Jessica DeLing – Child & Family Development

Halloween Craft for Building Language & Following Directions

Jessica DeLing — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:57:57 +0000

Halloween Craft for Language & Following Directions By: Ashley Godwin, CCC-SLP Looking for a fun and engaging way to boost your child’s language skills? Crafts are where it’s at! These creative activities aren’t just about glitter and glue, they’re powerful learning tools. While your little one is busy cutting, coloring, or sticking things together, you have the perfect opportunity to model…

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Halloween Tips for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Jessica DeLing — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Halloween Tips for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Brandyn Street, PhD For many families, Halloween brings excitement—pumpkins on porches, costumes in closets, and bags ready to be filled with candy. But for families raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the holiday can feel overwhelming. The unfamiliar costumes, loud noises, decorations, and unpredictable routines can…

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Boosting Communication Skills: Why I Love YouTube as an SLP

Jessica DeLing — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:00:58 +0000

Boosting Communication Skills: Why I Love YouTube as an SLP By: Maggie Wade, CCC-SLP Let’s face it, our kids are growing up in a digital world. Screens are everywhere: in classrooms, in entertainment, and in the quiet moments when we all just need a break. As an adult, I’ll admit I enjoy watching YouTube to relax and unwind, and based on conversations with my clients and their families…

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Signs of Readiness for Potty Training

Jessica DeLing — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 19:49:24 +0000

Signs of Readiness for Potty Training Lindsay O’Laughlin, OTDs & Caroline Ward, OTD, OTR/L Potty training typically begins around the age of eighteen months to two years old, but every child is different. There is a possibility of children showing signs of readiness for potty training both earlier and later in development. These signs of readiness can be a more important indicator of success…

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School Speech or Private Speech? Why Both Can Be Better

Jessica DeLing — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:00:15 +0000

School Speech or Private Speech? Why Both Can Be Better By: Maggie Wade, CCC-SLP If your child is already receiving speech therapy at school, you might wonder “would private therapy really add anything extra?” As a speech-language pathologist, I’ve had the privilege of seeing how powerful it can be when school-based and private therapy work together. Instead of overlapping…

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School Speech vs. Private Speech Therapy: What’s the Difference?

Jessica DeLing — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:15:51 +0000

School Speech vs. Private Speech Therapy: What’s the Difference? By: Maggie Wade, CCC-SLP As a Speech-Language Pathologist, I’ve worked both in schools and private practice. Parents often ask me how services differ, and the answer is that both settings are valuable, but they serve different purposes. Here’s a breakdown: In Schools In Private Practice Why are schools more limited?

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IEP Meetings: Questions to Ask Your School SLP

Jessica DeLing — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:25:08 +0000

Questions to Ask Your School SLP (Speech-Language Pathologist) By: Maggie Wade, CCC-SLP As a former school-based Speech-Language Pathologist, I know how busy the school day can be-and how little time there sometimes is to talk directly with parents. But I loved when families came to meetings with questions and ideas. Your voice matters! Whether you’re attending your first IEP meeting or your…

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Adjusting to School: What to Look for in the First 5 Weeks

Jessica DeLing — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 11:35:13 +0000

Is Your Child Is Adjusting to School? What to Look for in the First 5 Weeks By: Jessica DeLing, M.Ed. The first few weeks of school set the tone for the year ahead. As a parent, you may be wondering how your child is adjusting academically, socially, and emotionally. Paying attention to early signs of how your child is settling in, can help you support them before small challenges become bigger…

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Using Story Time to Practice Speech Sounds

Jessica DeLing — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:40:46 +0000

Using Story Time to Practice Speech Sounds By: Maggie Wade, M.S., CCC-SLP Reading with your child is a great way to build vocabulary and language, but did you know you can also use story time to help with speech sounds? It’s a fun and natural way to support their progress without needing a ton of extra time or effort. Here are some easy ways to practice during story time: Listen for the…

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What is Joint Attention and How Does it Develop?

Jessica DeLing — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 17:20:32 +0000

What is Joint Attention? By: Chelsea Menard, SSP, LPA Joint attention is when a child and another person (like a parent) both focus on the same object or event—and they know they’re sharing that focus together. It’s like the child saying, “Hey, are you seeing what I’m seeing?” without using words. In early childhood development, it can happen in simple ways, such as: This shared focus is…

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