Step By Step Pediatric Therapy

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Wyomissing, PA
Step By Step Pediatric Therapy

Step by Step Pediatric Therapy provides occupational, physical,speech therapies & special instruction

10/28/2026

Words packed with emotion! 😮 "Uh oh!", "Whee!", "Yay!", and "Wow!" are short, exciting, and easy to copy, so they often come before true words. Pick 2 or 3, say them with a big face and gestures, and create reasons to use them: a falling tower, a spill, a car down the ramp. Not copying yet? Check your own energy, get moving first, and tweak the sound he already makes ("uh uh" to "uh oh!"). Save this for playtime and send it to a parent who needs fun speech tips! Next up: Part 7…Verbal Routines.

10/26/2026

🎃 Trick-or-treating doesn’t have to look one way!

Halloween can be exciting, overwhelming, or a little bit of both. And there’s no one right way for little ones to join the fun.

💚 Need extra support? Try adding pillows or wedges to a wagon or laundry basket to help your child sit comfortably, with appropriate supervision.

🧡 Prefer to watch before joining in? Start by looking at decorations, waving to neighbors, or handing out candy at home.

💜 Not ready to walk door to door? Try visiting just a few houses, going at a quieter time, or creating your own Halloween tradition.

The goal isn’t to do Halloween a certain way. It’s to find a way that works for your child and your family.

From all of us at Step By Step, we hope your Halloween is filled with a little fun, a little flexibility, and lots of reasons to celebrate. 👻

10/23/2026

💙 “People with Down syndrome are capable of so much more than doctors may lead you to believe.”

One of our SBS therapists asked a mom this week what she wished more people understood about Down syndrome.

This was her answer.

For some families, the diagnosis begins with unexpected test results or markers found during pregnancy. In an already overwhelming moment, parents are faced with big questions about their baby’s future, often before they’ve had the chance to meet other families or see what life with Down syndrome can look like.

But a diagnosis doesn’t tell you everything about a child.

With early support, meaningful opportunities, and people who believe in their potential, children with Down syndrome can learn to communicate, move, play, build relationships, and participate in everyday family life.

Some milestones may take longer. Some children may need ongoing support in different areas. And every child’s journey will look a little different.

But a diagnosis is not a limit on who a child can become.

At Step By Step, we believe in meeting children where they are, supporting their families, and creating opportunities for growth from the very beginning. Not by comparing children to one another, but by recognizing their individual strengths and helping them build new skills, one step at a time. 💚

Because sometimes, what families need most is someone who sees possibilities alongside them.

💜 What do you wish more people understood about Down syndrome?

10/21/2026

Play sounds count as big wins! 🐶 Before toddlers copy words, many copy the silly sounds you can't spell: squeals, grunts, sirens, animal noises, and "ah" into a bucket. Start with a sound your child already makes, use it across a few toys, then wait with a big expectant face and say "Your turn!" Quiet kiddo? Get them moving first. What's your child's favorite play sound? Tell us in the comments! Follow along for Part 6.

10/19/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about AAC is that introducing it means giving up on spoken language. But why should a child have to wait to communicate while we see whether speech develops?

AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) is supported in early intervention. Research (Romski et al., 2015) found that AAC does NOT hinder the development of speech at the very beginning stages of language acquisition.

AAC and speech don't have to compete. A child might use spoken words in one moment, gestures in another, and a communication device in another. Their communication may look different depending on the activity, the people around them, or what they're trying to express.

Our job isn't to decide which communication method matters most. It's to help children ACCESS the tools and support they need to communicate. That means:

💜 Modeling AAC without pressure
💜 Responding to gestures and other communication attempts
💜 Making communication tools available throughout everyday routines
💜 Believing children when they communicate, even when the message isn't what we expected

We aren't giving up on speech by providing AAC. We're making sure children have opportunities to communicate right now, while continuing to support their developing communication.

Every child deserves a voice, a way to express themselves, and people who are willing to listen.

At Step By Step, we take the time to listen.

Ask your SBS therapist about the many options available. They’ll help you find what fits for your individual child.

💜 Save and share this with a family or teammate.

10/16/2026

Before words, kids copy faces. 👀

Part 4 of our imitation series is Level 3: copying face and mouth actions, based on Laura Mize's Teach Me To Talk imitation hierarchy.

Watch what happens in this clip. He doesn't puff his cheeks yet, but he understands he's supposed to copy something, so he copies what he can do: hands together at his face to "pop." That's real progress. Imitation is a process, and every step counts.

Why it matters: if your child isn't copying sounds yet, the missing piece is often earlier in the hierarchy. Copying actions (body, face, mouth) comes first, and it's a building block for copying sounds and words. Knowing where your child is tells us where to start.

Try it with:
🫧 Bubbles
📯 Horns
🎶 Whistles
📱 Selfie video mode
🪞 A mirror
😜 A silly face filter (great for grabbing attention!)

⭐ Copy the ACTION, not the sound. Stay quiet during this phase so your child knows exactly what you want them to copy.

Not seeing imitation yet? That's okay! Reach out to your early intervention team or our team at Step By Step Pediatric Therapy. We'd love to help you find the right starting point.

10/14/2026

Before toddlers can copy sounds and words, many need to learn that their mouths can move on purpose! 👄 Level 3 of the imitation hierarchy (part 4 of our series) is all about silly faces and mouth play: big open mouths, kisses, tongue wiggles, and blowing toys. Pick 2-3 movements, model them 3-5 times at your child's eye level, and cheer for any try! Share with a parent who loves silly faces.

10/12/2026

What if we stopped asking whether a child is ready for AAC and started asking whether they have access to the communication tools they need?

Children don't have to prove they're ready to communicate.

AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) can support communication and early language development, including during early intervention. Research (Romski et al., 2015) found that AAC does not hinder the development of speech at the very beginning stages of language acquisition.

And using AAC doesn't mean giving up on speech. Some children use speech sometimes and AAC at other times. Others rely on AAC more consistently. All of those ways of communicating deserve respect.

At Step By Step, we presume competence and give children the opportunity to communicate before expecting them to show what they know.

💜 Save this to share with your child's team, and tell us: what helped you or your family get access to AAC?

10/09/2026

At Step By Step, we believe every family deserves opportunities to play, connect, and learn.

That’s why we offer FREE weekly playgroups at the Wyomissing Public Library! 🧡

✨ Toddlers explore and play alongside peers.
✨ Parents connect with other families.
✨ Caregivers get ideas, coaching, and insight into language development and Early Intervention.

Because sometimes, supporting a child starts with creating opportunities for the whole community to grow together.

📍 Wyomissing Public Library
🗓️ Wednesdays at 9:15 AM

Come play with us!

10/08/2026

Time for some Jack-o’-lantern fun with a twist! Who’s going to try this activity this weekend? 🙋‍♀️

Address

922 Penn Avenue 2nd Fl (Admin Offices)
Wyomissing, PA
19610

Website

http://sbstherapy.com/

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