Jillian Pendergast, speech pathologist and owner of Edge Therapies, an occupational and speech therapy private practice, shares three strategies parents can use at home to increase language development in their children.
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Repeat, repeat, repeat: Toddlers learn from repetition. Don't hesitate to read the same books, sing the same songs, or name objects repeatedly.
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Build on what they are saying: Expand on whatever your child says. For example, if they say "ball," add one or two more words and say things like "kick ball," "fast ball," or "orange ball."
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Comment, don't question: Asking your child many questions, such as "What is this?" can pressure them. Instead, when playing with your child, comment on what they are doing and what is happening.
Edge Therapies uses a play-based, child-led approach which helps improve engagement and overall progress through completely individualized therapy sessions. After a comprehensive language evaluation, the team can determine the nature of the language disorder. They treat late talkers, receptive/expressive language disorders, and gestalt language processing.
Edge Therapies is a team of three women who are speech pathologists and occupational therapists. Jillian is trained in alternative augmentative devices, such as using an iPad to communicate with special needs children.
Parents often choose to continue with Edge Therapies even after their children hit developmental milestones. Edge Therapies also helps kids excel further, particularly in areas like reading comprehension. One of the team’s favorite activities is preparing children for kindergarten.
The team at Edge Therapies is passionate about reading comprehension. Research suggests children who develop strong early literacy skills are more likely to succeed academically, exhibit higher self-confidence, and engage actively in learning experiences. Jillian is trained in the Orton-Gillingham reading program, which is designed to help treat dyslexia.
Jillian worked full-time in the school system until November 2021. She observed that masks in schools due to COVID-19 negatively impacted children's speech and social development. Learning literacy was particularly challenging because children couldn't see letter pronunciation and mouth movements. Students who were in kindergarten during the pandemic are now in third grade and still face the repercussions. Third grade is pivotal in education, with standardized tests gaining importance. Fortunately, Jillian and her team are helping these children catch up after those challenging years.
Occupational therapy at Edge Therapies focuses on helping children develop the skills they need to thrive in their daily activities, such as play, school, and self-care tasks. Occupational therapists work with children who may have challenges related to sensory processing, fine motor skills, coordination, attention, and social interactions. Through personalized interventions, including play-based activities and exercises, occupational therapists help children build confidence and independence in their abilities, ultimately promoting their overall development and success.
Edge Therapies partners with several daycares, including Doodle Bugs, Baby Fox, Primrose, and Kiddie Academy, as well as with preschools. Home visits are also popular among parents as they save driving time.
Want to start therapy services for your child? Fill out the form or contact us directly and we will respond back within 24-48 hours.
Phone: 727-900-5799
Email: hello@edgetherapiesfl.com