Learning Center

Pragmatic Needs

Pragmatics are an essential part of language and the foundation for social communication. If your child faces difficulties engaging in meaningful interaction, South Shore Therapies is here to help. Our experts in Hingham, Pembroke, and Norwood, MA, can help you build the tools to support your child’s use of pragmatic language across contexts. We strive to maximize your child's potential with tailored intervention strategies in a nurturing, safe, and positive environment. With our focus on empathy, respect, and support, you can partner with us for results that make a difference.

What Are Pragmatics?

Pragmatic language is the rules we follow when we communicate in social situations. In contrast to semantics, which defines the vocabulary of the conversation, pragmatics refers to the art of how we converse. Pragmatic language includes three significant skill areas that facilitate effective and meaningful communication.

The Three Pillars of Pragmatic Language

Pragmatics are broken down into three major skills. These skills include:

• Using language for different reasons
• Changing language for the listener or situation
• Following rules for conversation and storytelling

Why Do We Need Pragmatics?

Pragmatics play a vital role in linguistics. It enables us to transcend the literal meaning of vocabulary to understand and connect with the meaning of what is being said in a conversation. It is the key to effectively understanding context and experiencing meaningful interactions with others. Pragmatics enables us to foster a deeper sense of connection with inside jokes, slang, and shorter yet more impactful conversations. Without proper pragmatics, we may come across as rude, impolite, or simply indifferent. Pragmatics are important skills that allow us to communicate our thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a more relatable and effective manner.

How Does Pragmatics Work?

Pragmatics is based on the concept of understanding and being understood. For most languages and social situations, pragmatics relies on four key principles, including:

• Be Concise - Only provide the necessary information.
• Be Truthful - Only say truths and facts that you believe.
• Be Relevant - Stay on topic.
• Be Clear - Refrain from ambiguity and obscurity.

What Are Some Examples of Pragmatics?

Pragmatics define the appropriate use of language within social situations. Examples of pragmatic language include but are not limited to:

• Joint referencing, which means focusing attention on the same objects
• Joint action, which is participation in the same action
• Attending to speaker
• Initiating communication/play
• Maintaining the topic of conversation
• Taking turns within conversation/play

Developing Your Child’s Pragmatics Communication

Children that dominate conversations, frequently interrupt, or demonstrate inappropriate social skills are not rude or impolite. In fact, this is often a sign that their pragmatic communication needs to be developed. To work on your child’s pragmatic development, it’s important to practice the three pillars of pragmatic works.

Use Language for Different Purposes

Children with difficulties in pragmatic language use may struggle to participate in various social interactions, including using language for:

• Greetings - Saying “hello” or “goodbye” to others. 
• Informing - "I'm going to get a toy."
• Demanding - "Give me the toy."
• Promising - "I'm going to give you the toy."
• Requesting – "Can I have the toy, please?"

Adapting Language to the Listener or Situation

It is beneficial to help your child understand how to speak to different people or in varying contexts to support their pragmatic language use. Changes in language may include:

• The way you speak to babies vs adults
• Providing background information or context if you are speaking about a topic unfamiliar to the listener
• Changing the volume of your voice depending on the situation or location (e.g., using a quieter indoor voice)

Following Rules for Conversation

A pragmatic communication disorder may cause children to have trouble understanding the unspoken rules of conversation. To work on this, practice the following:

• Taking turns during a conversation
• Initiating new topics when appropriate
• Staying on topic
• Explaining things differently when the listener does not understand
• Verbal and nonverbal cues

Does Your Child Have a Pragmatic Communication Disorder?

A formal assessment by a speech-language pathologist will help determine if your child has a pragmatic communication disorder. Signs that may be indicative of a pragmatic disorder include:

• Disorganized storytelling
• Unrelated or inappropriate conversation interjections
• Limited language variety
• Inability to understand jokes or sarcasm
• Minimal interest in social interactions

Learn More About Pediatric Pragmatic Needs

Vulnerabilities in pragmatic communication are a common developmental concern for many children. Fortunately, South Shore Therapies is here to support your child’s social communication needs. For compassionate guidance, positive support, and tailored services that make a difference, contact our team in Hingham, Pembroke, and Norwood, MA, today.

