It’s my SLP SUMMIT DAY 🥳🥳🥳 I’m not a It’s my SLP SUMMIT DAY 🥳🥳🥳

I’m not a flash sale person, but then again, it’s not every day that you get to share your passion and present to thousands of SLPs all over world 🌎 

Enjoy 20% off ALL minimal pair resources in my store for today only!!!

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #slp #slpsofinstagram #slpsontpt #slp #speech #minimalpairs #phonology #preschoolslp #schoolslp
Whether it’s your Thursday afternoon (Northern H Whether it’s your Thursday afternoon (Northern Hemisphere) or Friday morning (Southern Hemisphere), don’t miss my SLP Summit talk on the Minimal Pairs Approach!!

Who has signed up????

#ebpslp #adventuresinspeechpathology #slpsummit #slp
I don’t want to be REMEMBERED for my games!!! I I don’t want to be REMEMBERED for my games!!!

I want to be remembered as that lady WHO HELPED ME say my sounds correctly!!!

The older I get, the less games I play, and the more I keep my keep my kids engaged doing novel things like earning LEGO bricks 🧱 to build something while I’m chatting to Dad at the end of my session.

Are you with me?? 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #slp #slplife #slpsofinstagram #slp2b #speech #speechpathology #adventuresinspeechpathology
Did you know that these are the two most FREQUENTL Did you know that these are the two most FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS I get asked about minimal pairs?

So if you’ve thought these, you’re not alone!

Answer to the first question: well, there are options!!!! Which is great, right?! Options mean that you can individualize therapy for your child. I usually choose about 5, but have gone higher and less as well!

Answer to the second question: the minimal pairs stay the same! So I pick my treatment set carefully. The only reason why I might change my set is if the child isn’t generalizing and that system-wide change isn’t occurring (then I’ll add more to the treatment set).

For those who have read these pages in the Minimal Pairs Handbook, I’d love to know if the information makes sense 👇🏻

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #minimalpairshandbook #phonology #ebpslp #privatepracticeslp #preschoolslp #speechdelay #speech #speechdelaykids
I’ve decided to be a folder girl this year!!! I I’ve decided to be a folder girl this year!!!

I’ve got so many handouts, visuals, posters, and factsheets (pictured 😍), that I’m just going to get my act together and have everything in one place!

Let me know if you want me to do a video of what I come up with.

Pictured: Speech Development Fact Sheets by Age

#speechlanguagetherapy #ebpslp #speechtherapy #slp #slpsofinstagram #slporganization #speechdelay #speechdevelopment #speech
One of the questions I get asked is: what activiti One of the questions I get asked is: what activities do you use for minimal pairs?

A: the same that I use for all my other kids! The only difference is my TEACHING and FEEDBACK!!

I generally pick 3-5 simple SIMPLE activities or reinforcer style games and just aim to keep my kids motivated and engaged enough to get a lot of practice in.

So please don’t think that you have to sit at a table and have kids point to cards. That’s an example, that’s not how you do it every session 🙅🏻‍♀️

For those who have looked through the activity ideas in the Minimal Pairs Handbook, I would love to know what you think of this section about activity ideas 👇🏻

#speechdelay #phonology #slpa #slpgradstudent #speechtherapy #speechpathology #slp #slp2b #minimalpairshandbook #speechdelaykids #speechactivities
In case you missed it.... the Minimal Pairs Handbo In case you missed it.... the Minimal Pairs Handbook has been released 🎉

If you don’t know the journey, this has been six months of researching, reading, collaborating, and creating!

I want new grads, CFY, and early career SLPs to learn this approach CORRECTLY from the start of their career...

...and more experience SLPs to tweak their practice to be even more effective 👏

The 30% sale price ends in less than 24 hours, so go to the link in my profile and start the year treating speech confidently 💪🏻

#ebpslp #speechtherapy #slp2b #slp #speech #speechpathologist #privatepracticeslp #preschoolslp #schoolslp #speechdelay
This is why the minimal pairs approach is a GREAT This is why the minimal pairs approach is a GREAT option ☝🏼.

