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Understanding Hearing Loss in Children
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Hearing plays an important role in a child’s ability to learn speech, language, and communication skills. Children learn to talk by listening to the voices and sounds around them from the very beginning of life. When hearing is reduced, it can make learning language more challenging. The good news is that with early identification, appropriate...
Understanding Bilingual Language Development
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Many families raise children speaking two or more languages. Learning English and another language at the same time is a wonderful gift that strengthens communication, cultural identity, and family relationships. Research consistently shows that learning two languages does not cause a speech or language disorder. Young children’s brains are especially prepared to learn language. When...
Early Communication Milestones: Building theFoundation for Language
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Every child learns to communicate in their own unique way. Long before children say their firstwords, they are already learning the skills that make talking possible. From smiling at a parent topointing at a favorite toy, these early communication milestones are important building blocks forspeech and language development. Communication begins at birth. Babies learn by...
Understanding Visual Impairment in Children
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Vision is one of the many ways children learn about the world around them. From recognizing a parent’s face to exploring books, toys, and the playground, vision helps children develop communication, movement, learning, and social skills. When a child has a visual impairment, they may need additional support to access information and develop these important...
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Children
Last Updated: August 3, 2026A traumatic brain injury {TBI) happens when a sudden bump, blow, or jolt to the head affects how the brain works. Brain injuries can range from mild, such as a concussion, to severe injuries that require extensive medical care and rehabilitation. Every child’s brain injury is different, and recovery can vary depending on the location...
Understanding Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Infants and Children
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Feeding is much more than eating. It is an important part of a child’s growth, development, learning, and family life. From a baby’s first bottle or breastfeeding experience to a toddler learning to feed independently, feeding skills develop over time. Some children experience feeding or swallowing difficulties that make eating challenging. With early identification and...
Understanding Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders in Children
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Hearing that your child has epilepsy or has experienced a seizure can be frightening. Many parents have questions about what caused the seizure, whether it will happen again, and how it may affect their child’s future. The good news is that many children with epilepsy lead active, healthy lives with the right medical care, family...
Understanding Down Syndrome
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Leaming that your child has Down syndrome can bring many emotions, including joy, uncertainty, questions, and hope. Every child is unique, and a diagnosis does not define who they are or what they can achieve. Children with Down syndrome have their own personalities, strengths, interests, and abilities. With loving families, early intervention, appropriate medical care,...
Understanding the Importance of Play
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Play is often called the ‘work of childhood’ because children learn through play every day. During play, they develop language, thinking, social skills, creativity, movement, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. The richest learning occurs through real-life interactions with parents, caregivers, siblings, and friends—not by watching a screen. Children are born ready to learn through play. When...
Understanding Sleep Challenges in Children
Last Updated: August 3, 2026A good night’s sleep is essential for a child’s growth, learning, behavior, and overall health. During sleep, the brain processes new information, the body grows and repairs itself, and children recharge for the next day. Sleep challenges are common, especially among children with developmental differences, but many improve with healthy routines and consistent support. Children...
Understanding Potty Training
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Potty training is an exciting milestone in every child’s development. Like learning to walk or talk, children become ready for toilet training at different ages and develop this skill at their own pace. The most important factor is developmental readiness rather than age alone. Most children begin showing signs of readiness between 18 months and...
Understanding Learning Disabilities
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Every child learns differently. Some children learn new skills quickly, while others need more time and practice. When a child continues to have significant difficulty learning despite appropriate instruction and average or above-average intelligence, a specific learning disability (SLD) may be present. With early identification, specialized instruction, and family support, children with learning disabilities can...
Understanding Healthy Screen Time
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Technology is part of everyday life, but for young children, too much screen time can interfere with healthy development. Children learn best through conversations, play, exploration, movement, and relationships with caring adults. Screens should support learning—not replace these important experiences. During the first few years of life, the brain develops rapidly. Language, social skills, problem-solving,...
