the holidays, we discussed some ways that parents of a neurodivergent child can prepare themselves for interactions with family and friends.  This week, we are going to talk about how parents of a neurodivergent child can prepare them for the holidays – meeting new people, going to new places, and experiencing completely new situations. We know that every neurodivergent child is unique…it would be impossible to create

The holiday season is upon us! With Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and more holidays right around the corner, here are a few tips for supporting and advocating for neurodivergent children as they interact with family and friends. Oftentimes there is a network of people surrounding your neurodivergent child on a day-to-day basis who understand their profile and needs. Their teachers, parents, caregivers, or related service providers are all people who likely have a strong

Let’s talk about the importance of choosing developmentally appropriate toys for toddlers to support their play, problem-solving, and language development. Choosing the right toys available for your child is important. A small amount of thoughtfully selected toys is more beneficial than a large amount of toys. Some considerations to determine if the toys you are introducing to a child are considered developmentally appropriate toys:  Does the child have the fine and gross mot

Neurodivergent children and the holidays: preparing them and supporting them during it