Expressive Speech and Feeding, LLC

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Herndon, VA
Expressive Speech and Feeding, LLC

Expressive Speech & Feeding is a speech & feeding therapy practice based in Virginia. Oh, and we help them become less picky eaters too!

We help children, from 0 to 18 years, cultivate human connection by better expressing their needs, personality & love.

08/27/2026

Little hands, big wins in the kitchen 🍅

Getting your child involved in prepping food is one of the most powerful things you can do for a picky eater.

Washing, stirring, tearing, and even slicing soft cherry tomatoes with a safe knife turns a scary new food into a fun, familiar one. This is exposure without pressure, and it is exactly how brave eating grows.

A toddler tower (also called a learning tower) is what makes it all possible. It brings your little one safely up to counter height so they can see, touch, smell, and explore food right alongside you.

For picky eaters, that hands-on time is gold: more sensory exposure, more curiosity, and a whole lot less mealtime stress. No begging, no bribing, just teamwork. ❤️

07/24/2026

This summer I’m doing something I’ve never done in all my years running this practice: closing up shop for three weeks to go be with my mom. ❤️

Losing my dad last year taught me the lesson I’m always gently handing to families: the table isn’t just about the food, and it isn’t just about the words. It’s about being together while we still can. 🫂

So here’s my tip, feeding and speech in one:

Eat at least one meal a day at the table, together, with no screens. That’s it. When kids see you enjoying food, narrating your day, asking them questions, and lingering a little longer, you’re building healthy eating AND language at the same time. Picky eaters relax when the pressure comes off and connection comes on. Late talkers light up when someone’s really listening across the table.

I’ll be taking my own advice at my mom’s table for the next few weeks. Give your people an extra long dinner this week. You won’t regret the time. 🍽️

Back to sessions in August. Messages will be checked daily while I’m away.

07/15/2026

“My son lines up his toys, is this ok?” 🧸

Yes, and it tells me something worth paying attention to.

Lining up toys can sometimes be one of many signs of autism, but it isn’t a diagnosis on its own and it isn’t wrong. It’s simply how your child likes to play right now. ❤️

Here’s what I do with that information: instead of redirecting or worrying about what it means, I use it. If your child lines things up, I get down there and line things up too. I join their play on their terms first. That’s how connection happens, and connection is what opens the door to everything else we work on together, communication, flexibility, joint attention, all of it.

So notice what your child is drawn to. Then go play there with them. 🚗

Want the “how they play” question answered without the guessing? That’s exactly what evaluations are for.

07/13/2026

Two things I hear a lot at bottle feeds. 🍼

“Aw, he’s holding his own bottle!” Totally fine if yours never does. Being fed is developmentally normal well into toddlerhood, not a milestone to chase. 🤚

“His hands keep getting in the way.” Also normal, and actually important. Busy hands during a feed are doing real sensory work. 🙌

Try this: offer your pinky for them to hold instead of the bottle. It gives their hands a job, keeps the ni**le steady, and adds a little calming connection while they eat. ♥️

Every baby feeds differently, and that’s normal too. Whether you’re a first time parent or on baby number four, I’m always happy to be a sounding board. Come pick my brain anytime.

07/09/2026

Did you know playing “doctor” is building your child’s language? 🩺

When a child listens to a heartbeat, gives a checkup, or feeds a doll, they’re practicing the exact same brain skill that powers language: using one thing to stand for another. A toy stethoscope stands in for a real one, just like the word “dog” stands in for the actual pup. That’s why pretend play and talking grow together.

What to expect by age:

👶 12 months: Pretends on themselves (sips from an empty cup)
🧸 18 months: Includes others (feeds the teddy, gives dolly a drink)
🍽️ 2 years: Short pretend sequences strung together
🩺 3 years: Real role play (doctor, chef) and objects stand in for others (a banana becomes a phone)
🎭 4 to 5 years: Full storylines with assigned roles and back-and-forth with friends

Two quick tips:

Get down and play along. Narrate the story instead of quizzing: “Oh no, bear is sick! Let’s check his heart.” Modeling language beats asking “what color is this?”

Offer open-ended props (doctor kit, play food, dolls, boxes) and follow your child’s lead, then add just one new idea to stretch the story a little further.

Pretend play is where big language grows. ♥️

07/07/2026

Office upgrades are here and I could not be more excited to share! ✨

The biggest one: a new desk that swivels so I can turn and face my clients directly, and so parents can actually see what we’re working on. When we need more floor space to play and move, it swings right out of the way.

I also added a rolling cart stocked with alllll the baby and toddler feeding options, so parents can see everything I’m offering their little one.

As a small, private practice, these choices matter to me. I’m not just making do with what I’ve been given. I’m investing in what’s truly best for the kids and families I serve, because that’s what really matters. ♥️

07/01/2026

Mirror cues weren’t cutting it yesterday, so we improvised. I borrowed my client’s sunglasses and had him watch his mouth in the reflection for our articulation practice. Same visual feedback, way more fun. 😎 Creativity is half the job in pediatric speech therapy.

Little tip for home… if your child tunes out the mirror during sound practice, try a reflective surface they think is fun. A phone screen, a spoon, even sunglasses. A little novelty goes a long way.

06/30/2026

Proud to sponsor Fox Mill swim team this summer! 🩵🏊

PARENT TIP from an SLP: swim team is a hidden social language workout. Following directions in a noisy setting, taking turns in the lane, and cheering teammates on all build real communication skills. And many teams welcome kids of all abilities, so inclusion is part of the culture too.

You don’t need a perfect freestyle. Showing up and being part of a team does the work. 💪

Locally owned, here in Fox Mill. text me 703-672-0634

06/24/2026

Big bowl of pho, two curious brothers, no one being told to take a bite 🍜

Taking your kids out to eat can feel like a gamble when you have a picky eater. But restaurants are one of the best “classrooms” we have. New smells, new textures, new foods on the table next to them, and the chance to watch other people (especially a sibling!) dig in.

Here’s the therapist truth: the only way to learn to eat in new settings is to practice being in them. Kids don’t get comfortable with new foods by avoiding them. They get comfortable through exposure, again and again, with no pressure to take a bite.

A few things to try next time you go out:

🍴 Order one “safe” food they already love so there’s always a win on the table (even if it’s bread)
🍴 Let them explore the new stuff with their hands, a fork, or a spoon. Touching, smelling, and playing all count as progress
🍴 Skip the “just try one bite.” Curiosity grows when the pressure shrinks
🍴 Let them watch you and their siblings enjoy the meal. Modeling is powerful

Messy, noodle-slurping, face-in-the-bowl eating? That’s a kid learning. Celebrate it. 💛

Address

Herndon, VA
20171

Website

http://www.expressivespeechandfeeding.com/

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