Your Guide to Getting Kids Dressed for School

Getting our children through their morning routine and out the door can be challenging. Getting dressed for school is often met with arguments or apprehension, especially for touch-sensitive children. As leaders in sensory, occupational, and speech services in Massachusetts, South Shore Therapies is here to share effective tips for getting kids dressed for school. If you’re faced with a relentlessly stressful morning regimen, we have getting dressed tips and tricks to simplify this process and make it more pleasant for you and your kids.

When Should My Child Be Able to Get Dressed Independently?

By the age of 6, a child should have the foundational skills to be able to dress and undress independently. However, our children should start to be involved, and become more familiar, with the process as early as 2 years old. This exposure supports developmental skill acquisition needed for future independence with dressing and allows the child to feel autonomy in their daily routines. 

Effective Tips to Help Your Child with Dressing

The transition from laidback summer days to school mornings is known to intensify sensory processing difficulties for many children. To encourage independence for your child and mitigate stress and delayed mornings, South Shore Therapies is here to share some effective tips for optimizing getting kids dressed for school in the morning.

Create a Morning Routine for School
A structured routine provides your child with stability, and comfort in consistency. A consistent and expected routine can increase participation in daily activities, including getting dressed. To create a consistent morning routine or schedule, you want to have the same sequence of tasks each day. It may be helpful to have these tasks completed at the same time each day. A visual schedule can be a great support to help your child understand the routine. It is important to incorporate time for regulating sensory strategies into the morning routine in order to set your child up for success.

Be Prepared
On the weekends, take time to try on different outfits to see what works and which outfits your child prefers. Picking out an outfit the night before can help your child feel more prepared for the day and decreases the stress or battles that might arise from having to choose an outfit in the morning in addition to getting dressed and ready. If your child goes to a school that requires a uniform, allow them to get used to their new attire by having them wear it several times in the weeks leading up to the first day of school.

Have Options Ready
Before the morning arrives, lay out several clothing options for your child to choose from. Choices greatly help with getting kids dressed for school in the morning by providing them with a sense of control and independence. It can also eliminate potential conflicts and last-minute searches for your child’s desired outfit.

Modify the Clothing Items
If your child experiences challenges with certain articles of clothing, consider how you may modify them to align with your child's needs. For instance, if your child does not like how tight a shirt feels, purchase a larger size, opt for elastic-waistband pants instead of button-ups, or swap laces for slip-on shoes. Your occupational therapist can work on strategies and targeted interventions that can remediate these sensitivities for long term success.

Use a Mirror
Tactile-sensitive children may have the sensation of having something crawling on them when trying on clothes in the morning. Have your child get dressed in front of a mirror to avoid panic and discomfort. This allows your child to see their whole body, promoting a feeling of security, comfort, and control.

Verbal Guidance
While in front of the mirror, consider using verbal guidance to help your child understand the process of getting dressed for school in the morning. You may offer words of encouragement while explaining the process with phrases such as "Put your right arm through the soft sleeve. Great job! Now, let's do the left arm."

Make It Fun
Turn getting dressed for school in the morning into an exciting part of your child's day. Consider the things your child loves. Perhaps it's superheroes, princesses, or dancing. Incorporate these elements into your routine by turning on their favorite music or movie, turning it into a game, or getting creative with other imaginative ideas.

Learn More About How to Optimize Your Morning Routine

Mornings can be tough, but with a little proactive effort and positivity, they can become your and your child's favorite part of the day. Follow these effective strategies to build a supportive and pleasant morning routine for school. To learn more, contact South Shore Therapies today.

