While it may drive you crazy, rereading books can really help your late talker. When kids listen to the same story multiple times, they pick up new information, dive deeper into the meaning of the book, and make connections between themselves and the book as well as between the book and other books they've heard.
Read MoreOur current environment can certainly be an overwhelming subject for parents to tackle, especially for children with communication disorders. However, the kids' books below handle subjects like race and equality with grace and can provide an importing starting point. Filling our kids’ libraries with books that feature diverse characters is by no means all we need to do. But it’s an important component—kids need to read books that both “mirror” themselves and their lives and books that provide “windows” into the lives of others.
Read MoreTalking about police violence, anti-Black racism, and systemic white supremacy is difficult for any family. It is even hard to break down these complex, emotionally-charged subjects into something understandable for children who have difficulties understanding and using language, interpreting non-literal and figurative speech, and understanding emotional states.
Read MoreParenting in this pandemic has been intense in so many ways! It’s been hard for so many families, but having a child with additional needs adds another layer of intensity to the everyday demands and stress. We get it. You were already handling a lot, even before you were forced to become a work-from-home super-parent slash multi-subject educator. Pile on any additional needs your child may have, and it can feel like it’s just too much..
Read MoreParents across the U.S. are stressed right now about pretty much everything right, including how extended school closures will affect their kids’ learning and speech and language development.
Read MoreAre you a parent at home suddenly trying to teach a child with ADHD, language and learning differences, dyslexia, or developmental language disorders in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic and wondering how best to support your child? Team up with their teachers and don’t try to go it alone!
Read MoreThe world is out of order and scary right now, for adults and for kids, and for individuals on the spectrum and many other neurodiverse individuals, those changes due to coronavirus and its effects on society can be particularly difficult to navigate.
Read MoreIf you’re a parent, chances are you’ve witnessed a tantrum or two already since the schools closed due to the coronavirus. Let’s be honest, you may have had one or two yourselves. Learn how to recognize the triggers and respond to the meltdowns and tantrums and support your child’s self-regulation skills.
Read MoreAre your kids bored already? Missing their friends? I know that I am. Virtual playdates are a great way to let kids of all ages connect and practice their social communication skills while maintaining safe, social distance.
Read MoreMost of the kids we work with have a loose concept of time. This lack of awareness of time is NOT helpful when you have to be on a conference call and your child keeps interrupting to ask you how much longer until dinner. Telling them to wait just “5 more minutes” isn’t helpful if your child has no internal sense of what five more minutes actually feels like.
Visual timers to the rescue!
Read MoreAs offices and schools have shut down and increasingly strict shelter-in-place orders have gone into effect to try to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, parents are now trying to manage the educational needs of their children at home. In all this crazy mix, your child’s speech, language, and social development may be taking a back seat as you just try to get through the day.
We at Compass are here to give you some ideas to help balance your kids’ needs and your own sanity.
Read MoreAs parents and teachers of young children, we have a lot to worry about. We are constantly keeping track of how well our children or students eat, sleep, move, grow and learn. But do you know the signs of a speech and language delay?
By treating the symptoms of communication disorders early, treatment is often less expensive and takes less time. So, don’t just worry about it—take action!
Read MoreThere will be 500,000 adults on the autism spectrum aging into adulthood over the next 10 years. Yet a whopping 85% of college grads on the spectrum are unemployed, compared to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%. But there is hope.
Read MoreIt’s springtime and the snow is giving way to rain! It’s best to be prepared for those rainy days with some great rainy day activities that will encourage speech and language development as well. You might as well get some speech and language work done if you’re going to be stuck inside!
Check out these fun rainy day activities for families and kids that will promote good speech and language skills around Northampton, Easthampton, Amherst and the rest of the Pioneer Valley.
Read MoreMy friend’s child has been coming home feeling lonely and friendless. She feels helpless and called me up for some advice. She said that it’s come out of nowhere; he always did well playing alongside other children as a toddler. Now that he’s older, it seems as if he just feels isolated and can’t connect with anyone his age. She was at a loss. Sound familiar?
Read MoreWant to hear a secret? In addition to seeing clients through Compass, I work as a Speech-Language Pathologist in a local elementary school. When people find out that I work in both private and school-based settings, they often lean in and whisper, “But which is better? Your private therapy, right?”
Given that it’s such a common question, it might be frustrating to realize that there is no single answer, but it is good to understand the difference so that you can make the decision that is right for your family.
Read MoreIt’s a good question! And the answer is probably yes.
Children who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are nearly three times more likely to have language problems than kids without ADHD. These language problems refer to spoken and written language understanding and use, as well as how they interact with other people socially.
Learn more…
Read MoreFor parents of most toddlers, a moment’s peace is a thing to be treasured and enjoyed. But when your two-year-old barely speaks at all, silence can be very stressful – especially when all the other kids seem to be talking nonstop.
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