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.

06/05/2026

Six years ago today I brought home a newborn in the middle of a pandemic and, somehow, also opened my doors as a brand new business. So happy 6th birthday to my Covid baby Andrew, which means Expressive Speech and Feeding turns 6 right alongside him.

Looking back, it was a wild time to do either one, let alone both at once. There were a lot of unknowns and a lot of long days, and I genuinely did not know how it would all shake out.

What carried me was you. The families who took a chance on me before I had much to show for myself, who trusted me with their kids, and who kept cheering me on. I think about that more than I say out loud.

Thank you for six years of believing in this little practice and in me. Watching Andrew and ESF grow up together has been the best surprise of all.

🎂 Happy birthday, my little dude!

06/03/2026

He talks, so why the board? 🐛

This is a question I get a lot. This little guy uses verbal words, so why is a core board part of his session?

Because a core board does more than give a child a way to talk when words aren’t there. For a verbal kiddo, it’s a visual support that:

🟢 Models language he can see and point to, not just hear
🟢 Helps stretch one word into more (“more” → “more bug,” “green bug in”)
🟢 Takes the pressure off word finding in the moment, so he can focus on the fun
🟢 Builds those describing and commenting words (same, different, wet, dry) that are easy to skip when we’re just naming things

Today we used color changing bugs that shift color when they get wet. New toy, instant motivation. I rotate the toys in my room often so there’s always a fresh reason to talk, and a natural way to teach the vocabulary that goes with it.

While he dug in, we worked on requesting “more bugs,” labeling “green bug,” and commenting on “same / different” and “wet / dry.” The board was right there the whole time, giving him a place to land his eyes and build longer, richer sentences. 💛

04/30/2026

Connection comes before communication ✨❤️

This little guy came into his session tired this week, possibly feeling the effects of seasonal allergies, and the only thing on his mind was comfort and connection. So I followed his lead.

Instead of pushing demands, I turned snuggles into language opportunities:
🤲“I want”
🫶“snuggles”
🤗“hugs”
🥰“tight tight”

When we consider regulation and connection first, language can be modeled in ways that actually make sense to the child in that moment. Some of the most functional communication happens on the couch, not at the table. 🛋️💬

01/23/2026

who says painting is only for paper?

for breakfast this morning, i served a new type of toast (pumpkin brioche from trader joe’s—recommended by one of my clients!). my kids were a little wary at first, so i added a small dish of melted butter and let them paint their toast before eating. 🎨🍞

instant fun, less nerves, and more willingness to explore and taste.

💡 tip: don’t always expect eating with new foods. encourage exploration first—touching, smelling, painting, licking, or taking a tiny bite are all important steps toward comfort and confidence at mealtime! it was served with preferred favorites (strawberries and yogurt) so if they didn’t eat the toast or only took a few bites, I knew they’d fill up on the other foods. most importantly, i didn’t offer another option like a waffle or pancake when they inevitably told me this wasn’t what they wanted. I said “ok, let’s try painting it first.”

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas and happy Holidays from my family to yours ♥️

12/15/2025

Thanks to my amazing families and the Fox Mill neighborhood, we could deliver a full trunk of toys to !!!

12/04/2025

Another happy feeding graduate!!! Taking it slow, coaching mom and letting this little man explore helped him progress from gagging and vomiting to eating EVERYTHING his family eats 😊

11/18/2025

Hi ESF families! 🎁

Expressive Speech and Feeding is excited to team up with Toys for Tots this year. The official collection boxes are running a little behind, so to keep things moving I’ll be putting a big bin outside my house each day from 8am–8pm for anyone who’d like to donate. You can bring a donation right to your therapy session, easy peasy!

📍 2622 Quincy Adams Dr
Please feel free to drop off new, unwrapped toys anytime during those hours. Your generosity truly helps local kiddos who might not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season.

Thank you for helping spread a little extra joy in our community! 🎄💫
❤️ Janine, Expressive Speech and Feeding, LLC

10/31/2025

🎃 happy halloween from ms janine!👻

our playgroup had so much fun with a mummy game yesterday! one friend got wrapped up in toilet paper while the other practiced teamwork, patience, and communication to make the best mummy! lots of laughs, problem solving, and turn taking all around. 🧻💬✨

wishing the ESF family a safe and happy halloween! 🧡

10/16/2025

In early intervention, simple tools can make a big difference. One of my favorites is sound books like Hear Bear Roar by Eric Carle.

These books do more than entertain. They help children explore cause and effect, improve attention, and connect sounds with meaning.

For little ones, pressing a button and hearing an animal roar can encourage imitation, joint attention, and early language development.

Some of my other favorites:

🧑‍🌾Around the Farm (Eric Carle)

🎃Hoot Howl Halloween (Becky Wilson)

🦸Marvel Sound Storybook Treasury (PI kids)

Fun fact: One of my 2nd born’s first words/sounds was THWIP (the spiderman sound) from the last book mentioned above 🕸️

📚 Do you use sound books with your child? Which ones are your favorite?

Address

Herndon, VA
20171

Website

http://www.expressivespeechandfeeding.com/

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