In the age of health vigilance, face coverings have become an integral part of our daily attire, but they pose unique challenges to the ways we non-verbally convey emotions and intentions without saying a word. South Shore Therapies understands the importance of teaching how to adapt to these challenges and foster strong communication skills in children.

The Importance of Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication, often underestimated, plays a pivotal role in how we connect with others. It goes beyond words, fortifying our spoken language and conveying a myriad of emotions. From the subtle twitch of an eyebrow to the warm embrace of a hug, nonverbal cues help us interpret the unspoken messages that lie beneath the surface. It is the silent yet profound dialogue we engage in, allowing us to truly understand and connect with one another on a deeper level.

Types of Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal cues encompass a wide range of gestures, facial expressions, posture, and eye contact. These subtle cues are incredibly powerful, accounting for an astonishing 55% of all daily communication. However, with face coverings becoming ubiquitous in today's world, our reliance on nonverbal cues has shifted. As a result, we find ourselves depending more heavily on what can be seen outside the mask--primarily, our they ways in which we communicate with our eyes and our body. Our eyes, play a significant role in conveying emotions and intentions. Similarly, our body language has become a crucial tool for expressing ourselves and understanding others. As we navigate this new normal, the importance of mastering and interpreting these visible nonverbal cues cannot be overstated.

Ways to Improve Communication When Wearing Masks

To overcome the social and language barriers that mask wearing can present, we can concentrate on being intentional with the facial and body features that are still visible.  One of the most crucial body parts to consider is our eyes. With our eyes being the only main facial feature visible while masking, maintaining eye contact or showing active listening with our eyes is important. It not only helps maintain a connection with others but also demonstrates attentiveness and interest in the conversation.

Additionally, expressive body language can play a vital role in compensating for the lack of visible facial signals. The use of gestures can help convey emotions and intentions, making up for the hidden smiles or other facial expressions that would typically be observed. By utilizing expressive body language, we can make sure that our messages are not lost or misinterpreted, fostering effective communication even behind the mask.

These adjustments not only help us overcome the limitations of wearing masks but also guarantee that our relationships continue to thrive. Despite the physical barrier, we can still maintain strong connections and convey our thoughts and emotions effectively.

Masks and Speech-Language Development in Children

For children, whose language development are highly influenced by visual and auditory input, wearing masks can potentially obscure critical linguistic cues, which may raise concerns among parents and educators regarding communication development. However, by being intentional with our nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions and gestures, and providing additional verbal context, we can effectively bridge this gap and support optimal communication support for our little ones. This proactive approach helps to mitigate any potential impact on their language and social development, prompting a nurturing environment for their growth and learning.

Five Tips for Communicating Around Your Mask

1. Use Gestures More Often: When you complement your words with expressive hand movements, it helps to visually convey your point and engage your audience. Gestures can add emphasis, clarity, and even create a memorable impact.

2. Emphasize Vocal Inflections: Your tone of voice is a powerful tool to convey emotions and enhance your message. By varying your vocal inflections, you can effectively communicate different sentiments. The lilt of your voice can communicate happiness, while a steady tone can convey seriousness and authority.

3. Improve Your Articulation: When communicating without the visibility of your mouth and lips, it becomes even more important to speak slowly and clearly. By enunciating your words carefully, your message is understood and interpreted accurately by the listener.

4. Practice Active Listening: Active listening is an important skill in effective communication. Demonstrate your engagement by nodding, maintaining eye contact, and using vocal affirmations such as "mm-hmm" and "I understand." These cues reassure the speaker that you are actively involved in the conversation.

5. Patience is Key: It's important to remember that adapting to a new way of interaction takes time and patience from both parties involved. Communication is a two-way street and understanding each other's cues and nuances may take time. By exercising patience and empathy, we can improve our communication and relationships.

By integrating such methods into our daily exchanges, we better our chances of understanding each other, even when wearing a mask.

