In the spirit of the Winter Olympics, check out Special Olympics Massachusetts for ideas about how to get your child engaged and active. They provide a number of resources, as well as host weekly fitness classes on Zoom.
Presidents' Day - We are CLOSED!
In observation of Presidents’ Day, the SLP Center will be closed on Monday, February 21st. We will be open for the remainder of the week (February vacation week for schools). Please call the office at 781-792-2700 should you need any adjustments to you schedule. Thanks!
Sock Snowman Craft!
Sock Snowman
Is the snow too dry to make a snowman outside? That’s okay, we can make our own sock snowman at home! This simple craft is a fun and motivating way to target speech and language at home!
Materials: 1 white sock, 1 colored sock for the hat, rice, rubber bands (or hair ties), buttons (or dried beans), ribbons, scissors, glue gun, markers, and an orange pom pom (or goldfish) for the nose.
Instructions:
Fill your white sock with rice. Use a rolled-piece of paper to funnel the rice into the sock if needed.
Once filled, tie the top with a rubber band.
Place another rubber band in the middle to form a small head and a large body.
Glue buttons (or beans) on the bottom half of your snowman.
Draw eyes and a coal mouth onto the snowman’s head.
Glue an orange pom pom (or goldfish) on to the face for the nose.
Glue a ribbon around the snowman’s neck for a scarf.
Cut the toe end of the colored sock. Roll up at the bottom and place on the snowman’s head for a hat.
Speech and Language Connections:
Articulation – while making and playing with the snowman, keep an ear open for any words containing the speech sound your child is currently working on in therapy. Some examples include: rice, red, round, for targeting "r" or smile, snow, scarf, glue, for targeting consonant blends. It would be easy to target final consonant sounds and multi-syllable words (e.g.: gluing, filling, standing, smiling, drawing, cutting). Play activities are a great opportunity to target difficult speech sounds in a stress-free, natural environment.
Sequencing – review the steps of making the snowman with your child, and see if they can help figure out the next step while you are making it! Try to have the child use full sentences and incorporate transition words like "first,” "next," and “finally.”
Expressive/Receptive language – describe the snowman (e.g.: how it looks, feels, smells, etc.). Identify target vocabulary (e.g.: clothing, body parts, colors, etc.). Expand language using carrier phrases (e.g: “I want x,” “more x please”). Target concepts (e.g.: top, bottom, middle, big, small, etc.).
Following directions – have your child follow 1, 2, or 3 step directions while making your snowman (e.g,: "pick up the button,” "pick up the red button,” or “pick up the button and give it to me”).
Meet the Therapists Series - Let's meet Ashley!
Ashley joined the SLPC family in late November 2021 and has been an asset ever since! Read on to learn some fun facts about Ashley!
Where are you from? – I grew up in southern NH and then moved to upstate NY for undergraduate and graduate school. After graduate school, I moved to Boston. I now live in Cambridge and love exploring the different neighborhoods!
What do you like most about Boston? – I love that there are so many different things to do in Boston! I enjoy being able to walk to most places I need/want to go to and having the Charles River nearby to walk along on sunny days.
How did you decide to become an SLP? – During undergrad, I knew I wanted to work in health care but wasn’t quite sure in which profession. I saw presentations about each of the professions in the health sciences school and after seeing the one for speech-language pathology the decision was easy. Who wouldn’t want to help people enjoy two of the things that make life worth living…being able to communicate and eat safely!
What are your professional areas of interest? – This field is special because it allows us to work with a diverse population. I enjoy working with early language development, receptive and expressive language skills, and have a growing interest in AAC and cognition.
What do you like to do in your free time? – I like to read, garden, hike, go to the beach, try out new restaurants, and hang out with my family.
What is your favorite food? – Anything I don’t have to cook!...I love a good home-cooked meal followed by dessert.
What is an interesting or quirky fact about yourself? – I used to play on a competitive ultimate frisbee team.
Winter Skate at Patriot Place!
