Resources & Reading
Helping families navigate growth with confidence
Helpful articles, therapy tips, child development guides, and expert resources for families. Explore practical ways to support communication, independence, sensory needs, behavior, and everyday progress at home.
Setting the Stage: What Materials You Will Need for Your Child’s Teletherapy Session
Prior to your sessions, our scheduling team and/or therapist will send you a link to join the virtual therapy session. The therapist will also notify you of any toys you may need to use to participate in the session. As a parent, you play a crucial role in ensuring…
10 Incredible Benefits of Art Therapy For Children
Introduction Art therapy is the use of art-making and the creative process to support the more traditional therapeutic process. Sessions are facilitated by a board certified, registered art therapist to address desired goals. Art therapy sessions will often…
Potty Training: Tips For Boys & Girls From Our Occupational Therapists
As a parent, one of the most significant milestones in your child’s life is potty training. It’s a crucial step in their development that requires patience, consistency, and understanding. However, figuring out whether your child is ready for potty training can…
Art Therapy: A Creative and Fulfilling Career Path
If you have a passion for art and a desire to help others, then art therapy may be the perfect career path for you. Art therapy is the use of art making and the creative process to help improve cognitive and sensory-motor functions, build and improve social skills,…
Stuttering
On this page About Stuttering in Children Causes of Stuttering Symptoms of Stuttering How Stuttering Affects Children Diagnisis of Stuttering Treatment Options for Stuttering in Children Coping with Stuttering as a Parent How to Get Help…
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech (CAS)
On this page About Childhood Apraxia of Speech Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Resources What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) Whenever we want to say something, our brain tells our mouth, jaw, and tongue what to say and how to say it by sending a message down…
5 Easy Art Therapy Activities You Can Do At Home
What is art therapy? Art therapy is a mental health profession which involves the use of art making and the creative process to help improve cognitive and sensory-motor functions, build and improve social skills, promote self-esteem and improve emotional expression….
The difference between “Picky Eaters” and “Problem Feeders”
Picky Eaters Picky eating is a term used to reflect on feeding issues most commonly encountered during childhood. It can be quite difficult to pinpoint a clear definition of a picky eater, as they vary greatly. For some, it is when a child consumes a very…
PROMPT Therapy: Your Commonly Asked Questions Answered
With social media being as influential as it is, it’s easy to hear about all the different ways a speech language pathologist can help your child say more, and talk clearer. A big one that has been mentioned in speech therapy videos a lot recently on platforms like…
10 Mindful Travel Tips to Help Parents and Kids Relax While Traveling This Holiday Season
As the holiday season approaches, travel will be on the horizon for many parents and children. Traveling with children can be stressful for any family. With the additional needs of children with sensory disorders or sensitivities like those associated with ADHD or…
Our Top 5 Amazon Finds For Music Therapy at Home With Children
As your therapist(s) may have mentioned to you, your child’s progress in therapy is directly correlated with how much you as a parent are carrying over strategies in the home setting. While we see your child 1-3 times a week, the rest of your child’s time and…
Games, Activities, Crafts & Kids Development Q & A: Tips & Advice
Did you know creativity increases cognitive skills? Some kids’ activities can be underestimated and not be taken seriously, but simple things like playtime can significantly impact their development. That’s why we shouldn’t focus only on what they’re…
Sensory Play For Toddlers Using Regular Household Items
By: Sofia Medina Growing children rely on their senses from birth onward to explore and make sense of their surrounding world. Through sight, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling, and even moving, young children process the information obtained through their senses,…
Travel tips for families with children on the Autism Spectrum
Traveling with a family member who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can seem overwhelming and challenging, leading many families to opt-out of travel altogether. With the holidays coming up, many families will be taking advantage of vacation time and traveling to…
What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session: Tips for Parents!