Enlist the Help of South Shore Therapies Today

At South Shore Therapies, we understand that adapting to these changes, especially for children, can be challenging. But with nurturing guidance and the right strategies, we can make it another milestone in effective communication.

Let's continue to support one another as we navigate a post-pandemic world. At every step, South Shore Therapies is here to provide the empathetic, expert assistance required to support clear and effective communication for future generations.

We invite you to reach out for support and more personalized intervention tailored to your child’s individual needs. Visit us online or call us at 781-335-6663 for any inquiries or to set up an intake call. Together, we can cultivate communication and connection for all ages.

Learn More About Augmentative Alternative Communication
 

Does your child struggle with communication? Perhaps you can tell they're trying to get a message across, but they're clearly frustrated with their lack of effective communication. At South Shore Therapies, we're dedicated to helping children just like yours. We provide premier augmentative alternative communication therapies in order to better your child's ability to express themselves. Our services are available to Hingham, Pembroke and Norwood, MA residents and those living in the surrounding communities. Your child doesn't have to struggle with communication breakdowns—our team would be glad to help find a suitable treatment plan.

We Offer Fine Motor & Handwriting Skill Development for Kids

Children must first master fine motor skill development and the fundamentals of handwriting before they’re ready for written communication. For some children, this can be a struggle. As a handwriting skills and occupational therapy specialist in Hingham, MA, South Shore Therapies Inc. offers a solution. Occupational therapy helps kids target the muscles and ligaments responsible for writing and gripping writing tools while also teaching them how to control the pressure, spacing, size, and direction of their written work. If you believe your child could benefit from fine motor and handwriting skill development help, don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule a consultation with our caring, experienced staff. We utilize a multi-sensory approach and fun activities to make learning handwriting skills seem less tedious.

South Shore Therapies provides sensory integration therapy utilizing the principles of development, neuroscience, and therapeutic activities to help children in Southern Massachusetts achieve independence and fulfillment.

Stuttering can make it hard for your child to communicate, interact with peers, and participate in school. Stuttering can also affect a child’s emotional and social development and increase their risk of anxiety, fear, depression, isolation, and antisocial behavior. At South Shore Therapies, we offer individualized services for stuttering in Hingham, Norwood, and Pembroke, MA. 

Vision is a complicated process - it is much more than just how well we see. Vision is a combination of visual acuity (eyesight), how our eyes function (tracking, eye teaming), and visual processing. This article will focus on the components of - and importance of - visual processing (visual perception) in learning. 

May is Apraxia Awareness Month. Check out this article to learn more about childhood apraxia of speech.

Did you know that strokes can happen at any age? That means kids can have strokes too! Check out this article to learn more about pediatric stroke.

Check out this article to learn how Friend Files can support the skill development need to build peer-to-peer relationships.

Patience is virtue. When you let your child lead, they’ll want to communicate with you even more. Check out this article to learn why the OWL approach helps your children develop the language they need to reach their optimum potential.

Knowing that many activities of daily living can be extremely taxing, and even overwhelming for our kids allows us to prepare and proactively implement strategies to promote a more successful experience for everyone involved. Click here for a list of strategies and resources to help improve hair and nail clipping experience with you kids.

Executive functioning is a set of mental skills that our kids use every day to actively engage in daily life skills, learn and play. Executive functioning is responsible for your child’s ability to sustain attention, organize and plan, initiate and complete, problem solve and regulate emotions. There are many different ways to address breakdowns in the area of executive functioning. Your therapy team works together to address ‘the whole child’ so they can perform at their best. Check out some ways in which speech therapy can focus on improving your child’s executive functioning skills. 

Executive function is a set of mental skills that our kids use every day to actively engage in daily like skills, learn, and play. Executive function is responsible for your child’s ability to sustain attention, organize and plan, initiate and complete, problem solve, and regulate emotions. There are many different ways to address breakdowns with executive functioning skills. Your therapy team works together to address ‘the whole child’ so they can perform at their best. Check out some ways in which occupational therapy can focus on improving your child’s executive functioning skills. 