Understanding Executive Functioning
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Every day, children use a set of mental skills that help them plan, organize, remember information, solve problems, and manage their behavior. These skills are called executive functioning. They act as the brain’s management system, helping children complete tasks, make decisions, regulate emotions, and become more independent. Executive functioning develops throughout childhood and into early...
Understanding Emotional Regulation
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Every child experiences big emotions. Feeling excited, frustrated, disappointed, worried, or angry is a normal part of growing up. One of the most important developmental skills children learn is how to recognize these feelings and respond to them in healthy ways. This ability is called emotional regulation. Like learning to walk or talk, it develops...
Understanding Dyslexia
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Learning to read is one of the most important milestones of childhood. While every child learns at their own pace, some children have unexpected difficulty learning to read despite appropriate instruction and average or above-average intelligence. One common reason is dyslexia, a specific learning disability that affects reading and language processing. With early identification and...
Understanding Daily Living Skills
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Every child develops new skills as they grow. Learning to eat independently, brush teeth, get dressed, use the bathroom, and help with simple household routines are all part of becoming more independent. These everyday abilities are known as daily living skills, or activities of daily living (ADLs). They help children build confidence, independence, and success...
Positive Parenting Strategies for Challenging Behaviors
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Every child has moments of frustration, disappointment, and challenging behavior. Tantrums, refusing directions, arguing, hitting, biting, or difficulty managing emotions are common as children develop self-control and communication skills. Positive parenting helps children learn appropriate behaviors while strengthening the parent-child relationship. Behavior is a form of communication. Before responding, ask yourself, ‘What is my child...
Developmental Milestones
Last Updated: July 31, 2026What Are Developmental Milestones? Developmental milestones are skills that most children learn as they grow. They include communication, movement, thinking, social, emotional, and self-help skills. Every child develops at an individual pace, so milestones are guidelines rather than strict deadlines. What Does Typical Development Look Like? Babies learn to smile, babble, sit, crawl, stand, and...
Understanding AAC: Giving Every Child a Voice
Last Updated: July 31, 2026When a child has difficulty speaking, parents often worry that their child will never be able to communicate effectively. The good news is that many children can successfully communicate using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). AAC is not a last resort—it is a valuable tool that helps children express their thoughts, wants, needs, feelings, and...
Understanding Behavior Challenges
Last Updated: August 3, 2026Why Do Behavior Challenges Occur? All children communicate through their behavior. Tantrums, aggression, refusing directions, running away, or difficulty paying attention are often signs that a child is overwhelmed, frustrated, tired, anxious, or unable to communicate wants and needs effectively. Children with developmental delays, autism, ADHD, sensory differences, or communication disorders may experience behavior challenges...
What Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
Last Updated: July 31, 2026If your child understands what you are saying but struggles to talk, you may wonder why speaking seems so difficult. One possible reason is Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), a motor planning speech disorder that affects a child’s ability to produce clear speech. Childhood Apraxia of Speech is not a language disorder. Children with apraxia...
What Is ADHD?
Last Updated: July 31, 2026Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a child’s ability to pay attention, control impulses, and regulate activity level. It is one of the most common developmental conditions diagnosed in childhood and can affect learning, behavior, friendships, and daily routines at home and school. Every child has moments when they are distracted, energetic,...
What Are Sensory Processing Challenges?
Last Updated: July 31, 2026Have you ever wondered why one child covers their ears when a toilet flushes, refuses to wear certain clothing, or melts down in a noisy restaurant, while another child seems to crave movement, constantly jumps, spins, or bumps into things? These behaviors may be related to sensory processing challenges. Sensory processing is the way the...
What Is Autism?
Last Updated: July 31, 2026Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts with others, and experiences the world around them. Autism begins early in childhood, although signs may not become obvious until a child’s communication and social demands increase. Autism is considered a spectrum disorder, meaning it affects each person differently. No...