Valued Voices

Are you looking for a fun afternoon activity in the spirit of groundhog day? Try shadow tracing! This is a super wonderful way to practice visual motor skills, pencil grasp, and coloring skills. Start by picking a sunny spot, and setting up a table or a spot on the floor. Grab a toy, paper, and coloring tools, and set the toy up so that the shadow casts onto the paper. Then trace the outline of the shadow to recreate the image on the page. Let us know below if you tried this holiday activity!

Looking for books to support your kiddo’s development? We’ve got you covered! In our last book post, we dedicated it to toddlers, and so this post is for kiddo’s age 5 and up-although they are great for any age! Check out these 5 incredible picks that engage young minds and honor their unique ways of learning. 📚✨ 1. “Can I Play Too?” by Mo Willems: Part of the beloved Elephant & Piggie series, this story teaches social-emotional skills alongside language as the characters find inclusive solutions to playful challenges. The repetitive dialogue and humor are ideal for neurodivergent kids, offering structure and predictability while enhancing communication skills. 2. “Aaron Slater, Illustrator” by Andrea Beaty: This book tells the story of Aaron, a young boy who loves to draw but struggles with reading. It’s a beautiful tale about finding one’s voice through art. 3. “The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle” by Leslie Connor Mason: a bright fifth grader with learning differences, navigates friendship and mystery in this heartwarming story. Each of these books supports your kiddo’s development in encouraging, neuroaffirming ways. 4. “Mother Bruce” by Ryan T Higgins This story is about finding your friends despite differences, and how our loved one’s love us no matter what. Bruce is a very grumpy bear who stumbles across eggs, which hatch into goslings who think Bruce is their mother. Bruce learns a lot along the way about found families and being loved no matter what. 5. “Train Your Angry Dragon” by Steve Herman This story centers around a boy and a very angry dragon. It can be hard to accept when things don’t go your way, and this book helps kids learn how to keep their cool. Comment BOOKS or follow LINK IN BIO for quick links to each book. Which one will you try first? Share your thoughts below! 💬👇

🎈Did you know balloons could boost language skills? 🎈 Playing with balloons isn’t just fun, it’s an awesome way to expand your child’s language and spark communication! Think words like ‘up,’ ‘pop,’ ‘catch,’ and phrases like “let’s get more”, “that’s so much fun”, “it’s so big,” and so much more! Plus, it’s a great opportunity to connect through play! 💛 Give it a try with your little one and discover the magic of learning through laughter! Share your favorite balloon play moment in the comments, we’d love to hear! ✨ #LanguageThroughPlay #BalloonsAndBeyond #GrowingWithWords”

Movement activities are so important for boosting your little one’s vestibular system! Swinging is such a wonderful way to work on: 💥Bilateral Coordination 💥Balance 💥Motor Planning 💥Visual tracking 💥Emotional regulation And More!

Unlock big developmental wins with our OT Little Life Skills Box! 🎉 This box is packed with fun, hands-on activities designed to help kids build essential life skills while supporting their therapy goals. 💡✨ From fine motor challenges to problem-solving games, it’s everything you need for learning through play at home! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Perfect for parents, caregivers, and little ones growing their independence one step at a time. 🖐️💛 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🛒 Grab your box today and watch your child’s confidence soar! LINK IN BIO ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #OTLifeSkillsBox #ChildDevelopment #TherapyTools #OccupationalTherapy #SkillBuilding #PlayToLearn #ParentSupport #FineMotorFun #TherapyAtHome #LittleMilestones

Love is in the air, and so is our commitment to helping little hearts and minds grow stronger every day! 💕🌟 This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the amazing kids and families who fill our clinic with so much joy and determination. You’re the reason we do what we do! ❤️💬 #ValentinesDay #PediatricTherapy #HeartfeltCare #SpeechTherapy #OccupationalTherapy #LittleMilestones #SpreadTheLove #ChildDevelopment #FamilySupport

10 years ago, I began Valued Voices with a simple goal: to make a difference in children’s lives. Today, as I look back, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for the trust, love, and connection we’ve built with each of you. It’s been the greatest privilege to walk alongside your families, share in your children’s success, and see their beautiful growth unfold. Together, we’ve created lasting memories, celebrated milestones, and created connections that mean the world to us. Thank you for letting us be a part of your story, it’s truly an honor we hold close to our hearts. Here’s to the last 10 years and the bright future we’ll continue to build, hand in hand. 💙 #10YearsOfImpact #10YearsStrong #ForeverGrateful #GratefulforYou #BuildingMemoriesTogether #BuildingBrightFutures

Sensory integration is a type of therapeutic modality in which a trained clinician presents specific types of sensory input to the child in order to facilitate an adaptive response. What this basically means is looking for increased attention or regulation, improved posture, or increased bilateral use during the activity. It is the clinicians’ job to present the “just right challenge” using the sensory input to promote a more organized and efficient nervous system processing. Sensory Integration therapy should be child led, conducted by a specially trained therapist, and should be holistic in nature. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ To find out more about sensory integration therapy and to see if it’s a good fit for your child, reach out to our office for a complimentary consult.

In between your child’s sessions it is SO important to continue working on the skills taught! At Valued Voices, your child’s therapist puts homework in the parent portal for easy ac ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ These activities are meant to assist with facilitating continued growth towards your child’s goals. Incorporating movement, language modeling, heavy work and opportunities for language into your child’s day is an all around good idea to support development. Try including the following! 🎨Drawing and Coloring 💬Model Language 🐵Animal Walks 🍳Cooking with Family 📋Using Everyday Routines 🎮I Spy Games 🧹Helping with Chores 📚Valued Voices Homework ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💪 Homework from your SLP and/or OT isn’t just practice—it’s a stepping stone to stronger communication, motor skills, and overall growth! 🌟 #ChildDevelopment #SLP #OT

Did you know that modeling language is one of the BEST ways to support toddlers with speech and language delays? 🗣️✨ By showing them how to use words and phrases in everyday situations, you’re helping grow their vocabulary, build communication skills, and boost their confidence. ❤️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here’s how you can keep it simple: ✅ Narrate what you’re doing (“Mommy is cutting the apple 🍎!”). ✅ Expand on their words (If they say “ball,” you can say “Big ball!”). ✅ Repeat, repeat, repeat! Here’s why modeling is SO important, it: ✅ Builds trust ✅ Reduces the pressure to respond ✅ Allows your little one to learn and respond at their own pace ✅ Motivates to engage naturally ✅ Builds connection ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Every word you model is a step closer to helping your little one communicate with the world around them. 🌟 You’ve got this! 👏 #SpeechAndLanguage #ModelingLanguage #ToddlerSpeech #SLPTips #EarlyIntervention #ChildDevelopment #LanguageBuilding #CommunicateWithConfidence #ParentTips #SpeechTherapy