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With the Cape Cod Parent Resource Fair rapidly approaching we will be sharing blog posts on our participating sponsors, vendors and nonprofits. You will find out more about these amazing businesses and what they offer to our community. They will be sharing their services, advice, what challenges face our community as well as upcoming events they will be having. Make sure to check out our virtual program and resource guide ahead of the event so you can plan for what you want to see including our famous speaker panels. If you preregister for the speakers you will earn extra raffle tickets. You also earn them by attending any of our entertainment sessions! Just email us and you will receive tickets at the door! We hope to see you at the Resource Fair!
Jody Sastry Speech Therapy
1. Tell us about your business/non profit and how it benefits local families?
Jody Sastry Speech Therapy is a private practice for speech and language therapy in a cozy, nurturing setting. My services are covered by most health insurance plans. Therapy with children involves age-appropriate play activities. Parents are invited to watch the treatment sessions so that they can reinforce the lessons in between therapy sessions. Home practice materials will also be provided. 2. Where is it located? My practice is attached to my home, conveniently located close to Route 6A in East Sandwich. 3. What is your favorite thing about our community? Everyday I am grateful for the ability to take in the views of the surrounding natural beauty of where we live. Aside from the beautiful landscape of Cape Cod, there is a wonderful community of close-knit, supportive people. 4. How else do you get involved with the community? I am on the board of the Companion Animal Program. My dog Cocoa, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and I visit various locations in our community to bring joy, comfort, and therapeutic support to seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities. I am also a volunteer with Wellfleet Audubon as part of Team Turtle; I do search and rescue for cold-stranded sea turtles on the Sandwich beaches. 5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing parents in our community? I think one of the biggest challenges facing parents in our community is having access to specialty services; often times parents must travel off-Cape to provide their children with appropriate services to meet their needs. Additionally frustrating, the wait times for these appointments are often booking months out. 6. What is your favorite memory or story over the years involving you and your business? After working for months helping a child improve his many speech errors, he became so confident, his teachers remarked that he seemed like a different child—more outgoing with peers and eventually he performed in a class play. 7. What advice would you give parents and caregivers in our community? Advocate for your child if you feel they are having any trouble with their communication, no matter what others tell you. You know your child best and if you have a worry, it is valid to have it assessed by a professional. 8. Do you have any specials, events, or anything else taking place this upcoming year that our parents should know about? My practice offers no waiting list and no turnover - your child will get the same therapist every week. 
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With the Cape Cod Parent Resource Fair rapidly approaching we will be sharing blog posts on our participating sponsors, vendors and nonprofits. You will find out more about these amazing businesses and what they offer to our community. They will be sharing their services, advice, what challenges face our community as well as upcoming events they will be having. Make sure to check out our virtual program and resource guide ahead of the event so you can plan for what you want to see! Childcare is available as well for use during speaker panels. If you preregister for the speakers or childcare you will earn extra raffle tickets-just email us and you will receive tickets at the door! We hope to see you at the Resource Fair!
Jody Sastry - Speech Therapy 1. Tell us about your business/non profit and how it benefits local families? Jody Sastry Speech Therapy is a private practice for speech and language therapy in a cozy, nurturing setting. My services are covered by most health insurance plans. Therapy with children involves age-appropriate play activities. Parents are invited to watch the treatment sessions so that they can reinforce the lessons in between therapy sessions. Homework materials will also be provided. 2. Where is it located? My practice is attached to my home, conveniently located close to Route 6A in East Sandwich. 3. What is your favorite thing about our community? Everyday I am grateful for the ability to take in the views of the surrounding natural beauty of where we live. Aside from the beautiful landscape of Cape Cod, there is a wonderful community of close-knit, supportive people. 4. How else do you get involved with the community? I am part of the Companion Animal Program in which my dog Cocoa, a King Charles Spaniel, and I visit various locations in our community to bring joy, comfort, and therapeutic support to seniors, children, and disabled individuals. 5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing parents in our community? I think one of the biggest challenges facing parents in our community is having access to specialty services; often times parents must travel off-Cape to provide their children with appropriate services to meet their needs. 6. What is your favorite memory or story over the years involving you and your business? After working for months helping a child improve his many speech errors, he became so confident, his teachers remarked that he seemed like a different child—more outgoing with peers and eventually he performed in a class play. 7. What advice would you give parents and caregivers in our community? Advocate for your child if you feel they are having any trouble with their communication, no matter what others tell you. You know your child best and if you have a worry, it is valid to have it assessed by a professional. 8. Do you have any specials, events, or anything else taking place this upcoming year that our parents should know about? My practice offers no waiting list and no turnover - your child will get the same therapist every week.  By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP
Holiday Meal Time The holidays are a time to get together with family, to celebrate and to eat a lot of delicious food! But, if your child is a picky/problem eater, it can also be a time of anxiety and stress about what your child will eat for at family parties. Instead of panicking, consider some of these tips to help you and your child survive the holiday season!