Cultural Humility is defined as a way or incorporating multiculturalism through flexibility and awareness of bias. It is a lifelong, learning-oriented approach to working with diversity; and a recognition of the role of power in health care interactions. As we enter the last week of black history month, we wanted to highlight the importance of yrarlong and life long learning as it relates to race and cultural. This article aims to provide ways in which you and your child can engage in, and practice, cultural humility.

Handwriting for Kids in Hingham, Pembroke, & Norwood, MA

Build Confidence and Skill with Handwriting Practice for Kids

South Shore Therapies specializes in handwriting for kids in our Hingham, Pembroke, and Norwood, MA locations. The importance of handwriting for kids is often overlooked, but it is a fundamental part of your child’s academic, mental, personal, and even physical growth. We’re here to help your child master the skill with practical strategies, techniques, and therapies. Our goal is to give you and your child the tools and tips for improving your kids' handwriting so your child feels confident and able at home, in school, and everywhere else.

Emotional validation is defined as the process of learning about, understanding, and accepting another person’s emotions. Validation helps us connect with others, including our children, in addition to promoting self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and growth. This blog post will help you understand what validation is, why it’s important, and how you can incorporate it into your everyday parenting.

As we navigate through a global pandemic and the multitude of changes that brings about, now more than ever our children are expected to adapt and “go-with-the flow”, but that isn't always the reality. As caregivers, it is our role to identify when and why these behaviors occur. Read more to learn about common triggers and how you can start to predict the when and why behind your child’s meltdowns.

Now that we have learned some of the common triggers for behavior and donned our detective hats, it’s time to investigate some tips and tricks to help manage those behaviors. Check out this article for some helpful hints during those difficult moments. 

A growth mindset is a view that ones abilities and talents are something that grows through practice. A mindset that embraces challenges, supports hard work, and encourages problem solving and learning through exploration (and occasionally failure). Providing an environment that views failures and mistakes as learning opportunities allows our kids to explore fearlessly, learn who they are and become the best version of themselves. This article provides a variety of ways you can promote the growth mindset with your children. 

Conversations are the foundation for building friendships and relationships and are the key to social success. Here are a few social communication strategies to teach your kids how to start and maintain their their holiday conversations. 

Phonological processes are natural patterns in children's speech development. Understanding these patterns can help parents understand their child’s speech as they develop. Monitoring these patterns and seeking advice when needed can support a child's speech development journey. In this post, we'll delve into the world of phonological processes, exploring what they are, the types that exist, and how therapy at South Shore Therapies can help guide children along the path to improved speech intelligibility. 

Phonological processes are natural patterns through which young children simplify the sounds in words as part of their speech development. These adjustments make it easier for them to communicate until they're capable of producing clearer speech. A common example includes simplifying the word “stop” to “top” by omitting the initial “s” sound. Over time, as children's linguistic skills advance, these phonological processes should naturally disappear.

Recognizing and understanding these phonological patterns can help parents and caregivers comprehend their child's speech development trajectory and anticipate the improvements in clarity and confidence in communication as the child grows. Below, we outline some prevalent phonological processes, segmented into three primary categories: syllable structure changes, substitutions, and assimilations, alongside the typical ages by which elimination is expected.

Syllable Structure Changes

• Cluster Reduction: Simplifying a consonant cluster to a single sound (e.g., “poon” for “spoon”). Resolves around age 4 (without /S/) and age 5 (with /S/).
• Final Consonant Deletion: Omitting the final consonant in words (e.g., “cu” for “cup”). Typically resolves by age 3.
• Initial Consonant Deletion: Uncommon and may indicate a delay if the initial consonant is omitted (e.g., “up” for “cup”). Consultation is recommended.
• Weak Syllable Deletion: Omitting an unstressed syllable within a word (e.g., “nana” for “banana”). Resolves by age 4.

