Valued Voices

From birth, children use their senses to explore their inner and outer worlds and that is why sensory play is one of our favorite things to incorporate at Valued Voices! Sensory play and sensory based activities, can be used with kiddos of all ages. In addition to being fun and engaging for little ones, sensory activities encourage children to explore and investigate, and support them in discovering more about themselves. Other reasons sensory play is so beneficial for ou...r children include: - It helps build neural connections in the brain - It encourages and increases language development - It encourages and increases gross/fine motor development - It supports exploration, imagination, and creativity - It facilitates problem solving - It helps calm and soothe children when they are feeling anxious or overwhelmed - It facilitates memory and recall #valuedvoicestherapy #valuedvoices #family #parentingteam #empoweringmoms #parenting #peacefulparenting #gentleparenting #autism #speechdelay #earlyintervention #raisegoodhumans #magicofchildhood #creativekids #shallweplaytoday #responsiveparenting #raisingkindkids #raisethemkind #childdevelopment #familyfun #familytime #parentinglife #parentingjourney #childhoodeducation #familyfun #sensoryplay #playtime #consciousparenting #earlyintervention #latetalker See more

We often raise our children by providing them what we felt we lacked or by giving them exactly what we were given. As you flow through this journey, and do the inner work of uncovering and healing your own wounds and connecting deeper to your truth, you find that often, the things you learned later are often what your child needs to be learning now. This journey of life and that of the relationship with your child is mutually restorative and expansive, as you move together i...n the beautiful dance of growth and healing. #valuedvoices #valuedvoicestherapy #speechtherapy #motherhood #momquotes #empoweringmoms #parenthood #parentingquotes #parentinglife #mindfulparenting #wholeness #raisegoodhumans #powerofpositivity #raisingkindkids #parentingjourney #mindfulmom #presence #raisingkids #responsiveparenting #holistictherapy #consciousparent #realmotherhood #fatherhood #socalmoms #SLPmom See more

We spend so much time wondering about our children’s future that we forget we have been gifted today. In remaining present within ourselves, we remain present with and for our children, acknowledging that they are someone today and not a worry over what might happen to them tomorrow. When you take each moment to connect with your kiddo, you will find infinite ways to empower them and to help shape them into who they will be and what they will carry into tomorrow. As easy... and fun as it is to think about all the greatness that exists ahead for your little one, remember that the little human that they are today is what truly matters most. What is one way you connected to and empowered your kiddo today? #valuedvoices #valuedvoicestherapy #speechtherapy #motherhood #momquotes #empoweringmoms #parenthood #parentingquotes #parentinglife #mindfulparenting #wholeness #raisegoodhumans #powerofpositivity #raisingkindkids #parentingjourney #mindfulmom #presence #raisingkids #responsiveparenting #holistictherapy #consciousparenting #realmotherhood #fatherhood #socalmoms #SLPmom #compassionatecommunication #consciouskids See more

Play is one of the most fundamental and beneficial ways to learn and grow. Through play, children explore through their senses and discover a world beyond what is visible to the eye. Play of all kinds welcomes in creativity, imagination and exploration of our inner and outer worlds. Let’s shift from buying our kiddos things and pushing them towards objects we choose for them, to helping them explore, express and connect with themselves through their imagination. Find what you...r child gravitates towards and dig deeper into how you can turn their interests into creative and connected play experiences. What are some of your favorite, fun and interactive ways to play with your family? Post your favorite activity below! #valuedvoicestherapy #valuedvoices #family #parentingteam #empoweringmoms #parenting #peacefulparenting #gentleparenting #socalmoms #socalliving #earlyintervention #raisegoodhumans #magicofchildhood #creativekids #shallweplaytoday #responsiveparenting #raisingkindkids #raisethemkind #childdevelopment #familyfun #familytime #parentinglife #dadlife #parentingjourney #childhoodeducation #familyfun #playtime #consciousparenting #consciouskids See more

Have you ever stopped to think about all the daily routines that we do day-in and day-out without even giving it any thought? Well let’s all take a pause and discover all the fun ways we can use simple, everyday routines to help increase speech, language and communication development and empower self-expression! Routine 1: Getting dressed Ask your kiddo what shirt they want to wear while holding up two shirts: Do you want to wear your yellow shirt or your green shirt? ...This begins giving your child a bit of autonomy, which leads to tons of self discovery! If you are working on early developing concepts (such as color, clothing and body parts), you can ask your kiddo to touch the red shirt," touch the pants," touch the one you wear on your foot." You can also work on expressive language skills by asking questions such as: what color shirt do you want to wear today," what should be put on next," or where should I put your shoes?" Routine 2: Bath time Bath time is another fun and engaging opportunity to work on so many different sounds, concepts and communication. During a bubble bath, you and your kiddo can work on early developing speech sounds such as /b/ (bah or bubble), /p/ (pah or pop), /m/ (mmm or more), and /w/ (wawa or water). This is another perfect moment to model and narrate language so that your child is connecting concepts to spoken words. For example, when you are turning on the water, you can say turn on or water on. Also, when you are washing your little one you can narrate and target body parts by saying show me your head or simply wash head as you are washing their head. Post below your daily routines that we can turn into moments for communication! #valuedvoices #valuedvoicestherapy #adaptability #childrenswellbeing #parentingjourney#childbehavior #younglearners #gentleparenting #parentinglife #raisingkids #raisethemkind #findyourvoice #childdevelopment #teachthemyoung #positivethinking #raisegoodhumans #irvinemoms #speechpathology #consciousparenting #momssupportingmoms #dadlife #momlife #realmotherhood #parenthoodmoments #parenthood #positiveparenting #consciouskids #languagemilestones See more

