Blog

Answering Questions About The R Sound   Does your child struggle with the /r/ sound? We sat down with one of our Speech Language Pathologists to answer some of your questions surrounding this articulation. This is what she had to say:   Why can’t my child say the /r/ sound?   The /r/ is a very […]

Infant Sitting Tips By: Hope James, PT, DPT Sitting briefly with hands propped on the ground can be expected around 4 months on average. Sitting with hands free and less guarding come around 6 months on average. Try out these tips to help your little one reach this milestone while they are closely supervised: Sitting with a Boppy pillow: Place the […]

Warming Up To The Playground By: Hope James, PT, DPT A trip to the playground is an exciting opportunity for play in a new space with new friends, but it can be a little scary or overwhelming too. Try out these ideas to help your child feel more at ease on your next trip to […]

Beach Day Play By: Hope James, PT, DPT Summer time in South Carolina means more beach days! A day at the beach is the perfect opportunity for some great gross motor play. Try out these fun ideas: Jumping over shallow waves: This is a great way to work on leg strength and timing. Crab walks […]

Ideas For A New Walker By: Hope James, PT, DPT Your babe is finally walking! But…now what? It’s time to help your little one get steady and safe to explore new spaces. Check out these ideas: Dancing songs: Songs with motions are a great way to work on changing directions, briefly standing in one leg, […]

Learning to Ride a Bike By: Kayla Rymer, PT, DPT Children typically learn to ride a tricycle around age 3, and a bicycle sometime between the ages of 4 and 6. The tricycle teaches kids about coordinated movements, momentum, spatial awareness, and the confidence to ride a bicycle. When a child transitions from tricycle to […]

Brain Breaks Happy 2021! We are all getting into our new routines and ready to tackle a new {hopefully better} year. Many students will still be learning virtually and we know that virtual learning is tough on kiddos and parents. Today we want to talk about BRAIN BREAKS! To prevent reduced blood flow and muscle […]

Remote Learning: Take a Seat With the growing number of children learning remotely via virtual classrooms, many parents and caregivers are having to rethink their kids home work spaces. It is important your child’s seating is best suited to their personal needs to promote good posture and prevent pain. What is “ideal” seated posture? Hips […]

Sensory Processing: Multi-Sensory Input Now let’s put it all together and have some fun!! Obstacle courses are a great way to provide your kiddo with various types of sensory input at home!  What you’ll need: something soft to “crash” on, something to walk across requiring balance, something with weight, something to crawl under, something to jump on, something […]

Sensory Processing: Proprioception Are you able to close your eyes and touch your nose with the tip of your finger?  You can thank your proprioceptive system for this!  This sensory system is responsible for sensing where our body is in relation to its surroundings.  Having impaired proprioceptive processing can cause children to both seek and avoid […]

Sensory Processing: Vestibular The vestibular system is our sense of movement and the mechanisms that control the vestibular system are located in the inner ear.  Kiddos that display vestibular-seeking behaviors may be described as ‘always in constant motion’, ‘a thrill seeker’, or even ‘never gets dizzy.’  On the other hand, those that avoid vestibular input may be fearful of […]

Sensory Processing: Oral Sensory Seekers Does your child tend to put everything in his mouth?  Likely, he is trying to calm himself with oral input but don’t worry- here are lots of safe strategies you can try at home to help him regulate!  Be sure to offer chewy snacks throughout the day, including fruit snacks, gummies, or […]

Sensory Processing: Tactile Play Our tactile systems help us interpret everything related to our sense of touch, including textures, temperatures, vibration, pressure, and pain.  Development of a child’s tactile system has a huge impact on his daily experiences.  A healthy tactile system makes gaining independence with grooming, bathing, and dressing tasks fun!  A few common tactile-avoiding […]

Toys vary based on the age and targeted activity for the child.  For infants beginning to work on rolling and sitting, musical, light up toys are always a favorite!  Entertainment is always needed when performing tummy time which a child, as most children do not initially enjoy placement in this position, but it is vital […]

Frequently parents ask for toys that will help motivate their child to move, participate in gross motor activities, and play.  Toys play a huge role in motivating children by incorporating fun and play into harder or more challenging activities.  A boring toy is similar to a less than desirable activity with no end-goal, humans, young and old, need to be motivated […]

