Empower Speech Therapy & Life Skills Center

Happy Monday & happy first day back after Easter and spring break! () Anybody feelin the Monday chug along today? Who has had more than 2 cups already?? (Art downloaded from Pinterest, we do not own or take credit for these memes)

It’s time for another staff fun fact! Meet our amazing, hard working, thoughtful, & fearless team leader Natalia! She is the Founder & Director of our lovely Speech Therapy Practice & is such a great example to us all in how she loves others well with her ability to listen & communicates with such kind words. She is a fabulous SLP & we are so grateful for her leadership. Here’s her fun fact:... I love crystals and succulents! I am an *avid* crystal collector and began this hobby during a study abroad semester in India - Dharsmsala to be exact (the home of the Tibetan refugee community in India). India was the first out of 3 countries on the itinerary (India, Thailand & Taiwan - it was a comparative religious and cultural program where we studied the history and practice of Buddhism across different cultures). I happily lugged a giant bag of "rocks" for the rest of the semester until I brought my treasures home, and then just continued collecting ever since. I enjoy gifting crystals because they are just so beautiful and bring me lots of joy - so I love to spread the joy! I also enjoy succulents and am obsessed with my new succulent garden! It makes me feel happy and has a Modern/Coastal vibe....which I LOVE.

HAPPY SPRING BREAK! Did you see our post about a fun way to boost prewriting skills? With this spring break warmth & sun there couldn’t be a better way to go outside and get some spring cleaning done while getting a little vitamin D! ... Show your kiddos how they can create different lines with soap & a paint brush while also strengthening their upper extremity muscles!

At Empower we strive to help others feel heard. We aim to be good listeners so we can be good communicators too. We are empowered by our clients and families who work endlessly to be advocates for those in need. One of the ways we find we are able to assist clients in communicating their ideas is through AAC! (Assistive augmentative communication) AAC devices are truly amazing as they provide a robust system of language for a child or adult to use where they may not have the... ability to do so on their own. Read what one of our Empower parents had to say when asked about her child’s journey with an AAC device Our child started her journey with Empower about two and a half years ago and was not much of a communicator. Our family is blessed to have a supportive team which includes her wonderful Empower Speech team, OT services from Goodfellow Occupational Therapy and ABA services from A Center for Trajectory. About 6 months ago, she embarked on her electronic journey utilizing an AAC device (Proloquo) and because her team literally works as a team with consistent check in’s she has flourished in her communication. The team ensures that we are all working on the same goals to ensure our child’s success. Because of this collaboration she continues to become more confident in her communication and is gaining her independence! It's such a beautiful sight to see all the professionals work together to ensure your child's success. We are very appreciative of all of their efforts. I would encourage ALL parents to continue to be the stewards and voice for their child's success and facilitate meetings with your child's team to keep efforts focused and aligned. Proud Empower Parent

Games are one of the funnest ways to target language with elementary aged kiddos! This game pictured is called Shark bite! Its fun, surprising, & keeps kids (AND therapists & parents ) on the edge of their seat. If you have some fun games like this at home read below how you can help increase receptive and expressive language during your next family game night. (p.s. even if you don’t have games like these at home there are always ways to get creative create your own g...ames!) Goal areas: sequencing events answering when questions utilizing time based language (before/ first, next, after/ last) To do: take photos of each step as you play the game, then after the game is over look over the pictures together. Identify what happened first, second, and third. Example: first I put the crab in, next I pulled the crab out, last the shark tried to bite! Then, ask questions like when did you put the crab in? (answer: before I pulled the crab out, etc) Have fun!

Don’t forget... Putting your phone aside & engaging with your child in whatever fun activities they enjoy are powerful opportunities to teach language! In order for kiddos to learn and expand their vocabulary they must first WANT to engage with us. We can do this by first showing them how we love what they love! Unplug, connect, engage, and most importantly... have F U N !

AMEN. Thanks for sharing Brad Larsen

CARDBOARD! (we all have it! why not use it for treatment!?) Using old Amazon boxes & cardboard pieces to target therapy goals & encourage imaginative play with your kids is such a great way to save money, time, & recycle! ... Some ways we use cardboard to target therapy goals: Pretend play > build a car track & little houses, create a little makeshift kitchen & use play food or empty cups & bowls from your kitchen Prepositions > build a cardboard bridge & garage to target prepositional phrases: cars drive IN a garage, cars drive ON the bridge, cars drive UNDER the bridge, cars drive NEXT TO each other, etc. Receptive language > strengthen your child’s receptive comprehension by giving them directions to follow within play Articulation & phonemic blending > break up a word to provide a helpful visual prompt & strengthen blending skills. Cut cardboard pieces into smaller squares. ... example: if target sound is /f/, write F on one piece of cut up cardboard. On the next write ISH with a drawing of a fish on this piece. Do the same with other F words such as (f)UN (f)EED (f)OOT and then connect them to the F piece! H A V E F U N ! ! let us know if you come up with any other fun therapy ideas! photo by @happytoddlerplaytime ideas by your @empowerspeechtherapy team