Substitution

• Backing and Fronting: Replacing sounds based on their production location in the mouth. Backing is uncommon and may require therapy. Fronting resolves by age 3.5.
• Gliding: Replacing liquids (l, r) with glide sounds (w, y). This resolves by age 6.
• Stopping: Replacing fricatives or affricates with stop sounds. Resolution ages vary by sound, generally between ages 3 and 5.

Assimilation

• Changes in sound production to make them more similar to other sounds within the word (e.g., “bub” for “bus”). Assimilation processes typically conclude by age 3.

By keeping informed about these patterns and consulting with a speech-language pathologist when these patterns persist passed the age of natural suppression, caregivers can better support their child’s speech development journey.

What is a Phonological Disorder?

When the use of a phonology speech sound persists beyond the age-appropriate time, it may indicate a phonological disorder—a type of speech sound disorder.

When Should I See a Speech Pathologist?

If your child is showing any of the following phonological disorders—predictable rule-based errors, (e.g., fronting, stopping, and final consonant deletion) that affect more than one sound—a visit to a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is recommended. Early intervention can be critical in addressing phonological disorders and supporting clear communication.

Treatment for Phonological Disorders

A speech and language pathologist is trained to identify and treat phonological disorder with your children. At South Shore Therapies we emphasize individualized approaches to address your child's unique needs and help them reach their optimal potential.

Involving the Family

Incorporating family members into the therapy process is an important pillar for progress. At South Shore Therapies, we emphasize the importance of family training and home carry over to support skill acquisition. This may involve practicing exercises or activities provided by your therapist at home, which reinforces the therapeutic efforts and can accelerate progress.

Cutting-Edge Tools

South Shore Therapies employs evidenced based practices and resources to make the therapy process engaging and effective. With a variety of tools, games and activities, your child's time in speech therapy will be positive, playful productive, and fun.

Reach Out to South Shore Therapies Today

Phonological processes are a natural aspect of speech development in children. Understanding these intricate paths and processes are fundamental to determine presence of disorder. Understanding these intricate paths to clear speech is vital for parents and caregivers. Recognizing the signs of a phonological disorder can lead to early intervention and improved outcomes.

South Shore Therapies offers expertise, compassion, and dedication to children with phonological processing disorders. If you have concerns about your child's speech development, don't hesitate to reach out. Your proactive step today can pave the way for your child's confident communication tomorrow.

If you're in the Hingham, Pembroke, or Norwood areas of Massachusetts, call 781-335-6663 to schedule an intake call to learn how South Shore Therapies can help. Together, we can unlock the potential for clear and effective communication in your child, making sure their voice is heard accurately and with confidence. Visit the South Shore Therapies website for more information on our services and how we can support your child's speech journey.

For children, the world is a vast classroom where every small task presents an opportunity for learning and growth. Unlike adults, who move through their daily routines with ease, children must actively learn and master the basics—tasks that can often be challenging and overwhelming. This struggle can lead to reluctance in trying new things or increased frustration and negative behaviors when faced with daily activities. At South Shore Therapies, we are committed to supporting children in their development of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). These tasks are crucial stepping stones towards independence and holistic health for our young ones. Understanding and mastering ADLs and IADLs equips children with foundational skills necessary for successful and independent living.

Unveiling the Basics: What Are ADLs and Why Do They Matter?

The term 'Activities of Daily Living' encompasses the fundamental actions that we engage in daily to preserve their health and well-being. These activities lay the groundwork for kids to thrive and engage fully in life. Key aspects of children's ADLs involve:

The Six Basic ADLs:

• Personal Hygiene – This involves regular bathing or showering, washing hands, dental care like brushing teeth, and hair care such as combing or brushing.
• Continence Management – This requires the effective control and management of bowel and bladder functions.
• Dressing – This entails selecting and wearing clothes that are appropriate for the weather and can include managing fasteners such as zippers, buttons, and shoelaces.
• Eating – This includes the ability to feed oneself appropriately sized portions of food, and the ability to chew and swallow safely.
• Mobility – This pertains to the ability to move around safely in various environments such as, getting in and out of bed, navigating the playground, standing from/or sitting in a chair at school, etc.