If you’ve got cabin fever and you’re looking for a fun way to get outside this winter, head over to Patriot Place for outdoor ice skating! Day and season passes are available! See the link below for details and pricing options. Have fun!
MLK Jr. Day - We are OPEN!
Just a friendly reminder to our families, the SLP Center will be OPEN on Monday, January 17th. Should you need any changes to your schedule, please give our office a call at 781-792-2700. Thanks!
Happy Holidays from SLP Center!
Sending warm wishes to all for a happy and healthy holiday season!
Please Note: The SLP Center will be closed from Friday, December 24th through Sunday, January 2nd. We will reopen on Monday, January 3rd! You can reach us through the contact page on our website should you need anything. Thank you!
Autism Eats Halloween Event at BBC Pembroke
British Beer Company (BBC) in Pembroke, MA is hosting a Halloween Dinner Event with Autism Eats. This event will include a costume contest and surprise guest! Reservations are required.
Learn more about Autism Eats below and click the link to buy your tickets!
Event Details: Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 6-8 PM at BBC (15 Columbia Rd., Pembroke, MA)
Excerpt from Autism Eats website: “For those of us who have a child with autism dining out can be anxiety provoking and stressful. As parents, we may feel that "all eyes are on us" when our kids exhibit certain behaviors, have outbursts or refuse to sit still. Other diners may be disturbed and the well intentioned wait staff doesn't really know the best way to help out. Many of us decide it is just not worth the effort and that is unfortunate. We created Autism Eats to bring the fun back to eating out. Our dinner parties are held in private rooms of restaurants or function facilities. Food is served buffet or family style so there is no waiting. Music and lighting are adjusted to accommodate those with sensory sensitivity.”
Reminder - AAC Sales are Live Now!
Don’t miss out on a chance to get 50% off some of our favorite AAC apps!
October 5-9: Visit AssitiveWare’s website here for 50% off Proloquo2Go and other favorites!
October 1-7: Visit PRC-Saltillo’s website here for 50% off TouchChat and other favorites!
If you have questions or concerns about your AAC needs, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!
Everyone deserves a voice!
More AAC Apps for Sale: PRC-Saltillo!
Get ready to celebrate AAC Awareness Month with 50% off LAMP Words for Life, TouchChat, and Dialogue AAC! You won't want to miss this awesome opportunity to purchase these industry-favorite, iOS AAC apps. Mark your calendar today! Sale will run October 1st through October 7th!
AAC Apps on Sale for AAC Awareness Month!
AssistiveWare is offering 50% off 6 of their most popular apps in celebration of AAC Awareness Month!
Mark your calendars - the sale starts October 5!
Meet the Therapists Series - Introducing Christina!
Christina joined our team in September of 2020. Read on to get to know her better!
Where are you from? - I grew up in a small town in NH called East Kingston. I moved to MA after beginning graduate school at Emerson College in 2018. For the past few years, I’ve lived between Brighton and Somerville.
What do you like most about Boston? - I love the restaurant scene and walking paths Boston has to offer. One of my favorite weekend activities is to try out a new restaurant and walk off every delicious calorie along the Charles.
How did you decide to become an SLP? - I had actually never heard of the profession until I was a freshman in college. I was originally pursuing education until I started taking a family studies class. We watched a video about a boy who lost all his expressive language after undergoing brain surgery. I learned that he was able to regain his ability to talk through the help of a speech pathologist. I’ve been hooked ever since.
What are your professional areas of interest? - I’m so grateful to work at a practice that caters to such a wide variety of client populations. I love treating in many different areas but some of my favorite populations to work with are early intervention, articulation, social language, augmentative and alternative communication and cognitive-communication.
What do you like to do in your free time? - In my free time, I like to garden, cook (especially with veggies from my garden), listen to podcasts and venture back to NH for some outdoor fun (kayaking, hiking, climbing, etc.).
What is your favorite food? - This question is so hard to answer but I’ll go with my longstanding favorite since elementary school: pomegranates. My AIM screenname used to be pomagranitluver. Yes, with both words spelt wrong. Who would have ever guessed I’d become an SLP.
What is an interesting or quirky fact about yourself? - After I graduated from undergraduate school, I taught English in Thailand for half a year!
SLP Center will be CLOSED for Labor Day
Friendly reminder to all our families, the SLP Center will be closed on Monday, September 6th, 2021 in observation of Labor Day. We hope you all enjoy the final long weekend of summer! Please call the office with any questions or schedule changes!
Fun With Bubble Paint!
Bubble paint offers so many opportunities to target your child’s speech and language goals! You can buy bubble paint or make it on your own. This activity can be done in the house; however, it is suggested that you cover the work area or do the activity outside.
Recipe and Instructions
Ingredients: non-toxic tempera paint, bubble solution, bubble wands or plastic straws, cups or small bowls, construction paper or card stock, tablespoon
1. Add three tablespoons of bubble solution and 2 tablespoons of paint to a cup
2. Mix the paint and bubble solution together
3. Place a piece of paper on the grass or table
4. Dip the bubble wand or straw into the bubble paint and then blow out bubbles so they land on the paper
5. Allow to dry before hanging up
Speech and Language Connections
Articulation- while making and playing with the bubble paint, keep an ear out for any words containing the speech sound your child is currently working on in therapy. Some examples for targeting “b” include “blow”, “bubble”, and “big”. It would also be easy to target speech pacing and multi-syllable words (e.g.: tablespoon, mixing bowl, bubble wand, big bubble, big blow). Play activities are a great opportunity to target difficult speech sounds in a stress-free, natural environment.
Sequencing- review the steps of making the bubble paint with your child and see if they can help figure out the next step while you are making it! Try to have the child use full sentences and incorporate transition words like "first" and "next".
Expressive language- talk about the bubbles location when you blow them (e.g., “high”, “low”, “up”, “down”). Try to make a picture and have the other person guess what it is!
Following directions- have your child follow 1, 2, or 3 step directions while making their bubble paint picture (e.g., “find the yellow paint and blow it on the top of the paper”).
Boston Parents Paper Family Favorite WINNER
Boston Parents Paper’s 2021 Family Favorite votes are in! Thanks to you and your support, the Speech Language Pathology Center of Norwell WON the category of speech therapy!
We are so excited and honored to celebrate our continued commitment to our families and to spread joy through communication!
Thanks again!
SLP Center Will Be Closed July 2nd & 5th!
In observation of July 4th, the SLP Center will be closed on Friday, July 2nd and Monday, July 5th. Please contact the office regarding any necessary schedule changes. We hope you and your family enjoy a safe and happy holiday weekend!
Best of Norwell 2021!
Norwell Award Program has named the SLP Center as Best Speech Pathologists in the Business Hall of Fame! This is our 3rd consecutive year being named Norwell’s best. Thank you for this recognition of our continued dedication to exemplary speech therapy services!
May is Better Hearing & Speech Month!
Each year, the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) uses the month of May to educate and raise awareness for individuals with communication disorders. Our team at the SLP Center work tirelessly to stayed informed and provide our families with the most current and relevant information possible! Click the link below for communication milestones with tips for ages 0-5! And stay tuned for more resources to come this BHSM!
VOTE NOW! SLP Center is a Finalist for Family Favorites of 2021!
Thanks to your support, the Speech Language Pathology Center of Norwell is a top nominee! Please go to the following link to cast your final vote at “Boston Parent Paper’s Best”. Final voting is open until May 17th!
Click "Health" then "Speech Language Therapy". You'll see SLP Center listed alphabetically! Simply click to vote. We appreciate you taking a minute out of your day to help spread the word about our commitment to families in need of speech and feeding therapy! This was a challenging year and we are honored!
Activities to get outside this spring!
“It’s been a long winter, made even longer by the coronavirus pandemic closures that canceled many indoor events. But spring is finally here, and the warmer weather is opening up plenty of possibilities for outdoor activities across Massachusetts.”