Because even if your child ISN’T stimulable for the sound, you can still follow the principles of minimal pairs therapy!

The Minimal Pairs Handbook will be breaking down the differences between these two options, and helping you problem solve everything else 👏

Can’t wait for its release this week!!

#minimalpairshandbook #phonology #slp #slp2b #speechtherapy #schoolslp #ebpslp #speechpathology #preschoolslp
Children need to make words SOUND DIFFERENT becaus Children need to make words SOUND DIFFERENT because they have different meanings!!

At the start of minimal pairs intervention I usually find myself using those sentences, such as:

“Green means..... (go)”
“We play with.... (dough)”

The reason WHY I do this is because if the child answers that green means DOUGH, well I’m going to act totally confused and confront my little one with the communication breakdown, because I’ve added some context and meaning to it.

I do fade this out pretty quickly. And FYI - I don’t think you’ll find this in a journal article, it’s just something that MY clinical practice and experience has lead me to do!

Ask me a question 🙋🏻‍♀️ if you have one!

(and only a few more days til the Minimal Pairs Handbook is released 🤗)

#minimalpairs #speechtherapist #speechpathology #digitalslp #ebpslp #slp2b #speechdelay #phonology #speech
That’s okay!!! I learn best from watching other That’s okay!!!

I learn best from watching other people too.

But if you feel like minimal pairs was glossed over in your studies, or you’ve never really seen it be implemented PLEASE DON’T LET THAT STOP YOU FROM LEARNING THIS APPROACH!!!

The Minimal Pairs Handbook is being released this week 🤗 and it contains three video tutorials AND a 25 minute therapy session using the minimal pairs approach from Step 1-3.

Make this YOUR year to make progress with your speech kids ❤️

🤗🤗🤗🤗 WHO’s EXCITED????

👉🏻 Sign up for the waitlist and get notified when this is released! The link is in my profile.

#speechlanguagetherapy #speechtherapy #phonology #speechsounddisorders #slp #slp2b #minimalpairshandbook #speechdelay #slpgradstudent #slpgradschool #preschoolslp #schoolslp
It’s my SLP SUMMIT DAY 🥳🥳🥳 I’m not a It’s my SLP SUMMIT DAY 🥳🥳🥳

I’m not a flash sale person, but then again, it’s not every day that you get to share your passion and present to thousands of SLPs all over world 🌎 

Enjoy 20% off ALL minimal pair resources in my store for today only!!!

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #slp #slpsofinstagram #slpsontpt #slp #speech #minimalpairs #phonology #preschoolslp #schoolslp
Whether it’s your Thursday afternoon (Northern H Whether it’s your Thursday afternoon (Northern Hemisphere) or Friday morning (Southern Hemisphere), don’t miss my SLP Summit talk on the Minimal Pairs Approach!!

Who has signed up????

#ebpslp #adventuresinspeechpathology #slpsummit #slp
I don’t want to be REMEMBERED for my games!!! I I don’t want to be REMEMBERED for my games!!!

I want to be remembered as that lady WHO HELPED ME say my sounds correctly!!!

The older I get, the less games I play, and the more I keep my keep my kids engaged doing novel things like earning LEGO bricks 🧱 to build something while I’m chatting to Dad at the end of my session.

Are you with me?? 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #slp #slplife #slpsofinstagram #slp2b #speech #speechpathology #adventuresinspeechpathology
Did you know that these are the two most FREQUENTL Did you know that these are the two most FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS I get asked about minimal pairs?

So if you’ve thought these, you’re not alone!

Answer to the first question: well, there are options!!!! Which is great, right?! Options mean that you can individualize therapy for your child. I usually choose about 5, but have gone higher and less as well!

Answer to the second question: the minimal pairs stay the same! So I pick my treatment set carefully. The only reason why I might change my set is if the child isn’t generalizing and that system-wide change isn’t occurring (then I’ll add more to the treatment set).

