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Elena Sorrentino

@peds_slp

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1116

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🗣️ Early Intervention SLP in Chicago
🍽️ SOS trained feeding therapist
FREEBIES, LINKS, + MORE BELOW ⬇️

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🚫 Are you making this mistake when expecting your toddler to follow directions?

You are telling them a direction with a negative in it, for example “Don’t touch that” or “Stop hitting” and your child does exactly what you just tell them NOT to do.

Negatives are tricky for toddlers because they involve more complex processing and language skills. They first require the child is able to cognitively understand and process what they shouldn’t do and then figure out what they should do instead.

This is a complex two-step process that can be challenging as they are still developing the skills!

✨ Try these strategies instead:
1️⃣ Use positive language: “Walk, please!” instead of “Don’t run.”
2️⃣ Give clear, simple steps: “Put the toy down” instead of “Don’t grab.”
3️⃣ Offer choices: “Do you want to color or play with blocks?”

👉 Drop a “👍” in the comments if you’re going to try these tips, or if you have your own strategy that works! 💡 And don’t forget to follow for more speech and language tips!

#slp #speechtherapy #pedsslp #earlyintervention #babydevelopment #momtips #parenting #parenttips #toddlerspeech #speechdelay #playideasforkids #playideasfortoddler #toddlerlanguagedevelopment #toddlertoys #speechpathologist #speechpathology by @peds_slp

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2 years ago

Are you making this mistake when trying to teach your baby or toddler new words?

❌You’re asking them to SAY too much!

While this seems like it might be helpful to get them to learn new words, it typically backfires…

Instead, try these strategies to help teach your toddler new words:
✨Model the word naturally!
✨Keep language simple!
✨Create plenty of opportunities for your child to hear the word throughout the day!

You can do this by talking about what you are doing, describing actions, pairing the word with a gesture, and repeating the word over and over again.

💛 Comment FREEBIE for a free handout that I created explaining this, alternatives to “say”, and tips for encouraging communication!

#slp #speechtherapy #pedsslp #earlyintervention #babydevelopment #momtips #parenting #parenttips #toddlerspeech #speechdelay #playideasforkids #playideasfortoddler #toddlerlanguagedevelopment #toddlertoys #speechpathologist #speechpathology by @peds_slp

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a year ago

Wouldn’t have it any other way 🏀 #slp #slplife by @peds_slp

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2 days ago

If a child is more engaged in the toy than you, make yourself the toy! At first, this child is more engaged with the toy than me. Instead of pulling the toy away or asking him to look at me, I made myself more interesting by adding a silly gesture and sound.

This captured his attention! He came right over to me all on his own AND communicated what he wanted. His moving my hands was his way of telling me exactly what he wanted (“do it again”), who he wanted it from (me), and he expected me to respond.

Kids learn language through people. When they learn that people are fun, predictable, and responsive, they have a reason to communicate and we can build off that!

Send this to someone who is working on connecting with a little one 🫶🏼

#speechtherapy #speechdelay #toddlerplayideas #earlyintervention #toddlertips by @peds_slp

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9 days ago

Everything you need to know about Screen The Peds to Feed The Peds® 👇

It’s a FREE, live 3-day training with @halliebulkin on how to screen pediatric feeding clients using her Pediatric Feeding Screener.

You’ll learn:
✨ A structured, repeatable way to screen
✨ How to spot red flags
✨ When to monitor vs. when to refer
✨ How to explain your findings to parents and the team

📅 Live Sept 28–30 at 12 PM ET on Zoom
🎉 Welcome Party: Fri, Sept 25 at 12 PM ET
🎓 Certificate of Completion for 4 PD hours
📚 ASHA/AOTA CEUs available if you join Feed The Peds® afterward
⏳ Replays available through Oct 4

🍼 Show up live on Day 1 to get Hallie’s Favorite Feeding Tools list, plus pop-up prize drawings during the live sessions!

For SLPs, OTs, PTs, students, SLPAs, and COTAs. No feeding experience needed.

🩷 Comment SCREEN for the link to sign up!

