Comments for teachmetotalk.com http://teachmetotalk.com Helping Parents Teach Toddlers To Understand and Use Language Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:21:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Echolalia……..What To Do About It by Jeannie http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/06/02/echolaliawhat-to-do-about-it/#comment-48195 Jeannie Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:38:10 +0000 http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/06/02/echolaliawhat-to-do-about-it/#comment-48195 Ok,thx a lot Laura,for all your suggestions.We really appreciate it Ok,thx a lot Laura,for all your suggestions.We really appreciate it

]]> Comment on Therapy Tip of the Week for 1.31.12 by Kathryn http://teachmetotalk.com/2012/02/01/therapy-tip-of-the-week-for-13112/#comment-48180 Kathryn Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:39:02 +0000 http://teachmetotalk.com/?p=596#comment-48180 Hi Laura, I love the variety of activities you have that challenge motor skills alongside attention and early language. So many of the kids we work with need input in all these modalities so it is always great to get new ideas! I also love that these are low tech options. I'm really struggling right now with the wave of new "Apps" on the market for Speechies. I want to take the positivity of this new technology on board but I would hate to see us losing all the traditional therapy techniques or being seen as "old fashioned" if we don't use an IPad for therapy! Hi Laura, I love the variety of activities you have that challenge motor skills alongside attention and early language. So many of the kids we work with need input in all these modalities so it is always great to get new ideas!

I also love that these are low tech options. I’m really struggling right now with the wave of new “Apps” on the market for Speechies. I want to take the positivity of this new technology on board but I would hate to see us losing all the traditional therapy techniques or being seen as “old fashioned” if we don’t use an IPad for therapy!

]]> Comment on “Discover The Best Approach To Teach Your Toddler To Talk” by Annie Eskeldson http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/07/15/discover-the-best-approach-proven-to-teach-your-toddler-to-talk/#comment-48174 Annie Eskeldson Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:37:06 +0000 http://teachmetotalk.com/?p=213#comment-48174 Dear Laura, Love your website, your information, and mostly your awesome attitude!! Moms can be great therapists, I know, I've been one in our house for so many years now. I never planned on that, that's just the plan God had. This stuff is so wonderful!!! I want to order your DVD "Teach Me to Talk" I get so many of my own creative ideas from amazing people like yourself and I love the way you empower moms and families!! I see from the posts here that you have specials on your DVD's sometimes. Do you have any specials that your are currently offering? Thaks! Annie E. Dear Laura,
Love your website, your information, and mostly your awesome attitude!! Moms can be great therapists, I know, I’ve been one in our house for so many years now. I never planned on that, that’s just the plan God had. This stuff is so wonderful!!! I want to order your DVD “Teach Me to Talk” I get so many of my own creative ideas from amazing people like yourself and I love the way you empower moms and families!! I see from the posts here that you have specials on your DVD’s sometimes. Do you have any specials that your are currently offering? Thaks! Annie E.

]]> Comment on Therapy Tip of the Week for 1.31.12 by Annie Eskeldson http://teachmetotalk.com/2012/02/01/therapy-tip-of-the-week-for-13112/#comment-48173 Annie Eskeldson Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:14:15 +0000 http://teachmetotalk.com/?p=596#comment-48173 Wow!! LOVE these ideas!! Fun for mom to make and fun for kids to do. Theraplay!! Wow!! LOVE these ideas!! Fun for mom to make and fun for kids to do. Theraplay!!

]]> Comment on Successful Speech Therapy Strategies for Working with Toddlers with Apraxia and Other Speech-Language Difficulties by Annie Eskeldson http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/03/02/successful-strategies-for-working-with-toddlers-with-apraxia-and-other-speech-language-difficulties/#comment-48172 Annie Eskeldson Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:01:22 +0000 http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/03/02/successful-strategies-for-working-with-toddlers-with-apraxia-and-other-speech-language-difficulties/#comment-48172 Dear Laura ~ I want to thank you for publishing your blog and your articles. I am a stay-at-home mom and homeschooler and I do work diligently yet creatively ( and funly - if only it was a word!!!) with my kids. I have an 8 year old autistic daughter who became verbal at age 4.5, of course now you cannot get her to be quiet!!! She is also a straight A student. I say this because I saw a mom above who was so worried about a diagnosis of autism - it has been a blessing at our house and my daughter has so many gifts because of it ~ so I hope someone else might be encouraged by that! Now, my son about 6 years younger is also non-verbal at age 27 months, so I am excitedly beginning this journey all over again!! I try to encourage and empower moms by freely sharing 'therapies' that I used with my daughter through my published books and blog. And, so to see all your information here is just GLORIOUS to me because many speech games, activities, play, therapy, I have forgotten. This has been like a refresher course for me! I have marked your page as a favorite and will be back for sure. Thank you so much for all of your help and your hard work, and most of all your playful, fun, attitude. Sincerely, Annie Eskeldson Dear Laura ~ I want to thank you for publishing your blog and your articles. I am a stay-at-home mom and homeschooler and I do work diligently yet creatively ( and funly - if only it was a word!!!) with my kids. I have an 8 year old autistic daughter who became verbal at age 4.5, of course now you cannot get her to be quiet!!! She is also a straight A student. I say this because I saw a mom above who was so worried about a diagnosis of autism - it has been a blessing at our house and my daughter has so many gifts because of it ~ so I hope someone else might be encouraged by that! Now, my son about 6 years younger is also non-verbal at age 27 months, so I am excitedly beginning this journey all over again!! I try to encourage and empower moms by freely sharing ‘therapies’ that I used with my daughter through my published books and blog. And, so to see all your information here is just GLORIOUS to me because many speech games, activities, play, therapy, I have forgotten. This has been like a refresher course for me! I have marked your page as a favorite and will be back for sure. Thank you so much for all of your help and your hard work, and most of all your playful, fun, attitude. Sincerely, Annie Eskeldson

