Ever notice how some kids happily munch on veggies while others stick strictly to chicken strips and fries? I often wondered if it's the kid or possibly the parent/guardian driving these eating habits, and whether there's a way to encourage those french fry enthusiasts to expand their diets. Because I basically live in the kitchen, I wanted to find out ways to work this out—for you, for me, and all those other teachers and parents wondering the same exact thing. So, that's where I came up with 10 ways to encourage kids to make healthy food choices. Because let's face it, as much as we lo ..read more

Let's face it—cooking with kids can sometimes feel a little intimidating, whether you're in the classroom or at home. You might find yourself envisioning flour scattered everywhere or facing a recipe with what seems like an endless list of steps. I remember when I first started, it wasn't a walk in the park. Landon and I would often end up turning the kitchen into a disaster zone. But when I decided to incorporate cooking into my speech sessions, I knew I had to bring some order to the chaos. That's when I came up with 5 Tips to Make Cooking with Kids Less Stressful! These tips are easy and a ..read more

Let's face it—teaching language skills can sometimes feel like a huge challenge. Everyone learns differently, and "language development" itself is pretty complex. Plus, keeping little ones engaged WHILE working on these skills can be a bit of a juggling act. But who says it has to be mundane? As a speech-language pathologist (SLP) with a love for communication skills and visual recipes, I've got a great solution—bringing language development right into the heart of the home: the kitchen! And guess what? You can encourage this in 12 different ways. Language Development in the Kitchen ..read more

Snacks have this magical power, don't they? It's like they speak directly to a child's soul. Just ask Landon—he's always got snack time on the brain. And who can blame him? What kid doesn't love their snacks? But you know what's even better than a tasty snack? Pairing it up with an amazing story. Now, use it to create an engaging speech therapy session. Today, I want to share with you how to craft a snack + story experience in 7 easy steps! It's a wonderful and fun way to captivate our students while effectively targeting their goals. Important to remember that this is a general guideline for ..read more

Over the years, I've come to realize that cooking isn't just about whipping up delicious and, of course, adorable snacks, desserts, and meals. It's become a therapeutic journey for me. I've watched it not only nourish my body but also my soul. It's funny how much cooking can be like therapy – it's a chance for me to express my creativity, engage my senses, and find a moment of peace in my hustle and bustle. As a parent, bringing cooking into a normal routine with Landon has opened up a world of benefits beyond simply satisfying hunger. Here, I want to discuss how beneficial cooking is and 5 w ..read more

Before stepping into the world of speech-language pathology, terms like AAC seemed like a foreign language to me. Little did I know, AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication which is a big deal for individuals facing communication challenges. Fast forward to today.... My journey has been able to fine-tune effective ways to incorporate AAC, especially in my cooking-focused activities. Over the years, I've developed tips to create an inclusive teaching environment that seamlessly integrates AAC into cooking activities. As an SLP, my goal is not just to teach communication skill ..read more

Ever wanted to teach your kids the "practical" hustle and bustle of our everyday lives? Well, maybe not too much bustle, but you know what I mean! That's where practical application comes in! I'm talking practical application activities that focus on using and applying communication skills in real-life or context-based situations. Yes, I said it – real-life situations! Let's get our kiddos ready for the real world and you know me, what better way to do that then through COOKING?! Why Practical Matters Our goal, as educators, SLPs, and parents, is to transfer learned skills into practical ..read more

Navigating the busy schedule of a school-based Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) can be chaotic, am I right? Raise your hand if you run mixed groups! Sometimes mixed groups are inevitable. They can be tricky and overwhelming because of diverse needs of your students, each with unique speech goals and communication styles. However, that's where I come in, giving you tips on how to efficiently manage these groups and guess how I do it? Through COOKING of course! In this blog post I’ll share with you some "Easy Cooking Tips for Working with Mixed Groups in Speech Therapy!" WHAT ARE&nbs ..read more

Isn't it just the best to see our kids or students immersed in pretend play, whether they're playing shopkeeper, having a tea party with their stuffed animals, or savoring imaginary bites in their make-believe restaurant? Thinking back, do you have any favorite pretend play moments with your kids or students? My personal favorite is having them engage with me as we play make-believe restaurant (where I order all the things). But think about it – what if you could transform this into a learning experience that helps them boost communication skills? As many of you know, I'm a strong advoca ..read more

You know me, I LOVE to cook – it's something I've done my whole life. Whether it's experimenting with flavors or attempting intricate cooking crafts, the kitchen has always been my happy place. And when it came to being an SLP, I couldn't resist bringing my passion into the classroom & therapy room. Not only is cooking a super important life skill, it's also a great way to support many speech & language skills such as phonological awareness! Sometimes working on phonological awareness has its challenges, and the traditional methods just need a little bit more creativity ..read more