Have you read, “In Arctic Waters” by Laura Crawford? The book follows arctic animals and is great for sequencing. It’s also easy to work on speech sounds while reading aloud. There are many lessons that can be built off of this book. Below are some ideas: Learn about arctic animals. How do they adapt to the cold weather? Build vocabulary by naming and describing winter animals. Make a craft - Focus on following 1-2 step directions and prepositions while crafting. Create your

Happy 2026! I love the feeling of starting fresh in January every year. Goals and resolutions can make a great topic of discussion with school-aged children and teens. It’s also worth exploring the various traditions around the world to ring in the new year. Some traditions include: Eating 12 grapes consecutively at midnight in Spain (I’ve tried this–it’s pretty tough!). Smashing plates in Denmark, which is believed to bring good luck. Painting doors red and wearing red in Ch

Are you looking for a fun way to practice speech sounds with a seasonal twist? Below are winter-themed sentences for speech therapy. Happy practicing! Candy cookies and candy canes cause cavorting. Please cook some cakes, cookies, and candy canes. Shiny snow shows snowflakes and ice skates. White winters are wonderful. My sister went sledding and ice skating with a snowman on Saturday. Readers:  Have you tried any tongue twisters at home? About the Author: Melissa Goff, M.S,

Scavenger hunts are a fun activity to build speech and language skills. Consider creating a list with pictures of items your children can find at home or in their neighborhoods, such as a star decoration, candles, and a blow-up decoration. To build language skills, use descriptive words to discuss what you find, or look for items containing your child’s speech sound. Happy hunting! Readers:  Have you tried a scavenger hunt at home? About the Author: Melissa Goff, M.S, CCC-SLP

Winter-themed books are a fun way to target speech and language goals. Families can talk about winter weather, winter activities, and winter traditions. While reading, caregivers can ask comprehension questions about the story and have their child retell the story in their own words. For a fun arts and crafts project, consider making a diorama, which can incorporate following 1-2 step directions, prepositions, and adjectives. Below is a list of winter books for kids. Happy re

If you have a young child at home, I love reading “Bear Snores On” by Karma Wilson at home. The book is about a hibernating bear who is awoken by his animal friends on a snowy evening. The story has wonderful pictures for practicing grammar, vocabulary, and answering recall questions. It’s also easy to work on speech sounds while reading aloud. There are many lessons that can be built off of this book. Below are some ideas: Learn about hibernation. Why do animals hibernate? D

If you have a young child at home, I love reading “Turkey Trouble” by Wendy J. Silvano at home. The book follows a turkey at a farm who tries to disguise himself prior to Thanksgiving. The story has wonderful pictures for descriptive language, vocabulary, and answering recall questions. It’s also easy to work on speech sounds while reading aloud. There are many lessons that can be built off of this book. Below are some ideas: Build vocabulary by naming and describing farm ani

Are you looking for a fun way to practice speech sounds with a seasonal twist? Below are Thanksgiving-themed sentences for speech therapy. Happy practicing! Beth thinks Thanksgiving is always on Thursdays. Patti passes pumpkin pie to Petra. Tina Turkey tries tasty turnips. Pete partakes of pecan pie. Readers:  Have you tried any tongue twisters at home? About the Author: Melissa Goff, M.S, CCC-SLP, is the owner of Sunflower Speech & Myo Therapy, PLLC, in Charlotte, NC.

If you have a preschooler at home, I love reading “Thanksgiving Cats” by Jean Marzollo at home. The book includes a fun description of a family of cats preparing for a Thanksgiving meal. “Thanksgiving Cats” has wonderful pictures for descriptive language, vocabulary, and answering recall questions. It’s also easy to work on speech sounds while reading aloud. There are many lessons that can be built off of this book. Below are some ideas: Learn about Thanksgiving - Explore the

Are you a caregiver wondering how to boost your toddler’s speech and language development? Language can be developed through everyday tasks, such as bath time or grocery shopping. While in the store, label names and colors, and narrate what you are doing. For example, you could say, “I’m going to put these apples in a bag.” During bath time, use words like, “pop,” and “bubbles.” If you have questions or concerns about your toddler’s speech and language development, reach out

Are you a caregiver building your elementary school-aged kids’ interest in reading after school? There are many fantasy-themed early chapter books available at your local library to engage the imagination. Early chapter books often contain some pictures to keep younger readers interested in the story.  Below are suggestions of early chapter books with fantasy themes. Happy reading! “Star Friends,” series by Linda Chapman “Unicorn Academy,” series by Julie Sykes “The Never Gir

Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a Latin American holiday in the fall season. Learning about this cultural tradition is an...

I love the picture book “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything” for speech therapy. The story is about a woman who takes a...

Halloween is a festive part of the fall season. Aside from costumes and candy, Halloween-themed picture books are a way to incorporate...

Are you a caregiver trying to engage your elementary school-aged kids in reading after school? There are many early chapter books...

Babies and toddlers are often communicating with their caregivers before speaking words. One way babies and toddlers engage is through...

Is your child a picky eater? There are many reasons for picky eating, including sensory and oral motor challenges. However, picky eating...

The new school year is in full swing! Families can take trips to their local libraries to encourage reading outside of school. Many...

Did you know that babies can learn sign language before spoken words? Sign language can be beneficial for both babies and caregivers...

Did you know that babies communicate before they begin speaking? Many babies who are on track to speak their first words by one year of...