]]> Comment on Therapy Tip of the Week for 1.31.12 by Jenny http://teachmetotalk.com/2012/02/01/therapy-tip-of-the-week-for-13112/#comment-48148 Jenny Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:01:49 +0000 http://teachmetotalk.com/?p=596#comment-48148 GREAT ideas! Thanks for sharing Laura! GREAT ideas! Thanks for sharing Laura!

]]> Comment on Therapy Tip of the Week for 1.31.12 by Laura http://teachmetotalk.com/2012/02/01/therapy-tip-of-the-week-for-13112/#comment-48141 Laura Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:05:58 +0000 http://teachmetotalk.com/?p=596#comment-48141 Thanks Jill! For the next few weeks I'll be talking about seasonal ideas for Valentines day and I'll try to include some higher level ideas for you with those activities! Laura Thanks Jill! For the next few weeks I’ll be talking about seasonal ideas for Valentines day and I’ll try to include some higher level ideas for you with those activities! Laura

]]> Comment on Teaching Your Toddler to Answer Questions - Receptive and Expressive Language Delay Issues by Laura http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/02/26/techniques-to-work-on-answering-questions-with-language-delayed-toddlers/#comment-48140 Laura Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:04:21 +0000 http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/02/26/techniques-to-work-on-answering-questions-with-language-delayed-toddlers/#comment-48140 Candace - If you don't tell her what to say, how will she know?? You don't want all of her answers to be echolalic of course, but she needs the language models. Processing issues are not formally diagnosed until a child is school aged. You may not even find an SLP who is willing to work on this kind of thing with a child so young unless you see someone in private practice. Most of our EI caseloads are filled with kids who don't talk at all! The only product that MIGHT be helpful is Teach Me To Talk: The Therapy Manual, but it's written for therapists. Some moms buy it and love it, but entire sections won't be applicable for you since she's older and further along. One other thing that might help her is working on following more complex directions during listening games. You can use her academic strengths here. If she knows colors and shapes (I think you said she did, but I may have you mixed up with someone else!), you can practice, "Get the green triangle and put it on top of the red circle." Or have her magnetic letters on the fridge and say, "Go find an R and an L and bring them back to me." These kinds of games do help with processing. The instructions for those are outlined in my Therapy Manual too. Hope these ideas help!! Laura Candace - If you don’t tell her what to say, how will she know?? You don’t want all of her answers to be echolalic of course, but she needs the language models. Processing issues are not formally diagnosed until a child is school aged. You may not even find an SLP who is willing to work on this kind of thing with a child so young unless you see someone in private practice. Most of our EI caseloads are filled with kids who don’t talk at all! The only product that MIGHT be helpful is Teach Me To Talk: The Therapy Manual, but it’s written for therapists. Some moms buy it and love it, but entire sections won’t be applicable for you since she’s older and further along. One other thing that might help her is working on following more complex directions during listening games. You can use her academic strengths here. If she knows colors and shapes (I think you said she did, but I may have you mixed up with someone else!), you can practice, “Get the green triangle and put it on top of the red circle.” Or have her magnetic letters on the fridge and say, “Go find an R and an L and bring them back to me.” These kinds of games do help with processing. The instructions for those are outlined in my Therapy Manual too. Hope these ideas help!! Laura

]]> Comment on Tips for Teaching the Pronouns “I” and “You” by Laura http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/09/07/tips-for-teaching-the-pronouns-i-and-you/#comment-48139 Laura Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:56:53 +0000 http://teachmetotalk.com/?p=265#comment-48139 Hi Amanda. It's great that she's trying so hard. She probably is having some difficulty processing. The only way to work on that is to just keep having those conversations with her. She probably asks you those questions with the princesses because that's how you initiate conversations with her. She's imitating what she's heard you do. To remedy that hold off on the questions and do more commenting and general conversation with ideas and actions to draw her into interacting with you in those early pretend scenarios such as, "Wow! Look at her dress. It's so pretty! I think she's going to a birthday party. Let's pick out a present to take." Then you can launch your play from there. She is telling you with her questions and repetitions that she wants to talk, she just doesn't quite know what to say. Helping her work through her issues with language during this kind of play can take a lot of effort on your part, but it will be worth it. Fill in her blanks for her. Take every repetition, rote question, or word that doesn't fit as her way of saying, "I really want to talk to you here, but I need some help from you!!" Does that make sense? To work on why questions with her, ask the question yourself and then provide the answer. Start with very basic cause & effect such as, "The baby is crying. Why is she crying? I think she's hungry. She needs a bottle." Be sure to mix up your comments and questions of this type too so she's not just scripting and doesn't sound echolalic. If you need higher level therapy ideas to use with her, there's a section on this in my therapy manual, but lots of the book won't be applicable because she's older and past that point. Without seeing her it would be hard to say if there's a delay or disorder. If you continue to be concerned in the next few months, have an SLP in private practice take a look at her. She likely will not qualify for services through the public schools because she is communicating well enough to get her basic needs met and even has some nice strengths. The good news is she's trying!!! She sounds delightful, and you are obviously doing a good job with her. Keep it up!! Laura Hi Amanda. It’s great that she’s trying so hard. She probably is having some difficulty processing. The only way to work on that is to just keep having those conversations with her. She probably asks you those questions with the princesses because that’s how you initiate conversations with her. She’s imitating what she’s heard you do. To remedy that hold off on the questions and do more commenting and general conversation with ideas and actions to draw her into interacting with you in those early pretend scenarios such as, “Wow! Look at her dress. It’s so pretty! I think she’s going to a birthday party. Let’s pick out a present to take.” Then you can launch your play from there. She is telling you with her questions and repetitions that she wants to talk, she just doesn’t quite know what to say. Helping her work through her issues with language during this kind of play can take a lot of effort on your part, but it will be worth it. Fill in her blanks for her. Take every repetition, rote question, or word that doesn’t fit as her way of saying, “I really want to talk to you here, but I need some help from you!!” Does that make sense? To work on why questions with her, ask the question yourself and then provide the answer. Start with very basic cause & effect such as, “The baby is crying. Why is she crying? I think she’s hungry. She needs a bottle.” Be sure to mix up your comments and questions of this type too so she’s not just scripting and doesn’t sound echolalic. If you need higher level therapy ideas to use with her, there’s a section on this in my therapy manual, but lots of the book won’t be applicable because she’s older and past that point.

Without seeing her it would be hard to say if there’s a delay or disorder. If you continue to be concerned in the next few months, have an SLP in private practice take a look at her. She likely will not qualify for services through the public schools because she is communicating well enough to get her basic needs met and even has some nice strengths. The good news is she’s trying!!! She sounds delightful, and you are obviously doing a good job with her. Keep it up!! Laura

]]> Comment on Questions about Late Talking by Laura http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/02/09/questions-about-late-talking/#comment-48134 Laura Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:51:24 +0000 http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/02/09/questions-about-late-talking/#comment-48134 Hi Angela. I'm glad you liked the DVD. I'll try to answer your questions. First of all, let me reiterate that this DVD is for adults to watch meaning YOU and not Zac. Most of the children in the DVD were children on my caseload at thet ime who knew me and I knew them very, very well. However, with the exception of a couple of kids who were younger siblings of children I also treated, these were kids with language delays and qualified for therapy. They knew me and our play routines which is proof that those strategies worked to help them learn to play and communicate. None of the kids were shown on their first day of therapy. Over time participation and ability improves - thankfully therapy works and that's why we do it! On the other hand... on occasion kids do react with me like Zac did with you. Most often it's when they're socially isolated and tend to shut out others. If that's the case and a child does this often, that's a red flag for autism. It is not typical for a child to want to do his own thing most of the time. Typically developing babies and toddlers generally want to be with other people. Of course I don't know your son or what's going on with him, but if that's the case, you'll want to get this checked out. It could also be that you freaked him out a little bit and that he's not used to mommy playing with him in this way. Take your time, work to build that kind of play and see what happens. If that's the case, in time it should get better, but if it doesn't I would be concerned and push forward with an assessment. Hope this advice helps! Laura Hi Angela. I’m glad you liked the DVD. I’ll try to answer your questions. First of all, let me reiterate that this DVD is for adults to watch meaning YOU and not Zac. Most of the children in the DVD were children on my caseload at thet ime who knew me and I knew them very, very well. However, with the exception of a couple of kids who were younger siblings of children I also treated, these were kids with language delays and qualified for therapy. They knew me and our play routines which is proof that those strategies worked to help them learn to play and communicate.

None of the kids were shown on their first day of therapy. Over time participation and ability improves - thankfully therapy works and that’s why we do it!

On the other hand… on occasion kids do react with me like Zac did with you. Most often it’s when they’re socially isolated and tend to shut out others. If that’s the case and a child does this often, that’s a red flag for autism. It is not typical for a child to want to do his own thing most of the time. Typically developing babies and toddlers generally want to be with other people. Of course I don’t know your son or what’s going on with him, but if that’s the case, you’ll want to get this checked out.

It could also be that you freaked him out a little bit and that he’s not used to mommy playing with him in this way. Take your time, work to build that kind of play and see what happens. If that’s the case, in time it should get better, but if it doesn’t I would be concerned and push forward with an assessment.

Hope this advice helps! Laura

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