As our children grow, they will be expected to participate in these activities at different capacities – ultimately leading to independent participation. It is important to support the development of skill needed to successfully engage in these activities.

Children and Instrumental ADLs

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) for children encompass skills that are more complex and necessitate higher cognitive functions such as planning and organization. These skills are crucial for their transition towards independence as the child grows.

• Transportation and Shopping: Understanding how to use public transport, the concept of shopping for necessities such as school supplies and participating in family grocery shopping trips.
• Managing Finances: Basic concepts of money, including allowances, understanding the value of items, and simple transactions.
• Meal Preparation and Shopping: Involvement in meal planning, learning to make simple meals, understanding the importance of a balanced diet, and assisting in shopping for meal ingredients.
• Housekeeping and Home Maintenance: Learning to clean up personal spaces, such as tidying up toys, making the bed, and assisting in household chores appropriate for their age.
• Communication Management: Developing effective communication skills, including the use of telephone under supervision, and understanding postal items like letters.
• Medication Management: Recognizing the name and purpose of their medications, understanding the importance of taking them as prescribed, under supervision.

Fostering these IADL skills in children not only aids in their current developmental stage but also lays a solid foundation for their future independence.

These activities showcase the extended range of skills necessary for a sustained quality of life. While our kids may not be independent in many of these tasks yet, South Shore Therapies can provide targeted interventions that address sensory, cognitive, physical, and emotional components of development that will be required for independence with IADLs in the future.

Why the Distinction Matters

It's not merely about checklists and assessments. Understanding the distinction between ADLs and IADLs serves as a beacon in formulating care plans that are tailored to an individual's unique constellation of needs, abilities, and interests. Distinguishing between these tasks, and what is expected of the child in their phase of development, and what is important to the child and their family, enables our occupational therapists to offer targeted interventions that serve to strengthen the child's functional capacity and enhance their quality of life.

Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Developmental Delays

Occupational Therapy (OT) can support the development of foundational skills needed for your child to perform at their optimal potential each day. Some areas that OT intervention can target are:

• Daily Living Skills: Helps children acquire essential activities of daily living, including hygiene, toileting, feeding, and completing chores.
• Family Routines: Aids in establishing effective family routines to support the child's development.
• Motor Skills Development: Improves both fine motor (small movements) and gross motor (large movements) skills.
• Socialization Skills: Assists in developing the necessary social skills for children to interact effectively with others.
• Academic Skills: Supports children in acquiring the skills needed for success in the classroom environment.
• Continuity of Care: Provides families with targeted home programming to support the generalization of skills and to promote successful participation across environments.

The Team at South Shore Therapies Can Help

At South Shore Therapies, we specialize in using a sensory integrative approach to help your child reach their highest level of independence. Recognizing early ’red flags’ in your child's development can lead to proactive intervention.  Occupational therapy focuses on enhancing a child's ability to perform everyday tasks by improving their motor planning, fine and gross motor skills, social and emotional regulation and their overall body awareness and relationship with our environment. Our comprehensive approach aims to support your child in developing the necessary skills for effective participation in daily activities and to support social and academic success as needed to improve their quality of life. Through a personalized therapy plan, we aim to foster their growth in strength, sensory processing, and early developmental milestones.

We invite you to join us in this mission, to learn, grow, and advocate for a world where the symphony of life plays on, for all. For more information or to seek our services, don't hesitate to reach out to South Shore Therapies at 781-335-6663 or visit our website here.

Pragmatic language, or the rules we follow when we communicate in social sitautions, is broken down into three major skills: using language for different reasons, changing language for the listener or situation, and following rules for conversation and storytelling. Pragmatic language is necessary to have effective and meaningful communication with others.