Happy Holidays to you and your family! If you are concerned about your child's eating and think he or she may have a problem, contact Golden Speech Therapy to discuss the feeding therapy services we offer! To schedule a screening or assessment please contact Golden Speech Therapy today. www.goldenspeechtherapy.com Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP
We are finally emerging from the snowiest season on record! I don't know about you, but I was sure that spring would never come! Now that we can feel the warm sun and hear the birds chirping, it's time to get serious about your child's speech and language development. A lot of people make a New Year's Resolution to finally have their child seen by a speech-language pathologist due to concerns about development. If you are one of those people, now is the time! Below is a list of “Red Flags” for speech and language development. Signs of a language disorder • Doesn't smile or interact with others (birth–3 months) • Doesn't babble (4–7 months) • Makes few sounds (7–12 months) • Does not use gestures (e.g., waving, pointing) (7–12 months) • Doesn't understand what others say (7 months–2 years) • Says only a few words (12–18 months) • Doesn't put words together to make sentences (1½–3 years) • Has trouble playing and talking with other children (2–3 years) • Has problems with early reading and writing skills—for example, may not show an interest in books or drawing (2½–3 years) Signs of a speech sound disorder • Says p, b, m, h, and w incorrectly in words (1–2 years) • Says k, g, f, t, d, and n incorrectly in words (2–3 years) • Produces speech that is unclear, even to familiar people (2–3 years) Signs of a fluency disorder • Struggles to say sounds or words (2½–3 years) • Repeats first sounds of words—"b-b-b-ball" for "ball" (2½–3 years) • Pauses a lot while talking (2½–3 years) • Stretches sounds out—"f-f-f-f-farm" for "farm" (2½–3 years) Signs of hearing loss • Shows lack of attention to sounds (birth–1 year) • Doesn't respond when you call his/her name (7 months–1 year) • Doesn't follow simple directions (1–2 years) • Shows delays in speech and language development (birth–3 years) Information obtained from www.asha.org If you are concerned about your child's speech-language development, contact a speech-language pathologist today to find out if therapy is warranted. To schedule a screening or assessment please contact Golden Speech Therapy today. www.goldenspeechtherapy.com Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy  By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP
I recently gave birth to my second child and it has given me the opportunity to relive the stages of language development first hand! I remember when my daughter was born it was so nice to be able to see all the milestones I had read about in my speech/language development classes and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to experience it again. Here are 5 things you can do starting at BIRTH to help promote speech/language development in your child! 1. Use Motherese – Motherese is language that is simple, repetitive, rhythmic and often spoken in a high pitch and at a slower rate. We often use motherese instinctively when we use “baby talk” with our children. 2. Watch for your child’s early communication milestones – even right at birth we can start to notice our babies trying to communicate. Crying, cooing, smiling and eye contact are all part of the early states of communication. Watch for these milestones so you can start to learn what your baby is trying to tell you. 3. Talk to your baby – it may seem silly to talk to someone who can’t talk back. However, your child is hearing and learning language right from the start! Don’t be afraid to talk through your day and “narrate” what you’re doing for your baby. 4. Respond to your child’s communication attempts – if your baby says “coo” and “goo” to you, say “coo” and “goo” back! When your baby hears you respond it will encourage more “talking” and will let your baby know he is being heard! 5. Sing! – It’s time to break out all of those repetitive children’s songs you remember from when you were little. The Itsy Bitsy Spider, If You’re Happy and You Know it, etc.. These simple and engaging songs will draw your child in and promote language through song. 6. Get silly! – Don’t be afraid to let lose. Make noises, sing songs, make silly faces – these things will draw your baby to watch you and your face and will promote communication. I hope these tips help you think about ways to engage with your infant and promote speech/language development starting at birth! To schedule a screening or assessment please contact Golden Speech Therapy today. www.goldenspeechtherapy.com Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy  October is AAC Awareness Month!