Gross Motor Activities for Children Through Age 5 Older children can require more entertainment and imagination within play to stay focused and participate. It is much easier for an older child to simply say ‘no’ and refuse.  Some favorite toys and activities for children who are now walking (18 months+) through age 5 don’t have […]

Working on your child’s speech and language targets can be incorporated into fun, everyday activities at home.  Snack time is no exception. Today we are sharing a therapists favorite Valentine themed snack activity: Tic-Tac-Toe Heart Snack Follow the 4 steps below and enjoy this fun at home activity with your child: Step 1: Gather Your […]

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose Here at Tri County Therapy, books are one of our favorite activities to enhance speech and language development! The book, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose by Lucille Colandro, is a staff pick for February! Reading with your child at home is a great way to develop language and […]

Crafts are an excellent and fun way to work on speech and language skills! This month, one of our themed craft activities is a heart coffee filter. We are going to break the craft down into 5 easy steps so you can practice language skills and create a heart coffee filter anywhere. Valentine’s Day Craft: […]

Tri County Therapy loves to make working on speech and language skills fun. Incorporating games into therapy sessions has proven to be successful and exciting for children. Today we are sharing a game that therapists use leading up to Valentines Day that can be played in clinic or at home: Game: Heart Hunt How to play: […]

Back to School: Attention, Focus, and Weak Core Muscles As we have passed the Holidays, and days filled with moving around exploring outside and playing all day have been replaced with sitting at a desk for a large portion of the day. Has your child’s teacher mentioned that he is not able to focus? Maybe your child is abnormally fidgety or […]

Back to School Slump: Backpack Safety The size of textbooks and amount of homework required of children starting in younger grades has increased to an alarming amount! Large amounts of work in multiple subjects will require students to carry large and heavy books with even larger backpacks. A heavy backpack may lead to consequences such as muscle strain of the neck, […]

Back To School: Schedule & Behavioral Supports Schedule and behavioral supports are often utilized within the classroom and in speech, occupational, and/or physical therapy.  Having tools in place may lead to a more successful session and learning environment.  These types of supports may be implemented into everyday life in order to increase the likelihood of having the desired behavior occur and be […]

Best Toys for Sensory and Motor Development 2 to 3 Years Are you wondering what toys to get your child for the holidays that she will love AND promotes sensory and motor development?! We have the perfect ideas for you! Typically, 2 and 3 year old children are becoming more independent and want to do […]

Best Toys for Sensory and Motor Development 18 to 24 Months Are you wondering what toys to get your child for the holidays that she will love AND promotes sensory and motor development?! We have the perfect ideas for you! Toddlers are on the move and their hand and finger control is getting better by […]

Best Toys for Sensory and Motor Development 12 to 18 Months Are you wondering what toys to get your child for the holidays that she will love AND promotes sensory and motor development?! We have the perfect ideas for you! One-year-olds are on the go! They enjoy exploring and cruising around the house. They like […]

Are you looking for toy ideas to foster language, fine motor, sensory, and gross motor development? Look no further! Here are our Top Ten toys for children ages 3 to 4 years old, along with a direct purchase link to make shopping easier!   1. AquaDoodle AquaDoodles are so much fun! Best of all, they […]

Are you looking for toy ideas to foster language, fine motor, sensory, and gross motor development? Look no further! Here are our Top Ten toys for children ages 2 to 3 years old, along with a direct purchase link to make shopping easier!   1. Jumbo Nuts & Bolts This nuts and bolts set is […]

Are you looking for toy ideas to foster language, fine motor, sensory, and gross motor development? Look no further! Here are our Top Ten toys for children ages 18 to 24 months old, along with a direct purchase link to make shopping easier!   1. Potato Head This is a great toy to promote fine […]

Are you looking for toy ideas to foster language, fine motor, sensory, and gross motor development? Look no further! Here are our Top Ten toys for children ages 12 to 18 months old, along with a direct purchase link to make shopping easier!   1. Alex Toys Little Hands String A Farm This is a […]

Are you wondering what toys to get your child for the holidays that he/she will love AND promote language development?!  We have the perfect ideas for you! 2 Years to 3 Years Typically, 2 and 3 year old children talk a lot and ask a lot of questions. They like to experiment with things and […]

Are you wondering what toys to get your child for the holidays that he/she will love AND promote language development?!  We have the perfect ideas for you! 18 Months to 24 Months Toddlers are rapidly learning language. They have good control of their hands and fingers and like to do things with small objects.  My […]

