PLAY ON WORDS: Speech & Language Services (POW) is a team of dedicated professionals who work with children and their families.
Registered Speech and Language Pathologists
Supporting children of all ages using fun and engaging activities
SERVICES
We offer professional services to assess, diagnose, and treat communication disorders including:
- Speech and Articulation
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)
- Expressive and Receptive Language
- Late Talkers
- Literacy (Phonemic/Phonological Awareness)
- Stuttering
- Social Skills and Play
- Autism Spectrum
- Assistance to Families
We work closely to collaborate with team members, especially parents and educators, to provide consistency in all environments
Parent resources
-Fred Rogers
- Engage and be present with your child during play.
- Follow your child’s lead during play.
- Use self-talk to describe what you’re doing or thinking when you’re making a plan.
- Use the “one up” principle. If your child typically uses one-word utterances, step up and use two words. If your child says, “nana”, you can respond, “yummy banana”, “eat banana”, or “banana mushy”. If your child uses two words (mommy go), step up and use three words (mommy go work).
Parent resources
When a child says an error, we say it back correctly with a bit of emphasis on the correction. Be sure to add reinforcement too.
If your child says, “I love pi-er man”, you can respond, “yes, ssssspiderman is strong”. Try to recast several times in different ways. “Ssssspiderman saved the day. Sssspiderman is my hero. Who else is your hero?”
Parent resources
Books help improve attention and focus, vocabulary, concepts, visual scanning, sequencing, taking the perspectives of others, and understanding a story framework. Go beyond the print to share similarities and background knowledge. Parents know their child better than anyone and can expand on experiences. While reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, you may link to the cat you saw in the alley or the purple decorations at the party. Use words like, “I wonder what’s going to happen next?” Reading the same books over and over may seem boring to adults, but it gives the child an opportunity to take risks to “fill in the blanks” (Brown bear, what do you xxxx?) or to expand ideas.
Nursery Rhymes and Songs also improve a child’s language development by exposing them to sounds and patterns that make up words. Clapping, listening, and filling in the blanks to predict predictable patterns improve with repetition.
ONLINE RESOURCE
CONTACT
Currently not taking NEW clients
If your child attends one of the following schools and would like to contact your Speech Language Pathologist, our team can be reached by the form below or by email:
playonwordsspeechandlanguage@gmail.com
Parents and educators know your child best.
Your child may benefit from an assessment with a Speech and Language Pathologist if you are concerned with your child’s ability to:
- follow directions
- express his/her thoughts and ideas
- find the right words
- use longer sentences
- retell stories
- interact during play
- be understood by others
Niagra Children’s Centre
If you are concerned with your child’s communication skills, based on the information below, please contact us for a screening.
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