HAPPY FRIDAY! Meet Melissa! She is our wonderful lead SLP, our Training Specialist, and Supervisor! She has a wealth of knowledge and does so much for our team & families. We are so grateful for her and all the ideas she brings to the Empower table. She recently got engaged & is in the fun season of wedding planning & future dreaming We love you Melissa! Here is her fun fact:... Although I've probably tried every pizza place under the sun, I've never eaten a fast food hamburger (No, Not even In-n-out or Habit!). I may have never eaten a fast food hamburger before, but I love a good, home grilled cheeseburger with avocado and bacon on a summer night after swimming in the pool. Can pool season begin already? See more

Your weekly reminder! Our Occupational Therapist suggests waiting & watching when your child learns a new skill. Allow time & space for your child/client to explore and investigate. Engage by asking open ended questions & allow them to participate in a little trial and error. Keep them safe as you allow them to engage without parent/clinician direction. Of course if the child asks for help make sure you are available for assistance. ... _______________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

OT Tip Tuesday! You can use a yoga/exercise ball to: promote core strength through sitting, playing, or planking on the ball roll across the legs and back for a calming massage... work on coordination and balance by playing giant catch or giant soccer in a open area encourage advanced coordination such as dissociation of the upper and lower body (lower body stays still to stabilize, upper body twists to reach and play) provide proprioceptive and vestibular input for a sensory break If you tried any of these, let us know how it went in the comments! _______________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

MATERIALS MONDAY + modeling language What can I do when I play with the coin pig toy or my child’s piggy bank at home? Great question! Here is a list of words we model when playing with the coin pig! Don’t have a coin pig or a piggy bank? That’s ok.. don’t feel the need to always go buy new! Empty Amazon boxes are amazing ... TRY THIS > Reseal an empty Amazon box, cut a slit in the top & a flap on the side for a door. Use game small pieces, desirable objects, pretend food (to feed the pig ), or cut out play money/coins & have your kids color them. As you put the objects inside the box , model the words on the photo! Remember, you don’t always have to go buy the newest & greatest toys in order to work on speech goals. Get creative & use what you already have! Have fun! _______________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

It’s Monday! HAPPY MONDAY! A fresh start to the week, a deep breath, a smile because the sun is out & we’re hitting the ground running working hard. What positive thing are you choosing to focus on today? There is always something negative we can focus on, over-emphasize and complain about... but why do that when there’s also so much good happening around us? Life is full of hard things, but we have the ability to choose the hard thing that will bring life. Choose ...to focus on what is life giving today. It’s a new day. Have a wonderful week!

Monday motivation: Focus on something you are grateful for. Then, ask yourself what beauty you begin to notice. Today I’m grateful for the rain & clean air we have in the Central Valley. The beauty I’ve found is in the blue sky, the sound of kids playing & giggling at the park outside, & the ability to work from home via tele-therapy.

SENSORY BREAK: Movement breaks and opportunities for sensory input throughout the day are vital for both children and adults(especially during this season filled with zoom meetings and distance learning!) This visual provides a broad range of sensory play ideas. **It’s important to know your child and their sensory preferences when trying new sensory experiences. While almost all sensory exposure is beneficial to development, NOT ALL all sensory input will produc...e a desired result. For example, if a child is feeling lethargic they may need a type of sensory input that it alerting to them, to help them wake up and engage in the task at hand. If a child is overstimulated, they may need a type of input that is calming and regulating to help them calm down. So when you try something from this list, observe your child and take note! Which activities make their energy go up, and which activities make their energy go down? __________________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

THERAPY TIP TUESDAY The goal = to show kiddos that THEY can INITIATE their wants and needs with us! We do this by establishing consistent words and phrases, spoken/gestured in all environments & TEACHING more than we TEST the child’s knowledge. ... Avoid telling your child SAY want SAY give me SAY no. By asking a child to imitate us, we are really asking them to copy without thinking about what they really need. So what should I do instead (you ask)?? ... DO model the appropriate response for your child by saying it out loud and following through with the action associated with the word. If you want your child to initiate requesting by saying give me, model for them (AKA: say out loud/gesture) give me & then provide the desire object immediately. Do this over and over 10+ times in repetition. Give me will be the only thing they’ve heard you say within 2 minutes worth of play! Keep in mind that modeling does not = testing what they know. Let’s focus on showing, teaching, & providing visuals... more than asking them questions or asking them to imitate us. Questions? Ask us! There is no bad question. __________________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

Happy NOVEMBER (where has the year gone!?), & happy Monday! We hope you had a fun & safe Halloween & are looking forward to all the joy ahead in the coming months. In honor of Thanksgiving month, tell us what you are thankful for today! We are thankful for such a wonderful, caring, & diverse staff, and for our amazing families. ... What are you thankful for?

