Flashcards have been a classic tool for building children’s vocabulary but did you know that this teaches children memorization rather than functional communication? We want children to be motivated and engaged in language. Flashcards are fun to look at a few times but end up getting tossed to the back of a shelf because your child thinks it's “boring”. 

When flashcards are used correctly, they can be a great on-the-go tool that strengthens your little one’s language skills. 

Try one of these activities next time you pull out the deck!

As parents, we strive to make every learning moment memorable and effective for our children. From object matching to scavenger hunts, describing details, and the thrill of hide-n-seek, these activities not only make language acquisition fun but also foster generalization and deeper understanding. So, let's redefine the way we utilize flashcards – not just as a tool but as a gateway to a world where language becomes an exciting journey for our little learners.

Helping your family build skills for life is our priority. If you are looking for personalized tools to build your child’s vocabulary and communication skills, 

 with one of our expert speech and language pathologists. They will provide you with creative games and activities that will engage your child while strengthening their speech and language skills!

Are Flashcards Outdated? 

When most people think of healthy vision, they typically think of getting their eyes checked by their regular optometrist to make sure they can see clearly and that their eyes are free of disease.  While this is a very critical and important thing to do as a part of overall wellness, this isn’t where the road ends. There is SO much more to healthy vision than seeing 20/20.

 Getting an annual eye exam is not the end; it is just the beginning!

 help to emphasize the relationship that the eyes, brain, body, and mind all have with one another. We have worked closely with the NVPI team to provide our families with a helpful snapshot of some information regarding the visual system and overall eye wellness. 

Kids (and adults) go through life working so much harder than they have to because the optometrist tells them they see 20/20, YET they still have trouble seeing …the words are still blurry, they get frequent headaches, and their eyes always feel fatigued. This is because their eyes are not working together as a team to gather information. The structure is there but the function is not.

70-90% of what we learn and perceive is actually processed through our visual system. It also takes from birth to age 15 for our visual skills to process. 

Did you know that there are actually a total of 17 visual skills and generally ONE of those (Central Distant Acuity), is tested on most eye exams? NVPI actually tests all 17 skills to ensure proper results and diagnosis.

 seeing objects at the sides when continuing to look straight ahead

 understanding whether seen objects are close to or far from each other

 both eyes working together to achieve clear, comfortable vision

the eyes’ ability to quickly move or “jump” between different focal points

 both eyes’ smooth movements tracking a moving target

both eyes working together, toward each other, to focus on a nearby object

 the eye continues to change its focus between near and distant objects

the eyes’ ability to maintain focus on close-up activity

an analysis of the information about an image (visual/spatial learning or picture thinking

employing visual information to direct the body’s movements in a coordinated way

employing visual information to control the movement of hands, fingers, and feet

understanding what is being seen and using cognition to process this information

using vision together with other senses in order to perform complex tasks

The two videos below from Dr. Graebe at NVPI help to best explain what Vision Therapy is, as well as best explain the correlation between one’s vision and learning. It is very often that the school struggles your child might be experiencing, go hand-in-hand with vision-related concerns. 

Healthy Vision - More Than Seeing 20/20

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point during their life. A large majority by the young age of 14.

As Licensed Mental Health professionals, we are seeing the numbers of those diagnosed with a mental health condition or even seeing signs rise in our children, youth, adolescents, and teenagers, especially following the unprecedented events of Covid. The reality is: life is hard, it is challenging, and we are not meant to do it alone. We all need a support system. We need access to helpful resources and reliable professionals to navigate our mental health journeys.

There are numerous resources out there that can help to minimize the severity of a mental health condition(s), including that of individual and family/group counseling sessions. We must work hard to ensure that these resources are easily found, known and that we are supporting one another.

, we can help to break the stigma that follows Mental Health. Mental Health is just as important as our Physical Health. Just like experiencing a physical illness that might be more apparent or obvious, being able to identify and treat mental health conditions earlier on can prevent something more serious from developing.

Some of the more or less “common” mental health conditions or experiences warranting professional support:

Knowing the “warning signs” to watch for:

Mental Health Therapy visits focus on providing encouragement and support in order to create a more balanced, loving, and overall successful home life. By working with both the child and the family using proven psychological methods, Mental Health Therapy can help manage and even eliminate a variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties.

Our goal is to provide parents with the confidence and best possible resources available to understand, manage, and prioritize their family's mental health.

 through both individual and family counseling sessions. A referral is not required for this discipline, and we work with many 

insurance providers, including Kentucky Medicaid

. Our clinicians are knowledgeable about clinical excellence in all disciplines.