For those who have read these pages in the Minimal Pairs Handbook, I’d love to know if the information makes sense 👇🏻

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #minimalpairshandbook #phonology #ebpslp #privatepracticeslp #preschoolslp #speechdelay #speech #speechdelaykids
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Adventures in Speech Pathology

Feel confident treating speech sound disorders

Social Communication · June 14, 2019

Using Social Thinking® Vocabulary with my OWN child

I remember thinking to myself, “This is what my clients and their families tell me happens in their homes,” but my child doesn’t have Autism Spectrum Disorder or ADHD. In fact, she doesn’t have any known diagnoses that I am aware of. 

I can teach things to parents as a speech pathologist that have been really challenging for me to implement as a parent. It took me a while to see my own child’s challenges because at home I was in parent mode—just surviving through the day—versus being in problem-solving therapist mode. 

Let me share our story about my beautiful little girl. For a three-year-old, I’d say that her articulation skills are age appropriate and her expressive and receptive language skills are within the high average range. Everyone always commented about how social and friendly she was. And it was true. She could confidently talk to and initiate play with anyone. So, when baby number two was due, I was prepared. We talked and talked about what would happen and the changes that would take place. I implemented lots of little changes early on, such as swapping the car seats around and setting up the bassinette, so that everything wasn’t new all at once. 

We read our I’m a Big Sister book, sorted through clothes and toys together and gently decreased our morning snuggles, all in preparation for having a baby in the room. I made visual schedules to choose activities for the day and included little jobs for her, such as “brush my hair” to increase her independence. I knew I was going to be busy with the new bub.

The speech pathologist in me was silently applauding just how clever I was, and our first three weeks went as planned. 

The following month was the most challenging I’ve faced as a parent. 

Just describing that month is hard. I was hit, slapped, kicked and punched incessantly. My daughter’s  sleep totally regressed. We went from a two-hour nap in the day and 7 p.m. bedtime to her refusing to nap in the day and then not going to sleep until 10:30 p.m. some nights. She was constantly coming into our bedroom and screaming every time we walked her back to her room. One night she came in over 30 times. I told my mum that I didn’t like my child, feeling guilty that I could ever think those thoughts. How could a mother not like her child? I loved her, fiercely, but I just didn’t like being around her. That made me feel like the worst mum.

There was such anger in her. It was always there and that’s what hurt me the most, seeing my little girl in a constant state of anger. Life felt like one meltdown rolled into another.

It was when she started getting aggressive toward the baby that I realized outside help was needed. Psychology or behavior support? Or perhaps someone for me and my mental health? My husband suggested that maybe I had post-natal depression, but I loved my time with my baby. She was gentle and content. She fed well and slept well. Whenever I held her, I felt calm. She balanced me and regulated my emotions. 

That’s when the idea of self-regulation first popped into my head. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. My little girl’s whole world had changed and she was having more difficulties than usual self-regulating. Because I was in parent mode, I was focusing on her behaviors instead of trying to understand why she was acting this way. I have a free Social Thinking poster in my office, the Building Blocks of Social Development for Young Children, from the We Thinkers! early learner curriculum. It’s the one I pull out for parents all the time, and there it was, right in front of me. 

I started thinking about what I would tell parents if they were describing this situation to me. At home my daughter and I had been using “feeling” words since we started reading books together. My girl, who just turned three, was using words like frustrated, disappointed, sad, mad, angry, happy, surprised and excited. But I had never asked her how she was feeling. And when I did, when I asked, “Sweetie, tell me how you’re feeling” her answer shocked me.

“I’m mad because you had a baby.” 

Now I understood. 

I started thinking more and more about things from her perspective, tried to think like her. Her whole world had changed, and it was apparent to me that she was feeling big feelings for a little girl of three, that she couldn’t really understand: jealously, rejection and loneliness. 

Therapist mode kicked in. I know my Social Thinking Vocabulary pretty well. In fact, it has just become part of everyday speech for me (hence why my daughter has words such as “frustrated” in her vocabulary at her young age). But, I had never thought to use the core vocabulary concepts any further. I understood that the Social Thinking We Thinkers! curriculum was primarily for ages 4-7, but my instincts told me I should try teaching some concepts.