Are you wondering what toys to get your child for the holidays that he/she will love AND promote language development?!  We have the perfect ideas for you! 12 Months to 18 Months One-year-olds are on the go! They enjoy stories, say their first words, and can play next to other children (but not yet with!). […]

Are you wondering what toys to get your child for the holidays that he/she will love AND promote language development?!  We have the perfect ideas for you! 6 Months to 12 Months What is a baby’s favorite thing to do at this age?  Looking at familiar faces and following things with their eyes!  They start […]

It is incredibly important to know the signs of over-stimulation and strategies for how to help your child avoid a sensory meltdown. While trick-or-treating, be conscious of these signs and intervene at the first sign of over-stimulation. If you have followed each of our October blog posts, you are now well prepared for trick-or-treating, so […]

Sensory-avoiding children are often resistant to change because change represents an opportunity to experience unfamiliar and potentially distressing stimulation. Transitions can be challenging for children with sensory differences, as they tend to prefer consistency and routine, so that he knows exactly what to expect. Social stories are a great way to prepare your child for […]

Children with sensory differences may establish certain rituals and routines to carefully control the sensory input she receives from the environment. Sensory-avoiding children are often resistant to change, including new people, because change represents an opportunity to be bombarded with unfamiliar and perceive harmful stimulation. Meeting new people can be especially challenging for children with […]

Children with sensory sensitivities often have a low tolerance for incoming sensory stimulation and therefore, may become bothered by certain sensory input (such as lights, noises, or smells) more than peers. These children may become disruptive and agitated in attempt to avoid an aversive stimulus. Therefore, it is incredibly important that we understand our children’s […]

It is incredibly important to understand our children’s sensory needs, especially around those holidays that can already be overwhelming for most. Unexpected or repetitive sensory input can cause your child to reach his or her sensory threshold at a much faster rate than you may expect. Your child, therefore, may experience over-stimulation and cause a […]

Torticollis is typically seen in infants through toddlers.  Babies and toddlers with torticollis will present with a preference for looking to one side, either left or right, usually accompanied by a head tilt.  Torticollis can lead to atypical head shape, preference for movement to only one side, visual impairments, and general gross motor delay.  It […]

Tripping and falling is a normal part childhood development, especially as children learn to walk and try new, challenging activities. Tripping and falling or “clumsiness” can be problematic when your child is tripping more often than other children her age, is unable to keep up with peers on the playground, or experiences frequent injuries from […]

As children are learning to walk, they will explore various ways to walk, including heel and toe walking. Toe walking can be a harmless part of the exploratory nature of the child and is typically seen under the age of 2.  But, if toe walking persists past 2-years-old or is the primary form of walking […]

As children, many of us sat in what is considered a “W” position.  This is when children sit on the floor with feet turned out to the sides forming a W-shape with their legs and knees. W-sitting is typically seen when children are transitioning from crawling to sitting and vice versa. As innocent as it […]

During this time, children are learning to put words together to create phrases and short sentences! They are also still learning new words and developing the ability to follow more complex directions. At this age, most people, even those not familiar with your child, should be able to understand what your child is saying. Below […]

During this time, children are learning new words constantly and learning to put words together! They are also developing the ability to follow more complex directions.  Below are details on what 2-3 year old children should be able to understand, say, and what might be difficult for them. What should a 2-3 year old child […]

During this time, children are learning how to use single words, name pictures, ask questions, and are starting to put two words together.  They are also learning new words and developing the ability to follow simple directions and understand questions.  Below are a few examples of what 1-2 year old children should be able to […]

Alternative and Augmentative Communication What is AAC? Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) is an umbrella term that can include sign language, picture exchange communication and speech generating devices (i.e. iPad, GoTalk, etc.).  AAC can be used to supplement verbal communication for those kiddos who need a little help or it serve as a total communication […]

At five years of age, your child is either in or getting ready to enter kindergarten and there is a whole new set of skills your child will develop and refine. Here’s what to expect for your fantastic five year old! Fantastic at 5: Scissor Skills: At five, your child should be able to cut […]

As your child moves closer to kindergarten, her skills will begin to become more refined as her hands and fingers become more advanced and experienced.  Let’s check out what to expect for your fabulous four-year old! Fabulous at 4! Scissor Skills: Your child is moving along, now she should be able to cut along a […]

