Sun Set, Sun Rise
by Amy Chouinard M.A. CCC-SLP, COM® Disappointment. We have all felt disappointment at some time in our lives. It is a part of being human. Dealing with disappointment is an important life skill. Right now, more than ever, we are dealing with this intense... read more
The Importance of Tummy Time
by Danielle Carter, OTR/L Many parents are excited for their babies to meet their milestones quickly, sometimes even encouraging early standing in the hopes of having an early walker. While this can be tempting and easy to do, being patient and allowing babies... read more
Encouraging Tactile Play
by Danielle Carter, MS OTR/L Sensory play in the preschool and toddler years is such a great way for kids to explore their world, develop tolerance to touch, and learn to be messy! Our touch receptors help us do things such as feel temperature and pain, use the right... read more
Teletherapy- A Silver Lining
By Amy Chouinard M.A. CCC-SLP, COM® We have all been turned upside down over the last week. Every single person in the world is affected somehow by COVID-19. For me as a therapist, I cannot see clients in person. This is tough, really tough. ... read more
Flexible Thinking in Times of COVID-19
by Danielle Carter, MS OTR/L As the news of the Corona Virus changes almost daily in Minnesota, it has clearly altered our homes and families in ways we could not have imagined it would even a few weeks ago. We are all hopefully well versed in our... read more
Developing Mature Crayon Grasps in Preschoolers
by Danielle Carter, MS OTR/L As an Occupational Therapist I am often asked by preschool teachers and parents about purchasing pencil grippers to assist their 4-5 year olds who are not yet using a mature crayon grasp. While there is certainly a... read more
Talking Back
By Amy Chouinard, M.A. CCC-SLP, COM™ While at the grocery store yesterday, I walked by a mother who was obviously at her wits’ end. She had a crying baby in his infant carrier in the cart and a child lying on the floor in a full-on tantrum about candy. As I... read more
The Importance of Crossing Midline
by Danielle Carter, MS OTR/L What is crossing the midline? Pretend there is an imaginary line that divides the left and right side of the body from top (head) to bottom (feet). Crossing the midline is when we reach across this imaginary line, with arms... read more
Is it Sensory or is it Behavior?
by Danielle Carter, MS OTR/L All children, no matter their age will demonstrate behaviors that warrant correcting. Sometimes behavioral approaches (setting clear cut rules and expectations, allowing for natural consequences, and implementing discipline) work well. ... read more
Does My Child Need Occupational Therapy?
by Danielle Carter, MS OTR/L Occupational therapists (OTs) are trained to help children gain the skills needed to be successful across community environments such as home, school, daycare, and the playground. OTs help children who are showing difficulty... read more
My family has used Kidspeak for two years now. Amy and her whole team have been incredible! We’ve worked with several speech therapists and each therapist has been great. Amy was also very helpful and patient working with us and our insurance company to get therapy approved. I can’t say enough good things about Amy, her staff, and how she has helped my daughter.
Scott M.