Beginning therapy for the first time can be nerve wracking, especially for first-time parents or parents who’ve recently received a diagnosis for their child. Take a deep breath and begin the process at your pace. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether you want to…
Adaptive Equipment for Handwriting Development
Children with developmental delays and ASD can sometimes struggle to maintain a fair “tripod” grasp when writing, coloring, or using any type of writing device due to poor fine motor control and weak hand muscles. Incorporating adaptive equipment can be fun, but often…
Early Intervention for Speech and Language Therapy
In this article we are talking about Early Intervention for Speech and Language Therapy, and how it can Change the Trajectory of Your Child’s Long-Term Communication Skills What is Early Intervention? Early Intervention (EI) is the treatment of developmental delays in…
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS – WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY
by Savanna Roldan – SLP at Always Keep Progressing What is a Speech-Language Pathologist? You may have heard many different titles for a Speech-Language Pathologist including Speech Therapist, Speech teacher, or even the acronym SLP. No matter the title, a Speech-…
Consonant Acquisition
by Savanna Roldan – Speech Language Pathologist at Always Keep Progressing When should you be concerned about articulation errors? Is your child saying wabbit for rabbit? Here are mean developmental norms for acquiring different consonant sounds: 2-3 years- p,…
5 Ways to Improve Social Skills
by Yenny Linares – COTA at Always Keep Progressing Social skills are essential for the development of any child and it is something that we practice unknowingly on a day to day basis. Social skills help to build and strengthen bonds between families, friends and new…
Autism Stories from London: Finlay!
Interview by: Annie Tao – CEO and Therapist at Always Keep Progressing Welcome back to the next installment of our Autism Stories blog series! As a recap, the Autism Stories blog series at Always Keep Progressing gives voice to the diverse lived experiences of…
Tantrums vs Meltdowns
by Yenny Linares – Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at Always Keep Progressing What is the difference between a “tantrum” and a “meltdown”? This is a frequently asked question by many parents that come to Always Keep Progressing speech and occupational therapy…
Using Books to Promote Language Development
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”- Dr. Seuss. Books are an amazing way to help your child learn and enhance language skills! Increase Vocabulary Children need to hear words often and…
Summertime Activities
by Savanna Roldan – Speech-Language Pathologist at Always Keep Progressing It is summer time! That means that the kids are out of school and there is much more time to go out and explore. Here are some fun activities in the South Florida area that you can experience…
Summertime Activities to do at Home
by Jenilee Estevez – Occupational Therapist at Always Keep Progressing School is out, and summer is here! The sun will be shining, sandcastles will be made, and children everywhere will be happy to have more time to themselves. All this free time opens up a world of…
5 Activities to Develop Language
by Savanna Roldan – Speech Therapist at Always Keep Progressing There are activities that parents and children do every day together. These are the perfect opportunities to expand on your child’s language skills whether it be increasing vocabulary to following…
Proven Benefits of Sensory Play For Young Children
Growing children rely on their senses from birth onward to explore and make sense of their surrounding world. Through sight, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling, and even moving, young children process the information obtained through their senses, which informs…
Growing Up With A Sister With Autism
by Jenilee Estevez – Occupational Therapist at Always Keep Progressing As a little girl, I would beg my mom for a sister to play with, until one day she was here! When I was 5 years old, my parents brought home my perfect baby sister, and our family was finally…
Benefits of playground interactions/activities
Children learn best through play, and if it’s outdoor play, even better! I recommend going to your nearest playground at least once a week. With Covid-19, things are a little different now, but it’s still doable with some adjustments. Maybe go to the playground during…
How to Create Your Own Calming Bottle
by Jenilee Estevez – Occupational Therapist Wouldn’t it be nice to have an easily accessible item you can reach for at any time, that would help when your child is feeling overwhelmed? Calming bottles, also known as sensory bottles, can help a child with…
Creating a Sensory Box with Your Child
by Yenny Linares – Occupational Therapist at Always Keep Progressing What better way to engage with your child than to craft and get creative, all while learning by making your very own sensory box! Children love stimulating their senses: Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste,…
5 Great Ways To Calm a Kid With Special Needs
Taking care of children with special needs isn’t easy, as you’re always required to anticipate and adjust to their behavior. “[These] children are stimulated by everything in their environment: by the sounds, by the interactions, by your smile,” mentions child…
AUTISM IN ECUADOR
By Juan Sebastian Arias – Billing Manager at Always Keep Progressing Growing up, autism was something I never really heard about. Although there have been vigorous advances regarding our understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders, there are still issues with how ASDs…
