In this conversation with Pediatric SLP Cindy Watson, you can just see the passion she has for helping young learners communicate and find their voice.

When Cindy first receives a new Early Intervention case she calls on the parent to talk through the reasons and concerns that led them there and another simple but IMPACTFUL thing…what does the child like? These things establish rapport and give Cindy the tools to enter the first Early Intervention session as she calls “the fun aunt.”

Cindy’s top favorite toys and tools for initiating play and communication are among my own with Bubbles, Books, Blocks, and other open-ended toys. Arkansas where Cindy’s center, Children’s Therapy TEAM is a bagless state which encourages therapists to enter homes with no outside resources and take advantage of the child’s natural environment so that parents can keep up the work outside of therapy.

When assessing new toddlers for Early Intervention Cindy starts out with play, observation, and conversations with caregivers. For formal assessments, she uses the Preschool Language Scale and the Rossetti Infant Toddler Language Scale.

Cindy shares my view on the importance and power of communication and shares a few key focuses she thinks therapists and families at home should consider when working on speech:
Cause and effect communication
Reinforcing language
Gestures
Joint attention
Building on milestones

Not only does Cindy do incredible work with young children in Early Intervention, but her center also has a really amazing mentorship program for their therapists to give them the tools and confidence to do their best work. You can find out more about Cindy and The Children’s Therapy Team on their website and Facebook.

#autism #speectherapy

What’s Inside:

How should you begin a new Early Intervention case?
Top toys, tools, and resources for Early Intervention Therapy.
What assessments should you use in Early Intervention with young learners?
What skills and ideas should therapists and families focus on to build communication?
A unique and powerful mentorship program for new therapists.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Children’s Therapy TEAM
Children's Therapy Team on Facebook
cindy.watson@childrensteam.com
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