So, I introduced the Group Plan. And this one concept, this seemingly simple idea changed everything and turned life around for us. 

Let me just say that my husband thought this was a ridiculous idea when I first told him what our “plan” was. He thought we needed to put her in time out or have a naughty chair. I asked him to let me try it for three days, just three days.

It only took half a day for him to get on board.

Before we did anything—before we got into the car, before we hopped out of the car, before we opened the door, we talked about the “plan.” And sure enough, the meltdowns dramatically decreased. I found myself telling my husband, “See, if she knows the plan, then she knows what is expected and then she can better regulate her emotions.” This turned out to be correct! Problem solving ahead of time by discussing this information when she was calm helped her to anticipate what was going to happen. That, in turn, helped her stay calm. We also asked her what her plan was, and this let us understand what she was expecting, which was also really important! 

I feel like I understand my little girl so much more now. Sure, she’s still my little teapot and can bubble over quickly, but she is only three. We still talk about the plan, especially on those days when she is tired or sick, but not as much as we did during that first month, when she was adjusting to a new little presence in the house, one that had disrupted her whole world. 

As a therapist I knew the positive effects that using the Social Thinking Vocabulary could bring. As a parent, I now do too. It’s ingrained in my heart as well as my brain. And that’s good.

As a side note, I’d love to share some of the things my little girl has said that guided me in deciding to start introducing more of the concepts and vocabulary from the We Thinkers! Volume 1 curriculum at her younger age. I felt her language was strong enough and she was showing signs of comprehending and understanding the early concepts from storybook 1, Thinking Thoughts and Feeling Feelings, to start talking about the concept in storybook 2, The Group Plan. (Volume 1 is a five-storybook set plus curriculum.) She was between ages two years eleven months and three years four months when I documented these.

“Mummy, Caroline (baby) is looking at you. She is thinking about you.”

“Mummy turn on the light, I’m feeling frustrated.”

“My heart feels sad.”

“Caroline doesn’t like bear. She wasn’t smiling at him.”

“Daddy do you like this one because it’s got red?”

“Which crayon would mummy want?” – “Green.” (She knows my favorite color  is green, while hers is pink.)

Reference

Hendrix, R., Palmer, K.Z., Tarshis, N., & Winner, M.G. (2013). We Thinkers! Volume 1: Social Explorers Curriculum.  San Jose, CA: Think Social Publishing, Inc.

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Previous Post: « STOP using Articulation Cards & START using Play!
Next Post: Are You Teaching Expected and Unexpected the Wrong Way? »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elizabeth Harding says

    July 9, 2019 at 12:43 am

    This is a terrific post!! You should share it with Michelle Garcia Winner. I’ll bet it would make her day. And it will be so helpful for parents as you are relating with them.

    Reply
    • Rebecca Reinking says

      July 10, 2019 at 1:12 pm

      Thanks for the support Elizabeth 🙂

      I believe that Social Thinking have shared it on their website. It has definitely come full circle for me!

      Reply
  2. Brooke Webster says

    March 12, 2020 at 9:06 pm

    Not only did I tear up and want to give you a hug, I also felt more uplifted and so happy for you as well. I can relate to a lot of what you’ve shared.. My youngest has Autism, is non verbal which understandably causes emotional and everything overload! I can’t begin to fully imagine the distress people deal with when not able to communicate.. We try a variety of visuals and anything I can think of.. However, like you and the plan, I too found that repeating over and over (first wake up, then.. Then…) Divided into morning, afternoon, evening 3 step expectations seemed to put a lot of his fear of what to expect at ease.
    I love your ideas and can’t wait to try them here.
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Rebecca Reinking says

      March 13, 2020 at 9:06 am

      We’re all in this together Brooke 🙂

      Reply

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I encourage SLPs to feel more confident treating speech sound disorders, and make faster progress with their students.

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