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The Inside Scoop on Speech Therapy & Language Development
Playing With Purpose: Cars
There is no denying it, children love to play with cars. Many days, I walk into a family's home for therapy, and I see cars strewn about their play area. Cars are versatile and an excellent vehicle (ha ha ha) for speech and language development. You likely spend a...
Playing With Purpose: Ball Popper
Five years ago, while working at a clinic here in Austin, I learned about ball poppers. A fantastic occupational therapist owns the clinic, and she purchased the cow ball popper to work on fine motor skills. I quickly learned that this was not an OT-only toy. I found...
You Are the Key to Your Child’s Success
In August 2008, I got my first job as a pediatric speech-language pathologist. Previously, I had been a special education teacher for three years and was looking to specialize and further my education. I worked at the Beaumont Center for Childhood Speech and Language...
Playing With Purpose: Outdoor Play
I am going to make a bold statement. Play is ESSENTIAL to the growth and development of your child. From a young age, play is your child's occupation. Play promotes creativity and problem-solving, develops resilience and grit, and builds social and cognitive skills...
Review: BabySparks app
In June I learned about an organization in Austin called Partners in Parenting (PiP). They organize and facilitate neighborhood-based peer support programs for new parents. Parents of infants gather weekly in each others' homes for support, resources,...
The Importance of Vocabulary
The power of words is difficult to quantify and qualify. They have changed and will continue to alter the course of history. We see that on an almost daily basis in the media alone. I think one of the greatest tools we can provide to children is a large, rich...
Playing With Purpose: Bubble Blowing
The blistering heat of summer is upon us in Austin, TX, leaving some of us stuck inside, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find some creative ways to have fun! Bubble blowing is a fun indoor or outdoor activity, and children of all ages love blowing bubbles. Bubbles are...
Playing With Purpose: Grocery Shopping
You are a busy parent. Despite the growing number of delivery services, doing your own grocery shopping makes sense for you and your family. However, having to go to the grocery store with your children in tow can be challenging. Why not make a trip to the grocery...
Playing With Purpose: Books
My inspiration for this week's blog post came when I was shopping at Target and found great books in their Dollar Spot. They are adaptations of popular children's stories. Each book comes with a variety of felt characters and items related to the story. The felt books...
It’s OK to Ask for Help
It's ok to ask for help! No one expects you to know everything or even what you should do when you are concerned about your child's speech and language skills. I hear from parents all the time that are unsure of developmental milestones or who to talk with if they are...
Meet Emily
Emily Cohen, M.A., CCC-SLP is the founder of the Tandem Speech Therapy, a pediatric speech therapy practice serving the south and central Austin areas.
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Learn how to purposefully and intentionally interact with your child during play and help them increase opportunities for speech and language development with our Playing with Purpose book!