BUBBLES! As the weather gets cooler & when storms start rolling through, you’ll need to find some ways to get your kiddos some runaround time. Bubbles are the perfect way to do that! Have fun running around inside blowing and popping bubbles as you get energy out! As you take turns blowing bubbles, model the following core words to expand your child’s language & to help them direct your actions. Practice taking turns by modeling saying my turn as you pat your chest wit...h your hand. Showing your kiddos this gesture is a great way for them to be able to request their turn, especially if saying my turn verbally is a challenge. Don’t forget that gesturing & pointing to icons on a low tech board like this one is a way to communicate! __________________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

PARTS OF SPEECH Here are some great definitions & examples of how we use different parts of speech. Love this chart! These definitions can be useful when it comes to teaching & front loading new concepts with an older kiddo. Parents can also refer to this when helping their child with homework! __________________ ... #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno See more

PUMPKIN PICKING! Check out these amazing Proloquo2Go language folders we’ve created for when you go to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins! There is a variety ranging from core basic to more robust language boards for those children who may be more advanced device users. Feel free to use as an example for your child's device, screen shot these photos for your use, or DM us for a PDF screenshot copy to be sent to your email! ... Have fun carving pumpkins this week! __________________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

Just a little reminder... Give yourself some credit for how far you have come, AND for how far your kiddo has come. YOU parents are a big part of this collaborative team that works hard to help your child progress & grow. YOU deserve the credit for stepping out of your comfort zone, for advocating for your family & your child, for asking hard questions, for getting on the ground with us in therapy & learning new skills, for taking part in tele-therapy. We are so grateful fo...r your willingness & participation. One day, if they haven’t yet, your child will thank you too. Give yourself some credit! Don’t get stuck focusing on what you don’t see YET ()... keep your eyes fixed on the goals at hand & focus on reflecting at how far your kiddo has come. The work you put in is worth it. Promise. __________________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

HALLOWEEN is almost upon us! Check out this wonderful trick or treating aac board we received from @letstacoboutspeechpodcast! This board can be printed & used to help a child communicate as they trick or treat! Try this> Teach new vocabulary & core words by modeling on the board prior to trick or treating. Practice trick or treating in your own home by using the front door & modeling pointing on the board to show your child how greet someone new, how to ask for cand...y, asking for help, saying goodbye, etc! If you would like to obtain a copy direct message us here at Empower. __________________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

HAPPY FRIDAY! We hope you had a great week & are looking forward to a restful weekend. Check out our lovely Occupational Therapist’s favorite materials that she uses in treatment! __________________ ... #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno See more

THERAPY TIP of the week! Don’t forget... the language we use with our children is powerful! We are our children’s model & influence. The next time you want your child to follow a direction, instead of saying if you DON’T pick that up, you WON’T get tablet time (etc)... try a positive spin that encourages & motivates the child to follow the direction! If all we say is don’t and won’t then all the child hears is no. This won’t motivate them to follow the direction & b...ehaviors may increase. Rather when we remind them of what they are working for, their intrinsic desire to get the task done may help them to move along. __________________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

Sometimes kiddos feel big feelings & don’t know how to express it. This is where having icons of facial expressions & pictures of people experiencing different emotions can come in handy! Try sitting your child in front of a mirror so they can see their facial expression, then hold an emotion icon or photo next to their face so they can identify which emotion they look like. For fun, try on each emotion & talk about how you look, identifying the feeling. Often we find w...hen children tantrum & scream, it is likely they are experiencing a communication breakdown. (Simply put, the child does not know how to communicate what they want... therefore they breakdown). In these moments during tantrums, model what the child could say in that moment instead of presenting with the unwanted behavior. Example: (child screams & throws toy) Parent/Therapist models: I’m mad! Dont like! Mine/ my turn etc. __________________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

Have you noticed that when a child is motivated to do something he or she loves, they are more willing to learn hard things too? Motivation & excitement go hand in hand with tackling challenging concepts! Yesterday in tele-therapy with a client, I made pumpkin cookies! I did the baking, the child did the instructing It felt like our own little cooking show. We targeted when & how questions by using the words before & after in our step by step instructions.... > To target this receptively I asked: when did I scoop the batter? Client would answer with one word: before, or after. > To target this activity expressively, I had him tell me a complete sentence using the time based language: First, get the ingredients. AFTER you get the ingredients, mix. AFTER you mix it, scoop the batter. AFTER you scoop the batter, put it on the pan. AFTER you put it on the pan, stick the pan in the oven. ...etc! This activity is great for kiddos working on: sequencing when questions how questions expanding spontaneous use of language etc. Cooking & baking is something we already do in our homes, so tack these ideas onto your pre- existing daily routines! Bring therapy to the kitchen, I promise your kiddo will LOVE it __________________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno

We LOVE The Very Hungry Caterpillar! This book is wonderful for targeting core words as it is repetitive & predictable. Two great things for teaching language. Swipe to page 2 for an AAC board that includes the core words we can model & bombard kiddos with when reading this book. For Spanish speaking families, there is also a Spanish translation! ... > AAC board from syncupautism.blogspot.com __________________ #speechtherapy #spechlanguagepathologist #speechlanguagepathology #bilingualspeechtherapy #bilingualslp #spanishspeechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapyforkids #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionslp #functionalcommunication #slp #slplife #slp2be #aac #aacslp #empowercv #empowerspeech #empowerspeechtherapy #clovisca #cloviscalifornia #fresno