5 Easy Ways You Can Expand Language In The Home!
Parent and caretakers play critical roles in a child’s speech and language development as they function as the primary models of language for children. There are simple techniques you can incorporate into your daily lives and routines that will bolster their language…
Spring Themed OT Activities
With Spring having just arrived, what better way to welcome the season than with fun and engaging spring themed occupational therapy activities and crafts. These activities are simple and easy to do either in therapy or even from the comfort of your own home! Gross…
Ready for the New Year?!
Chain Link Activity 2020 has been quite different to say the least. In a year filled with so much uncertainty, our focus must shift towards 2021. The occupational therapists at the Always Keep Progressing Miami clinic develop and participate in playful and functional…
The Correlation Between Mental Health and Autism
The relationship between autism and mental health is a taboo subject for most. Mental health is often overlooked due to the trouble individuals on the spectrum have with truly expressing their emotions. Not only do these individuals have to deal with their own…
What is Occupational Therapy?
What does an Occupational Therapist do? Occupational therapists (also known as OTs) work with children to help them succeed in their occupations, or daily life activities. They provide treatment to target goals related to fine and gross motor skills and motor…
Are Girls with ASD Experiencing a Delay in Treatment?
For years, research has proven to us that early diagnosis and interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can have major long-term positive effects on a child’s symptoms and later skills. Interventions, such as family training, speech…
Autism Stories: Marie of Sanford, Florida
The Autism Stories series at Always Keep Progressing is giving voice to the various lived experiences of individuals who have been diagnosed with autism (and their families) from all around the world. Today, we are so excited to share the fourth installment of this…
Autism Stories: A Story from France
We here at Always Keep Progressing (AKP) are excited to announce the start of a blog series, Autism Stories, which we hope will give voice to the diverse and lived experiences of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. These stories will be told through live…
Autism Stories: Mae!
We’re excited to be sharing the second story of our Autism Stories blog series today! If you haven’t heard yet, this series at Always Keep Progressing will be giving voice to the diverse and lived experiences of individuals who have been diagnosed with autism, all…
Autism Stories: A Story from London
We are so excited to share the third installment of our Autism Stories blog series with you all today! As a recap, our Autism Stories series at Always Keep Progressing will be giving voice to the various lived experiences of individuals who have been diagnosed with…
What to do if you are concerned with your child’s speech and language development
Do you suspect that your child may have a speech and/or language delay? Has your child’s teacher or paediatrician expressed concerns that your child is not meeting his or her speech/language developmental milestones? Here are some steps to take for finding the…
3 Tips To Help With Your Child’s Stuttering At Home
Does your child struggle with a stuttering disorder or is he/she currently receiving fluency therapy services? Remember that carryover of strategies at home goes directly hand in hand with your child’s progress! So in this article, you will find some tips on helping…
Decreasing Problem Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
UNDERSTANDING PROBLEM BEHAVIORS IN ASD In the 1960s-70s, people often dealt with ASD-related problem behaviors by means of punishment. However, a shift occurred in the 1980s, when people started using data-based methods to treat behaviors; these new methods allowed…
Speech-Language Pathologists in the US: A Growing Industry
The Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) industry in the United States has experienced steady and stable growth over the last five years. And as time goes on, demand for SLPs is only continuing to steadily rise. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the…
Why Music is So Beneficial in Therapy for Children with ASD
Almost everyone has experienced, at one point or another, the powerful influence of music – from feeling compelled to move our feet and dance when we hear a certain beat to feeling strong emotions when we listen to our favorite sad song. It’s no surprise, then, that…