Developing school-readiness skills can be a lot of fun for most kids, but nerve-wracking for parents! Many of the critical skills needed as your child prepares to move up in pre-school or get ready to begin kindergarten emerge through play. Let’s see what is expected at the age of three and give a few fun […]

A sensory bin is a great way to work on a variety of targets while increasing attention and providing calming stimuli. For our Ocean Thematic Unit, we are using a blue water bead sensory bin with ocean animals. So many goals can be targeted utilizing this bin! Speech & Language Objectives Ocean Vocabulary Spatial Concepts/Where […]

My Child Doesn’t Like Going to the Beach or Pool  It can be incredibly difficult when you take your family to the beach or pool for some relaxation and fun, but your child will not get in the water. He may be unwilling to take off his shoes and socks, which may be due to […]

Activity One: Bear Walks Having your child walk like a bear works on so many important skills! It helps improve her balance and trunk strength (to keep her tummy off the floor), improves her gross motor coordination and motor planning (to efficiently coordinate her arms and legs), and provides a lot of weight bearing into […]

My Child Doesn’t Like Getting a Bath or Having His Hair Washed: Bath time can be a daily struggle. Your child may not want to get into the water with the faucet running due to the loud sound it makes or she may show discomfort having his hair washed or getting his face wet, due […]

How To Make An Adaptive Book: Going On A Bear Hunt For our Camping Thematic Unit, our book of the month is: Going On A Bear Hunt. We work with children on many different levels, as some children use Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, while others are working on higher language concepts. Some children […]

Father’s Day Bear Card We are doing a thematic unit this month on camping! Our book of the month is Going On A Bear Hunt, and we have a lot of fun crafts, bear hunts, and other thematic activities going on in our offices! Since Father’s Day is June 17th, we’re sharing this fun craft […]

Drooling After Teething What if your child is drooling beyond the typical age of teething (around 18 months-2 years)? Many children drool due to oral motor weaknesses or reduced awareness in their mouth. Some common causes of drooling are weak lips or jaw or difficulty keeping good lip closure. Here are some tips to decrease […]

Oral Defensiveness If your child hates having his teeth brushed or gags with strong flavors/new textures, he may be experiencing oral defensiveness. For these children, providing oral input to ‘desensitize’ the mouth is key, and can be done by slowly presenting touch, textures, and flavors at a pace that’s right for your child! Tip #1: […]

Prolonged Mealtimes Just like many adults, children may not want to sit at the dinner table all evening. Limiting meal times to around 30 minutes is considered the ‘gold standard’ for both children and adults. When meals last more than that, children can often become fatigued, bored, and frustrated. Here are some tips to keep […]

Moving Towards Textures and Concerns With Gagging  Starting around 5-6 months until around 18 months, your child’s feeding skills are constantly developing. Moving through the various textures (from baby food cereals, to purees, to meltables, to soft solids, etc.) can be an exciting and sometimes overwhelming time for toddlers and parents. Keep in mind that […]

Picky Eaters Versus Problem Feeders Some kids are just picky eaters, and that’s okay. However, if your child is so picky to the point where she only eats a few foods, she may need some extra help from a feeding therapist.  These are some signs that your child may be a ‘Problem Feeder’: – Less […]

(Scroll down for tips on video) Transitions and change can be very difficult on your child, and they occur constantly throughout the day, wreaking havoc on your ability to take your child shopping, daycare, or anywhere new. Outbursts and tantrums may happen more often than not, making you not want to ever leave your house! […]

(Scroll down for tips on video) Bedtime can be a very stressful time in many households. While you may be exhausted and ready to get some sleep, your child may have a different idea! Getting your child settled down and ready to catch some zzzz’s should be simple, right? But we know this isn’t always […]

(Scroll down for tips on video) Tip # 1: Start with play As adults, we can become quite desensitized to the various textures, flavors, and smells of different foods, but many of our kids have not.  It can be difficult when your child doesn’t want to eat what you make or has a significantly limited […]

(scroll down for video) Tri-County Therapy is excited to offer a brand new monthly blog series, along with weekly posts! The weekly posts are designed to get you all of the latest news, events, themes, and fun activities at Tri-County Therapy. Our blog series will offer information, tips and creative ideas related to pediatric therapy. […]