Expert Column Archive
July 2008
Let's look at the facts: social communication development is among the core deficits in autism. We also know that the cumulative richness of...
read more...
May 2008
Q:
Does reading aloud help children become better readers?
A:
Yes!! You can incorporate these six skills while reading aloud to your children:
Print Motivation: Share your love of...
read more...
April 2008
Q:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that parents should refrain from letting children under age 3 watch TV. But sometimes I just need a break! Any tips? What do you recommend as some substitute activities?
A:
Young children have a lot of needs and can be very demanding. Babies always seem to need to be held, fed, changed, and played with. When they're...
read more...
March 2008
Q:
How can I engage with my twins more and increase my word counts? There doesn't seem to be enough energy or hours in a day!
A:
Twins certainly have their own set of challenges. How do you give two children simultaneous, individual interactions? Perhaps the sum of three...
read more...
February 2008
Q:
My 15 month old daughter doesn't speak as much as my friends' children. How can I encourage her to speak more? And what should I look for in her that prompts me to visit a speech specialist?
A:
There are things parents can do to increase speech and language skills of young children. For example,...
read more...
January 2008
Q:
With all the toys my child received during the holidays, how can I maintain an interest in reading?
A:
The first thing is to change how you think about reading. If you look at reading as a passive or boring...
read more...
December 2007
Q:
Does a language delay mean my child will be slow for the rest of his or her life?
A:
Not necessarily. There are many different causes of language delays. Many of these result in transitory...
read more...
November 2007
Q:
My daughter has shown a very unique interest in colors, more so than my other children. Would you suggest letting her use painting computer games or should I let her run loose with her own paints? She is young and I worry she will try to eat the paints!
A:
Painting provides a unique opportunity for children to develop their motor skills, creative abilities, and...
read more...
October 2007
Q:
I consider myself to be a very talkative mother, but I continually score poorly in Conversational Turns. I don't see how I can engage in conversation with my child if they can't talk yet. What exactly are Conversational Turns and how do I increase them?
A:
A Conversational Turn (CT) occurs when a child vocalizes (initiates) and an adult...
read more...