One of our kiddos said puh and buh this week for the first time! What a huge WIN! What new words/sounds did your kiddo say this week? #Valuedvoices #valuedvoicestherapy #compassion #selfexpression #selfcompassion #goodvibes #childrenswellbeing #findyourvoice #parentingjourney #parentinglife #positiveparenting #holistictherapy #peacefulparenting #parenthoodmoments #speechlanguagepathology #playislearning #ocfamily #raisingtinyhumans #communicationdisorders #parentingtips #childbehavior #connectedparenting #parentingOCmag #familytime #pediactrictherapy #languagedelay #languagelearning #babiesfirstword #compassionatecommunication #wednesdaywins

Snack time is one of my favorite ways to develop and elicit speech, language and communication! For kiddo’s under 3, use snack time to increase their language through offering them a choice. For example: Do you want a carrot or a banana? While showing them each item. If your kiddo can label and request banana, you can help encourage more language by modeling I want banana. If your little one is not using the name of the item to request, you can encourage speech and langua...ge development by holding the item close to your mouth and making the first few sounds of the word, in this case ba, repeat this 2-3 times and see if your little one imitates your sound or mouth gestures. For kiddo’s over 3, invite your kiddo to ask you can I have a banana. Model this by saying it first and having your child repeat it. If you find this is a bit of a struggle, break it down word for word. Snack time is also a great way to begin working on concepts of categories. For example, have your kiddo sort out his/her snack by color, size, shape or by food group (fruits/vegetables). Mealtime is always a great moment to come together! What are some ways you turn mealtime into a time to connect? #valuedvoices #valuedvoicestherapy #growth #parenthoodmoments #earlychildhood #earlychildhoodeducation #learningthroughplay #toddleractivities #positiveparenting #speechpathology #earlyinterventionspeech #playbasedlearning #magicofchildhood #playtolearn #letthemplay #kidsactivities #creativekids #babyplayideas #toddlerplay #shallweplaytoday #toddlerplayideas #handsonlearning #teachingkids #communicationtips #communicationdisorders #childhoodeducation #languagedelay #pickyeaters #mealtimefun See more

So often, we try to teach our children by telling them what is "right" versus what is "wrong". In this world of duality, there are also many parts of our constructs that are brought into the way we "teach" our children. For example, where one parent might say do not interrupt when other people are talking another parent might say make sure you speak up when you need to. In both examples, the theme is self-expression, and in both examples, the parent is telling the child h...ow to be. It is important that parents take a back seat as the observer, and see what is happening and how your child is being in situations. It is then our job as educators, parents, and caregivers to reflect back to our little ones what they may need. Instead of using language such as you should have, why didn’t you, next time, you will, we should be empowering our kiddos with language such as I’m listening to, I’m curious about, I value that you., I see that. Shifting our language from a place of correcting to a place of connecting is much more valuable in creating lasting impacts for our little ones. What are some things you say to shift your parenting language from correcting to connecting? #valuedvoices #valuedvoicestherapy #speechtherapy #motherhood #momquotes #empoweringmoms #parenthood #parentingquotes #parentinglife #mindfulparenting #wholeness #raisegoodhumans #powerofpositivity #raisingkindkids #parentingjourney #mindfulmom #presence #raisingkids #responsiveparenting #holistictherapy #consciousparent #realmotherhood #fatherhood #socalmoms #SLPmom #consciousparenting #consciouskids #empoweringkids #selfexpression #positiveparenting See more

Wishing everyone a safe, happy and fun 4th of July! #valuedvoicestherapy #valuedvoices #family #parentingteam #empoweringmoms #parenting #peacefulparenting #gentleparenting #socalmoms #socalliving #earlyintervention #raisegoodhumans #magicofchildhood #creativekids #shallweplaytoday #responsiveparenting #raisingkindkids #raisethemkind #childdevelopment #familyfun #familytime #parentinglife #parentingjourney #childhoodeducation #consciousparenting #speechlanguagepathology #speechtherapy #4thofjuly #fourthofjuly #consciouskids

Happy Father’s Day to all the incredible men that have so lovingly provided inspiration, empowerment and encouragement. Thank you for all that you are and all that you do. Happy Father’s Day!

We are united #blackouttuesday

Start your month off by following this amazing Connection Calendar by @consciousdiscipline