For kids who need to settle and focus, the answer may be a fidget or what are also know as “focus tools”. Many teachers use “fidgets” (small objects that keep the hands or body busy) to help with self-regulation and boost focus and attention. Research shows that allowing students to fidget can increase their ability…
Read MoreSummer offers a welcome break from the school routine, but time off doesn’t mean putting social learning on hold. Summer vacations can be the perfect time to embrace teachable social moments and can even make your travels more enjoyable. As you plan a trip, hit the road, and visit new places, kids can also build their…
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Here at CW, we’re delighted to announce that two good books have been made better. Whole Body Listening Larry At School and Whole Body Listening Larry At Home teach children to improve their listening, attention, and social skills through the concept of Whole Body Listening (WBL). Although this might seem simple, WBL is actually very…
Read MoreAs adults, we spend an extraordinary amount of time thinking we’ve got our students’ and children’s problems figured out: “I know why he’s mad…it’s because he can’t get the Legos to fit together!” “She must be sulking because her friends left her out during recess today” Grown ups certainly have more life experience than kids, and sometimes…
Read MoreBy Hanna Bogen, M.S., CCC-SLP When hanging out with friends, we may joke, act silly, or sometimes tease one another. While these actions can start out as playful, the teasing can sometimes become unfriendly and turn into bullying. Knowing when you or a friend’s actions are turning into bullying behavior can be challenging. First, let’s…
Read MoreBy Hanna Bogen, M.S., CCC-SLP “Back to school” time means back to packing lunches and sifting through snacks. One critical pillar of the development of self-regulation skills is sub-cortical regulation: management of sleep, movement, hydration, and eating. When you feed your body healthy foods, you are simultaneously feeding your brain. If children don’t eat a sufficient…
Read MoreBy Elizabeth Sautter, M.A., CCC-SLP “Pay attention!” and “Are you listening to me?” are common refrains spoken by teachers, parents, and caregivers. Adults often complain that children struggle to pay attention, but some children do not fully understand what is expected of them, or they may not be able to meet the expected demands when…
Read MoreBy Hanna Bogen, M.S., CCC-SLP Picture this: a child loses his temper during a math lesson at school and rips up his homework assignment at the end of the lesson. In an effort to provide support, his teacher assumes the math is too hard and modifies his assignment to be shorter and less complex. Meanwhile,…
Read MoreBy Lee-Anne Bloom, M.S., OTR/L, with Elizabeth Sautter, M.A., CCC-SLP As an occupational therapist who focuses on supporting an individual’s occupations, I am thrilled to work at Communication Works, where we support the whole person and an important job/occupation that he/she has– to regulate, communicate and connect with others. Without the ability to self-regulate and…
Read MoreBy Hanna Bogen, M.S., CCC-SLP 2015 is now upon us, and with the New Year often comes a resolve to set lofty goals. At Communication Works, we are rooted in the belief of growth mindset over fixed mindset, and with that the assumption that we are never “stuck” in life. The New Year can be…
Read MoreBy Elizabeth Sautter At a family gathering, your ten-year-old ends up seated next to Uncle Joe and their conversation is going nowhere fast. You watch your child mumble one-word responses to Joe’s questions and ask nothing in return. Eventually Joe gives up and the two of them stare at their plates as others at the…
Read MoreBy Elizabeth A. Sautter, M.A., CCC-SLP Author of Make Social Learning Stick! Gratitude is on the front burner around Thanksgiving, but it’s a mindset worth fostering year round. UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center reports that gratitude plays a major role in adult well-being and that grateful young adolescents (ages 11–13) are happier, more optimistic,…
Read MoreMake Social Learning Stick! Therapists and Parents as Partners By Elizabeth Sautter, M.A. CCC-SLP At Communication Works, we’re passionate about partnering with parents and caregivers in the treatment process. When it comes to social learning, many children struggle to carry over learned skills from therapy or school to their home environment. Parents and caregivers are…
Read Moreby Hanna Bogen, M.S., CF-SLP Speech Language Pathologist, Clinical Fellow With April being National Autism Awareness Month, it may be simply coincidence that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement on April 2nd, 2014 announcing a readjusted estimate for autism prevalence. The statement began with the following staggering numbers: “CDC estimates that one…
Read MoreThis little post packs a big punch! Hanna Bogen, one of our CW therapists, has created a short video tutorial that describes collaborative problem solving. Ross Greene’s approach has been hailed by therapists, social workers, counselors, and parents as a fabulous way to engage children in collaborating to solve problems, even if the child is…
Read MoreAs parents, we frequently neglect ourselves and focus the majority of our energy on our families. Yet, our children often recognize and respond to the anxiety we convey when we become overwhelmed and exhausted. “Filling your bucket” is a phrase that’s used to describe the process of taking time for things that help you feel…
Read MoreValentine’s Day is a great time to remind your child about the importance of showing others you are thinking about them. Rather than focus on store bought valentines and candy, encourage your child to make his/her own valentines with simple, personal messages. The Activity: Homemade valentines with celery hearts, from www.howweelearn.com How It Works: Cut…
Read MoreThe brain uses sleep as an opportunity to complete numerous critical tasks for our development: memories get transferred into long-term “storage,” our thoughts from the day get arranged and rearranged, and we continue to build strong neural pathways. Too little sleep can trigger emotional regulation challenges during the school day, behavioral outbursts, attention difficulties, challenges…
Read MoreMedia can be such a great way to engage students of all ages in working on therapy objectives. We can help students recognize that all people and characters are engaged in social decision making by using their favorite movies and shows as teaching opportunities. Below are different ways that Pixar Animated Shorts are used to…
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