Feeding Milestones Babies follow the developmental stages of feeding when developing their oral motor skills. It is important to match the foods being offered to their oral motor skills. If a baby is showing a suckling/sucking pattern, they should be feeding on milk and/or formula. If they are starting to show a munching pattern (up … Read more
Why Does Screen Time Matter? Here is a list of screen time facts from the Canadian Paediatric Society: Nearly all children in Canada are exposed to screens by the age of 2 >75% of Canadian children aged 3-4 do not meet the standard screen time guidelines of <1h/day Average parent-reported screen time for kids under … Read more
GLP meets AAC After we’ve identified the client’s strengths by understanding why they communicate, existing language repertoire and predominant stages, it is important to see how the AAC can fit into the Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) world. Consider these questions to see if your GLP child’s AAC system is the right match! “Are there concerns … Read more
What are the Implications of Mouth Breathing? The growth and development of a child’s face and oral structures are greatly influenced by the tongue and lips. When a child breathes through their nose, the lips remain closed, and the tongue rests high against the roof of the mouth (palate). This positioning helps form the shape … Read more
What is Gestalt Language Processing? Gestalt language processing is a natural way some children acquire language by learning it in whole “chunks,” often called gestalts or scripts. These chunks are meaningful phrases that are closely connected to emotional or sensory experiences. When we typically describe how babies develop language, we talk about a sequence of … Read more
Why Do Some Children Walk on Their Toes? Toe walking can happen for a few different reasons. Retained habit of walking on their toes when they are first learning to walk. Tight calf muscles. Sensory reasons – they get a lot of sensory input from being on their toes, but also avoid sensory input on … Read more
Why Play is Used in Occupational Therapy OTs use play therapy because it reflects how children naturally learn, explore, and communicate. During sessions, OTs utilize play as the child’s “primary occupation,” recognizing it as essential to participating in daily activities. It helps develop specific skills such as coordination, social interaction, and fine motor skills. By … Read more
What Is Torticollis? Torticollis happens when a main neck muscle, called the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), becomes tight or shortened. This muscle controls head tilt and rotation. When one side is tight, your baby’s head may tilt toward that side and rotate to the opposite side. In infants, torticollis is often called congenital muscular torticollis or positional … Read more
What is Plagiocephaly? Plagiocephaly, often called “flat head syndrome,” is a very common condition in babies where a portion of their head becomes flat or misshapen. Because a newborn’s skull is soft and pliable, constant pressure on one part of the head—usually from lying in the same position—can cause it to flatten. The Safe to … Read more
Does Being Bilingual or Multilingual Cause Speech Delays? No it does not. This is one of the biggest myths in early language development. Children can successfully learn two or more languages without causing speech or language delays. Bilingual children may: Use fewer words in each language at first Mix languages in the same sentence Prefer … Read more