By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP October is International Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC) month! What is AAC? Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes all forms of communication (other than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. Who uses AAC? People with severe speech or language problems rely on AAC to supplement existing speech or replace speech that is not functional. These people may include people who are non-verbal for a variety of reasons (childhood apraxia of speech, autism, cerebral palsy, dual sensory impairments, genetic syndromes, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, hearing impairment, disease, stroke, head injury, etc…). What are the different types of AAC? Unaided Communication: The user relies on his/her body to convey messages. Examples include gestures, body language, and/or sign language. Aided Communication: The user relies on tools or equipment in addition to his/her body. These methods range from simple picture communication books to high-tech communication devices (speech generating devices), which may include communication apps designed for use on tablet devices. How do I know if AAC is right for my child/loved one? AAC might be a good option for your child/loved one if he/she presents with a severe expressive communication impairment that interferes with or prevents with development and use of oral language. An SLP who is trained in AAC will help you explore the options available and decide if AAC is a viable choice. Augmentative/Alternative Communication is a great option to allow individual’s with communication disabilities the opportunity to communicate his/her thoughts/wants/needs. It does not have to take the place of oral speech, but can be used to augment existing speech or aid in communication as oral speech develops. If you wonder if your child/loved one is a good candidate for AAC, please do not hesitate to contact a local SLP to discuss the options that are available! To schedule a screening or assessment please contact Golden Speech Therapy today. www.goldenspeechtherapy.com Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy  By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP As the weather starts to get cooler and we find ourselves spending more time inside, I am always looking for more activities to keep my daughter busy! This past weekend we decided to make some “pumpkin play-doh”. I love activities like this because we get to touch on a variety of skills and the end product is some awesome smelling play-doh that we can have fun with!  Here is the recipe we used: 3-4 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup salt 2 tbsp vegetable oil 2 tbsp cream of tartar 1/2 cup pumpkin puree 2 tsp. cinnamon spice blend/pumpkin pie spice 1 1/2 cups boiling water 8-10 drops red food coloring 5-7 drops yellow food coloring  Directions: Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar, oil, pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin puree together. Add boiling water slowly and mix with a spoon until everything is combined. After mixture has cooled, take it out of the bowl and knead on the counter. Add flour as you knead it to make it less-sticky. (I added quite a bit of additional flour to make it a nice consistency. Just use your best judgment!). We let our play-doh cool and settle over night and then had some fun with it the next day! We decided to use construction paper to cut out shapes to make play-doh jack-o-lanterns. My daughter also made a giant “pumpkin cake”, which she then served to all of the stuffed animals in the house!  Here are some ways to incorporate speech/language skills into this fun activity.
· Talk about all of the terms related to following the recipe and explain what they mean, in child-friendly terms: o Measure, pour, scoop, measuring cup, stir, knead, ingredients etc.. · Have your child help you measure out the ingredients and have them help you find the correct numbers on the measuring cup · Once the play-doh is made, incorporate some pretend play into the play-doh. You can make jack-o-lanterns like we did or have your child come up with his/her own creations! You could set up a bakery and form the play-doh into some yummy baked treats or use the play-doh to form leaves. Whatever you decide to do, talk through it with your child. Help your child explain his/her ideas and encourage creativity! · If your child is targeting certain speech sounds, hide small objects that start with their sound in the play-doh and have them practice the sound when they find the item. I hope you and your child enjoy this fun fall activity!  By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP
By now, almost everyone has started back to school! It’s such an exciting time and as parents we want our children to tell us every little detail. However, our excited, “so… tell me about your day!” questions are usually met with a lot of, “I don’t know” and “I don’t remember” answers. Even if your child doesn’t have any difficulties with language, it can be hard to get them to spill the beans about their day! Here are some tips and tricks for getting a dialogue going with your child about his/her day at school. · Avoid using open-ended statements like, “Tell me about your day.” Instead ask specific questions like “did you have gym today?” “what game did you play in gym?” or “what book did you read at circle time?” · Know about your child’s school day so it is easier to ask specific questions. If you need to know what your child’s daily/weekly class schedule looks like, just ask the teacher! · If you have a younger child that you drop off/pick up in the classroom, look around the classroom to see what they are working on. Use what you see in the classroom to come up with some questions to ask. “I saw that there were some books and a poem about fall in your classroom – did you learn about fall today? What did you learn?” · Start a nightly tradition of asking the same question every night at dinner. For example “tell your high moment of the day and your low moment of the day” or “tell one thing that made you happy today and one thing that made you mad”. By asking the same questions every night your child will know what to expect and may start thinking about his/her answers earlier. Also, by including everyone at the table in the question-answering, it can provide good models for your child to learn how to answer. Whatever strategies you use, I hope you are able to generate some good conversation and language about your child’s time at school! Good luck and happy back-to-school! To schedule a screening or assessment please contact Golden Speech Therapy today. www.goldenspeechtherapy.com Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy  By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP
I can’t believe it is that time of year again but, summer is coming to an end and the start of school is right around the corner! Whether your child is entering preschool for the first time or heading off to high school, it is important to promote a healthy attitude of school and learning at home. If you have a motivated learner, this might not be a difficult task. However, if your child struggles in school or has a language disability, it may prove difficult to keep them motivated. Here are some tips for making the back-to-school transition a little easier for your struggling learner. · Talk to your child about the upcoming school year and find out what his/her fears, hopes and goals are · Highlight some of your child’s favorite things from the previous year to remind them what they like about school. · Take your child to the school for a tour, even if your child attended this school last year, taking him/her there to walk around and become reacquainted before everyone else returns will be less overwhelming. · For younger children you may want to read some books about the first day of school o A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon o First Grade Stinks! By Mary Ann Rodman o Ready for Kindergarten, Stinky Face? By Lisa McCourt · Make “back-to-school” shopping fun and use it as a way to get your child excited about school by purchasing some items he/she really wants Back-to-school time is always a time of nerves and excitement for both parents and children. I hope some of these tips help to ease you back into the routine. And just as a reminder, if you are ever concerned about your child’s speech and language development, do not hesitate to contact the SLP at your child’s school or a local SLP in private practice. Good luck and happy back-to-school! To schedule a screening or assessment please contact Golden Speech Therapy today. www.goldenspeechtherapy.com Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy  By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP This week we met some friends at the Children’s Museum in Easton. It was a bit of a drive for us from Plymouth, but well worth it for a few hours of fun! The Children’s Museum in Easton is housed in an old firehouse, which means the inside and outside have some pretty cool features! Inside the museum there are three floors full of kid-friendly activities, including a Fire Pole the kids can climb up! Outside there is a fenced in picnic area with sculptures and other interesting things to explore. One of my favorite things about this museum is that most of their activities really promote being creative, exploring and using language!  Here are some ways exploring at the children’s museum helps to promote language development: · Spend some time in the various pretend play areas: rocket ship, train, stage with dress up clothes, kitchen area, fire truck, dinosaur room, doctors office. These pretend play situations can open your child up to a variety of vocabulary that may be new to him/her. Model language for your child and then allow him/her to take the lead and you can expand on whatever language/pretend play scripts he/she creates! · Check out the rolling ball mazes. These mazes allow the child to drop a ball at the top and watch it make its way to the bottom. The ball maze on the bottom floor has pieces that can be moved so your child can explore different pathways. This activity opens the door for a variety of language about location, size and problem solving.  · Make new friends! A museum full of other children and parents is a great place to make new friends. Encourage your child’s social/pragmatic language skills by encouraging him/her to introduce him/herself to a new friend and engage in play with him/her. If the Children’s Museum in Easton is too far of a drive, check out the Cape Cod Children’s Museum, located in Mashpee. Although we didn’t go to the Cape Cod Children’s Museum this time, we have been there before and love exploring all of the various areas it has to offer! I hope you take advantage of one of these great Children’s Museum and enjoy the rest of your summer, while also building speech/language skills! For more information about the Children’s Museum in Easton, visit: http://www.childrensmuseumineaston.org/home0.aspx For more information about the Cape Cod Children’s Museum, visit: http://capecodchildrensmuseum.org/ 
To schedule a screening or assessment please contact Golden Speech Therapy today. www.goldenspeechtherapy.com |
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