Mental Health Matters! 

As clinical experts and many of us parents ourselves,

we resonate with the fast-paced life you live and the immediate concerns that come with experiencing the uncertainty of receiving an unexpected diagnosis. Not knowing what direction to turn, oftentimes blaming yourself, wondering who will be the most reliable (and immediate) source of help, and ultimately, what is going to make things "normal" the fastest way possible. 

If you're reading this, there's a pretty high chance that you know exactly what we are describing to be similar to your personal testimony. We hope that you have found the most reliable therapy team to care for your child and equip you with all of the things that you not only need but that you deserve. 

If you have not yet established that foundation, the Marshall team wants to encourage and remind you that through our multidisciplinary approach to treatment, we are able to really cover all of the bases. We fight behind the scenes every single day to ensure you are cared for in the most comprehensive manner. From an initial evaluation, through the insurance/payment parameters, to community partners to advocate on your behalf, we want you to feel empowered on your therapy journey. 

The overall effectiveness of therapy goes far beyond what goes on solely in the clinical setting. By actively using the 

, techniques, and tools provided by one’s therapist and through credible Autism materials, you are helping one achieve milestones faster.

 might look differently for an autism diagnosis. Through therapy and time spent in multiple learning environments, the child is becoming more proactive, self-aware, and stronger both mentally and physically. The caretaker is also able to learn more tips and tricks to handle particular situations with confidence. This education then becomes a helpful asset to share with other families. Suddenly, a bonding community is formed and is more impactful than it has ever been before. 

Therapy, most of the time, can be hard work and challenging to overcome specific obstacles, but it certainly does not have to be super expensive or time-consuming! There ARE definitely ways that you can implement FUN activities into the mix of play at home or even on the go for your child regardless of their condition. Most of the time, these are even fun for the entire family!

Our Marshall Pediatric Therapy Clinical Experts want to introduce you to three affordable "do it yourself" activities inclusive of some shoppable links that are also educational and therapeutic.

Sensory boxes help children with autism relax and be able to concentrate. Sensory boxes are also great for learning new vocabulary words and exploring different textures. Sensory boxes are often times more manageable when it comes to sensory processing.

2. Playdough stamping with Legos or household items like a kitchen whisk or pasta

https://thecraftathomefamily.com/2-ingredient-cloud-dough/

We hope you enjoyed reading this post and are inspired to make some unique activities at home! If you're looking for a consistent therapy basis or need help in any way, we want to be an extension of your team! Make sure to visit our 

Three Simple DIY Activities for a Child Diagnosed with Autism 

Cerebral Palsy: the most common motor disability. A group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move, maintain posture, and balance themselves.

Cerebral Palsy is often caused by damage that has occurred in the brain that affects its overall development. This disruption of development affects the ability to:

Nearly 70% of Cerebral Palsy cases are the result of an injury at birth?

Over 1 million people in the U.S. are living with CP?

Approximately 10,000 babies are diagnosed with CP each year?

When Cerebral Palsy might appear noticeable: 

CP might be recognizable as early as infancy or during the years of preschool and is categorized as a “non-progressive” disorder. Non-progressive essentially means that it will not continue to develop or get worse.

*CP increases the likelihood of seizure activity or one becoming blind or deaf

 stiffness and difficulty moving (most common type)

causes problems with balance and depth perception

How do we treat CP at Marshall Pediatric Therapy?

Marshall's multidisciplinary approach to treatment ensures that there's a comprehensive level of commitment to care. Marshall Pediatric Therapy offers Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy, Physical Therapy, Mental Health Therapy, and a behavior program (Building Blocks Program), for children diagnosed with autism. Together, these disciplines can work together to address all possible concerns. Below you can see how Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language therapy services contribute to what is being addressed. Marshall Pediatric Therapy has successfully treated a wide array of Cerebral Palsy diagnoses, ranging from milder to much more complex conditions. Marshall works with each individual patient and their family to instill confidence along the way.

*Note that some symptoms are more obvious than others

Cerebral palsy in relation to incontinence

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital CP Clinic:

https://www.childneurologyfoundation.org/disorder/cerebral-palsy/

From Our Experts

Are Flashcards Outdated?

Healthy Vision - More Than Seeing 20/20

Mental Health Matters!

Three Simple DIY Activities for a Child Diagnosed with Autism

A Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis