Carmel Terner SLP - Speech and language therapy in downtown Toronto

05/26/2023

A great way to build vocabulary is by exploring one's community and beyond. Doors Open Toronto is on this weekend! Grab your kids and check out venues like the Eastern Yard, home to lots of big trucks! For more locations, check out the link below.

Explore Toronto's Buildings and Sites May 27 & 28, 2023, at Doors Open Toronto presented by Great Gulf.

02/28/2023

(Not-quite) Monday Mouthfuls- How to help a loved one interact with your child, Part 2

Last time we talked about how to create opportunities for your child and loved one to interact, using loosely structured turn-taking games. Through game play, they can get to know each other better and trust each other a little more.

How can we help to extend and evolve these interactions and continue to build that trust? One way is by using reading and writing to explore the shared interests or ideas that come up during play.

For example, someone might say, “I wish we had pudding for snack, but we forgot to buy some”. You could expand on that by considering out loud what to do, verbally and with AAC. And let's say you decide to make some pudding, here are some ways you, your child, and loved one, can explore that further by including reading and writing:

1. Look up and read pudding recipes online. (There’s a great recipe website linked below.)

2. Bookmark your favourite recipe website(s).

3. Watch a video(s) with the same or similar recipe.

4. Follow a recipe.

5. Write, type, or dictate-to-text the recipe to keep it for later.

6. Create and label a file for recipes on your computer, tablet or phone.

7. Email or text the recipe to friends and family.

8. Add ‘pudding’ to a handwritten or typed shopping list.

9. If you’re inspired, write your own recipe!

By doing these kinds of ‘extension’ activities with your loved one, you show and share the fun and learning that they can have with your child too, even when you’re not around.

Enjoy!

ttps://accessiblechef.com/recipes/mini-chocolate-pudding-pies/

02/14/2023

Monday Mouthfuls- How to help a loved one interact with your child

How can you help your loved one deepen and strengthen their interactions with your child? And by doing so help them to support your child to be a stronger communicator!

Here are some tips that emphasize meeting everyone where they are and using simple games to interact meaningfully and have fun.

1. With your child, choose a simple turn taking game that can be played with little equipment and from any sitting position. Like, balloon volleyball, bean bag basketball, or beach ball soccer.

2. With your child, show your loved one how to play and the words you use to talk about the game, do this verbally and/or with AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication).

3. When it feels right, explicitly ask them to participate, verbally and/or with AAC. Or help your child ask them, verbally and/or with AAC.

4. Keep it simple: encourage your loved one to play right from their chair and make sure items needed for the game are nearby. For example, to play beach ball soccer, create their ‘goal’ by using the space between their chair and the coffee table.

5. To keep things going, encourage your child to bring the ball or bean bags back to where your loved one is sitting throughout the game.

6. Play the game often, and then start to encourage them to play when you’re away. For example, if you go out for a while, remind them to find the things they’ll need to play, verbally and/or with AAC.

7. Eventually you’ll be ready to play the game in a different environment. When you guys go on an outing, encourage your child to bring the ball you've been using. And then together show your loved one how you use this new environment to play the game, inviting them to participate too!

And don’t forget to have fun!

(For more information, please see the video attached!)

https://www.wikihow.life/Play-Volleyballoon

09/22/2022

Welcome to my page! Here you'll find information about me and the speech-language services that I offer!

If you are in downtown Toronto or the surrounding area, please get in touch to book a free 15-minute consultation.

tongueterner.com