#ad #feedingtherapist #slp #feedingtherapy #feedingtips by @peds_slp

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23 days ago

Why am I always sitting on the floor during therapy? The answer is simple.

It’s because I use the DIRFloortime approach to therapy. Floortime emphasizes meeting the child where they are, supporting their individual differences, connecting, and the relationships you build. All of which I value as an individual, but also as a professional.

After completing the introduction to DIR and DIRFloortime course, I am even more excited to be attending the 20256 @icdl_dirfloortime Online Conference. This 10-day conference is filled with 40+ presentations from a variety of speakers covering a wide range of DIRFloortime topics making it a great opportunity to learn and connect while earning up to 6.1 (61 hours) continuing education credits from a wide range of CE Boards.

I am even more excited that they gave me a 15% off discount to pass along to you all and hope to see some of you there!

Some of the presentations I am most excited for are:
🧸 Comfort Connection and Curiosity: The use of DIR-informed feeding and the possibilities of what mealtime can be
🧸 Good Girls Don’t Stim: Gendered masking and the developmental cost of lost affect in DIRFloortime
🧸 Making a Splash: Benefits of DIRFloortime using aquatic modality
🧸 From Banging to Storytelling: Understanding the developmental stages of play and their relationship to FEDCs in DIRFloortime practice

Comment “FLOORTIME” below if you want the link to register with a discount code! Sign up before Oct 1st for an additional discount! by @peds_slp

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a month ago

#AD Welcome to Circle Time! If your toddler loves animal noises, meet Ms. Rachel’s Learning Farm 🐷🐮 As a pediatric SLP, animal sounds like moo and oink are often some of the easiest first “words” for toddlers, and this farm gives them a fun way to imitate, repeat, and build early language skills through play.

🐮 Comment FARM for the link! #CircleTime @spinmaster @msrachelforlittles by @peds_slp

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a month ago

Are you making these mistakes when trying to teach your toddler new words? 📚
Here’s what you can try instead to help your child learn to talk!
❌ Talking in a flat, low-energy voice → Add enthusiasm + gestures: kids connect words to meaning through tone and movement, not just the words themselves
❌ Repeating the same word over and over, pressuring them to say it back → Point, label, and expand (“It’s a train! A big train, choo choo!”): this builds language without the pressure
❌ Firing off question after question (“What’s this? What color? Can you say it?”) → Answer your own question out loud: this models the language for them before they’re expected to produce it
❌ Forcing them to sit through the whole book → Let them lead: flip pages, skip around, walk away when they’re done. Create positive experiences reading books together!
💾 Save this to come back to later and follow for more toddler communication tips!
📚 Want the books I used in this? Comment BOOKS and I’ll send you the link!

#speechtherapist #toddlerspeech #toddlertips #toddlerbooks #toddleractivities by @peds_slp

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a month ago

4 years later and figured it was time for an upgrade! 📸

If you’re new here, hi!! I’m Elena 🩷 I’m a pediatric speech pathologist and started this page during my CF as a way to share my resources, knowledge, and experience with more than just the families I was working with directly. I have had so much fun growing, connecting, and sharing with everyone these last 4 years and still cannot believe some of the doors that have been opened to me because of it.

Finally decided it was time for some real pictures, not just ones I screenshot from a video on my phone 🤪Thank you @picsbydina for capturing the vision perfectly! by @peds_slp

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a month ago

Good thing I’m a professional at playing games 🫢 by @peds_slp

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a month ago

#AD Is your toddler obsessed with Ms. Rachel and constantly “talking” to her? Here’s how they can
📞 Turns out pretend phone calls aren’t just cute, toddlers learn language largely through imitation, and a pretend “conversation” reflects an early grasp of real conversational structure: a greeting, exchange, and goodbye
@msrachelforlittles Let’s Talk Learning Phone mirrors that exact structure so your little one can practice starting, responding, and ending a conversation, Ms. Rachel included. #CircleTime @spinmaster

Comment PHONE for the link! 📞 by @peds_slp

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2 months ago

Does @safelite have a rewards program 😅😭 by @peds_slp

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4 months ago