Kids First Words

10/12/2026

Wondering if your child’s speech is on track? You don’t have to figure it out alone. 💬

Our free 15-minute consultation is a no-pressure way to get answers from a licensed speech-language pathologist. Here’s what to expect:

1️⃣ Share what you’re noticing. Tell us about your child, how they communicate, and what’s on your mind.
2️⃣ Ask anything. Milestones, our play-based approach, scheduling, insurance — no question is too small.
3️⃣ Leave with a clear next step. Whether that’s an evaluation, a few strategies to try at home, or simply peace of mind.

No cost. No commitment. Just a conversation about your child.

📅 Book your free consultation at kidsfirstwords.net or call (815) 472-8396.

Serving Frankfort, Mokena, New Lenox and Manhattan.

Your child has so much to say. Let’s help them find their voice.
Compassionate, play-based speech therapy that meets your child where they are.

10/08/2026

"Is my child too young for speech therapy?" We hear this a lot, and the answer may surprise you. Speech support can start in the first year of life, and many kids begin between 18 months and 3 years. 💬

Save this list of signs to watch for. If something on it sounds familiar, or you just have a feeling, we're here to talk.

📞 (815) 472-8396 · kidsfirstwords.net
Serving Frankfort, Mokena, New Lenox & Manhattan

10/07/2026

Your child knows exactly what they want to say… but the words just won't come out. 💬

That can be a sign of childhood apraxia of speech, a motor speech disorder where the brain has trouble planning the mouth movements needed to talk. It isn't about intelligence or effort, and it usually doesn't improve with "wait and see."

The good news: with specialized, one-on-one therapy, kids with apraxia make real progress, one sound and one word at a time. 🎉

At Kids First Words, we help children in Frankfort, Mokena, New Lenox and Manhattan find their words through play-based apraxia therapy and parent coaching.

📅 Schedule an evaluation today
📞 (815) 472-8396
🌐 kidsfirstwords.net

In-network with Aetna and BCBS 💛

10/07/2026

3 Easy Ways to Build Your Child's Talking at Home 💬

1. Add one word.
When your child says one word, say it back with one more. "Ball!" → "Big ball!" or "Throw ball!" You're showing them the next step without asking them to repeat anything.

2. Wait 5 seconds.
After you talk or pause in a song ("Twinkle, twinkle, little…"), count to 5 in your head and give your child a chance to fill the gap. Most of us jump in too fast, and that pause is where words happen.

3. Talk about what they're doing.
Narrate their play like a sportscaster: "You're pushing the car… fast car… crash!" Use short, simple phrases about what they're interested in right now. No questions needed.

💡 Try one tip this week during bath time, meals or play.

Have questions about your child's speech? We're here to help.
📞 (815) 472-8396 | 🌐 kidsfirstwords.net

10/07/2026

With Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

10/06/2026

Your Child Has So Much To Say!!

10/05/2026

Your child knows exactly what they want to say, but the words just won't come out the way they planned.

That's what childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) can look like. It's a motor speech disorder, which means the brain has trouble planning the mouth movements needed for speech. It isn't about intelligence or effort, and it usually doesn't improve with "wait and see."

Some signs parents notice:
✔️ Saying a word clearly once, then differently the next time
✔️ Searching or groping mouth movements when trying to talk
✔️ Longer words getting harder to say
✔️ Understanding much more than they can say

The good news: with the right therapy, kids with apraxia make real progress. Frequent, focused practice helps them build the motor plans they need to talk more clearly and confidently.

Save this guide or share it with a parent who might need it. 💛

Have questions about your child's speech? We offer apraxia evaluations and one-on-one therapy in Frankfort, serving Mokena, New Lenox and Manhattan. In-network with Aetna and BCBS.

📞 (815) 472-8396
🌐 kidsfirstwords.net

10/04/2026

"Is my baby's speech on track?" 💬

It's one of the most common questions we hear from parents, and one of the hardest to get a clear answer to. So we made this guide to help.

From the first coos to the first sentences, every stage has signs worth watching. A few to keep in mind:

👶 Birth–6 months: cooing, babbling and turning toward your voice
👋 7–12 months: babbling "ba-ba," waving, pointing and responding to their name
🗣️ 1–2 years: first words by about 16 months, and two-word phrases ("more milk") by age 2
📚 2–3 years: short sentences, naming everyday objects, and being understood by family

⚠️ At any age: if your child loses words or skills they used to have, call your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist right away.

Every child grows at their own pace, and one missed milestone doesn't always mean a delay. But the first three years are when the brain is most flexible, so early support can make a real difference. If something feels off, trust your gut. You don't have to wait and wonder.

👂 Tip: a hearing check is a great first step if you're noticing any of these signs.

📌 Save this guide to check back as your little one grows, and share it with a parent who'd find it helpful!

At Kids First Words, Lisa Garrigan, MHS, CCC-SLP, brings 25+ years of experience helping little ones find their voices through play-based therapy and parent coaching.

📞 (815) 472-8396
🌐 kidsfirstwords.net
📍 Frankfort • Mokena • New Lenox • Manhattan
💳 In-network with Aetna & BCBS

10/03/2026

Reading doesn't start with reading. It starts with speech and language.

Long before your child sounds out their first word, they're building the skills that make reading possible:

🎵 Rhyme: hearing and playing with the sounds in words (cat, hat, bat!)
💬 Talk: building a big vocabulary so words on the page have meaning
📖 Look at books: loving books and noticing words and pictures
👂 Listen: following a story from beginning to end
🗣️ Tell stories: sharing ideas in order (first, next, last)
🧱 Build: using busy hands to hold a book and turn the pages

And the most important one? Someone to read with them every day. Even 10 minutes counts.

Is your child struggling with reading? Sometimes the root is in speech and language: hearing the individual sounds in words, understanding what's read, or putting thoughts into words. A speech-language evaluation can help find out what's really going on, so your child gets the right support early.

At Kids First Words, we help children build the speech and language foundation that strong readers are made of.

💾 Save this, and share it with a parent who'd find it helpful!

📞 (815) 472-8396
🌐 kidsfirstwords.net
📍 Frankfort • Mokena • New Lenox • Manhattan

10/02/2026

📌 Save this for your next school meeting or IEP review!

Knowing the details of your child's speech services helps you make sure they're getting everything they need. Here are 5 questions worth asking:

✅ How many minutes a week does my child get?
✅ Is it one-on-one or in a group?
✅ Are all of my child's goals being worked on?
✅ How can I help my child practice at home?

And if your child didn't qualify for school speech services, that doesn't mean they don't need support. Schools focus on how speech affects learning in the classroom, so some children with real communication needs don't qualify.

Whatever your answers, we're here to help. Kids First Words works alongside school therapy to give your child the extra support they need.

📞 (815) 472-8396
🌐 kidsfirstwords.net