Blog

Want to bring Literacy into your speech and language activities?!?  One great way target articulation and language goals is by picking a favorite book. The options for targeting goals are endless. One of my personal favorites is Mrs. McNosh hangs up her wash. If you aren’t familiar with this one, it’s a very cute and silly story about a woman who hangs up EVERYTHING; starting with her clothes, to her newspaper,  and even her dog! This read is great for targeting the /s/ and /sh/ sounds, sequencing events, and even talking about the main character in a story.

Read More “Bring Literacy into Speech Therapy!”

by Misti Bushmire

Encouraging creativity in our kids is as simple as getting them involved in a craft! Not only does this fuel their imagination, but doing crafts and incorporate speech goals, sensory play and fine motor skills.

But for the “adult” it can feel overwhelming when you see that amazing idea on Pinterest and then the thought gathering a whole bunch of supplies from all over the house dampens the crafty impulse. Let’s make it simple with a kit! What do you need in your craft arsenal?  I’m going to answer that right now!  Let’s start with some tips and move to an actual list of what to buy/save/scrounge.

Read More “How To Build A Craft Kit”

by Misti Bushmire

“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” :: Jim Valvano

As we celebrate Father’s Day, we are reminded that being a father is a special privilege no matter how you arrive there.  Typically you and your spouse/partner find out you are expecting a child but sometimes you are blessed with stepchildren or you find yourself taking on a very special mentoring position.  Still other families are blessed with children who have special needs.

Read More “Happy Father’s Day! Let’s Hear It For Dad!”

by Carolinda “Trini” Myers-Murphy

I’ve had the pleasure of being able to treat children now for many many years.  (15 to be exact! Sheesh- where did my 30’s go?!?).  Over the course of time, you begin to notice trends that help, and trends that hamper a child’s progress through-out their experience in speech therapy.

Read More “5 Practical Speech Therapy Techniques That You Can Do Now!”

by Kelci Santiago

“Sit up straight, knees are 90 degrees, feet flat on the ground.”

I feel the above statement is my very own speech therapy mantra I continually use to remind the children I see here in Hawaii to check-in with their posture while sitting in therapy. More often than not, a child will come into therapy, sit down, and immediately slouch over, hunch his back, or use the table/chair to help hold himself up. Why does he do this? Well, why do you hunch? If you are sitting down and reading this are you on your sits bones, are your shoulders back and down with your chest slightly lifted? Can you feel your abdominal muscles working? You should feel your stomach expanding like a balloon as you inhale through your nose, and then returning to its normal position as you exhale.

Read More “4 Activities to Increase your Child’s Core Strength”

by Debra Hartley

If you’ve been following the Speech Solutions Hawaii blog this year, you’ve probably noticed that we’ve focused on holidays a bit this year. Every month has a major holiday with the exception of August, but we’ve found that a lot of our kiddos don’t know the meaning or origin of these holidays. (And if we’re honest, some of us adults are a bit hazy on the details as well.) As far as our kids understand, it’s a day off from school, a chance to spend the day at Magic Island or Lanikai, BBQ day with friends, or, everyone’s favorite, stay up late and watch fireworks in Waikiki!

Read More “Where Did Labor Day Come From?”

by Erika Ordonez

In reality summer is all year around here in Hawaii. We have an advantage compared to other countries and states to explore our Oahu island home all year around! There are endless adventurous and exciting activities to do to stay healthy and active. It is important for us to teach our kids that being active is fun whether it is a sport, running outside, walking to the store or simply going on a family day adventure.

Read More “4 Family Friendly Hikes on Oahu!”

by Debra Hartley

Where did the summer go? It seems like just yesterday that we were celebrating the end of one school year and here we are, already starting another and trying to get everyone back into the swing of things. By now, you & your kids have probably adjusted your sleep and eating to fit back into the school routines. And, more noticeably, the calendars are filling fast with after school activities, family time, sports, hobbies, and hopefully some free time in there somewhere…or maybe not.

Read More “Tips for an Organized School Year”

by Yovana Miramontes-Risk

Recently, it’s been an issue for me to get to bed early or keep up with my sleep. I can only imagine how much more difficult it is for children. I did some research and found a few ways to help me, and hopefully your children, go to bed earlier and to sleep better.

Read More “7 Helpful Tips for Going to Bed Earlier”

by Debra Hartley

If you’re like me, one of the first things that comes to mind when someone says “Fourth of July” is fireworks. They are iconic, right? The second thing that comes to mind, especially here in Hawaii, is something every holiday shares: food! We LOVE our food here and we love sharing it with friends and family at the beach.

Read More “Strategies to Learn About & Enjoy the Fourth of July with Your Kids”