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  • 06/14/2021 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in pediatirc brain injury and stroke, but love working with all families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    What Is Visual Processing And How Does It Impact Learning?

    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. 

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  • 06/07/2021 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in pediatirc brain injury and stroke, but love working with all families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    May Is For Raising Awareness

    As the flowers start to bloom and the sun is shining more, May seemed to fly by again this year. But during the past month, many important causes, populations, or groups were highlighted - both nationally and internationally - in order to raise awareness, education, and acceptance of such areas. This post is a recap of some of the groups that were acknowledged in the month of May. Click here to learn more. 

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  • 05/24/2021 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?

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

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  • 05/17/2021 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in pediatirc brain injury and stroke, but love working with all families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Kids Have Strokes Too: What is Pediatric Stroke?

    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.

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  • 05/10/2021 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in pediatirc brain injury and stroke, but love working with all families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Why I Love Working Alongside Speech Therapists

    May is Better Speech and Hearing Month- so that means we get to highlight the profession and why we love our speech therapists! As an Occupational Therapist, I rely on, and collaborate with, my speech language pathologists regularly in order to best serve our kids. Check out this article to learn more about pediatric speech therapy (from an occupational therapist perspective) and why I love working alongside these amazing therapists. 

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  • 05/03/2021 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    What is Pediatric Speech Therapy?

    May is Better Speech and Hearing Month- so that means we get to highlight the profession and why we love our speech therapists! Check out this article to learn more about pediatric speech therapy- who we are, what we do, how we do it and why speech therapy is so important.

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  • 04/26/2021 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    How to Add Language to Our 6 Favorite Occupational Therapy Activities

    Check out this article to learn how you can add speech and language targets into some of our favorite OT activities. 

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  • 04/19/2021 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in pediatirc brain injury and stroke, but love working with all families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Our 6 Favorite Occupational Therapy Activities For Children

    Occupational therapy is designed to use purposeful and meaningful activities to help individuals develop ‘skills for the job of living’. Well how do kids develop these skills? Through play! So it only makes sense that our sessions are play based and child led. Click here to learn about a few of our favorite OT activities, what they address and why they have become a fan favorite.

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  • 04/12/2021 - Ashleigh Moore. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    How Friend Files Can Teach Building Friendships and Sparking Conversations

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

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  • 04/12/2021 - Kerry Burokas. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I love working in an environment where kids feel safe and successful while working to achieve their individualized goals. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Making Mealtime Fun Again

    Embrace Family Mealtime in Hingham, Pembroke, & Norwood, MA

    Encourage Strong Family Mealtime Habits with Our Help

    South Shore Therapies offers family mealtime strategies and therapies in Hingham, Pembroke, and Norwood, MA to encourage positive and enriching child development. We understand the importance of establishing patterns for children when they are young, so we work hard to encourage healthy eating habits and strong family bonds. With our feeding therapies and expert consultations, we can create long-lasting family memories while also ensuring mealtime is fun for kids. However, our care extends beyond the walls of our office. We want to give you the tools to prioritize the importance of family mealtime at home.


    Build the Foundations for Feeding

    Feeding is a complex process that involves more than just the act of eating. It's an essential part of a child's development that promotes growth, health, and social skills. From understanding the texture and taste of different foods to developing motor skills for self-feeding, each step is crucial. At South Shore Therapies, we offer specialized feeding therapy to address eating challenges and promote healthy eating habits. Some of the foundations for feeding are:

    • Choosing the Proper Utensils
    • Establishing the Right Posture
    • Encouraging Unobtrusive Swallowing and Breathing
    • Distraction-Free Environments
    • Introduction of New Textures and Tastes
    • Understanding Good Portion Sizes

    What Are the Benefits of Family Meals?

    Family mealtime is more than just eating and getting nutrients. It’s a chance for families to come together and foster strong and lasting relationships. Having routines is vital in your child's development, and our practice wants to encourage that in and out of our office. The benefits of establishing a family mealtime routine include:

    • Promoting Healthy Eating – Regular family meals encourage balanced and varied diets, imparting your good habits to your children and helping contribute to your child’s overall health.
    • Improving Communication Skills– Conversations around the dinner table help children develop their language skills, social skills, and manners.
    • Strengthening Family Bonds – Having meals as a family isn’t just about eating. It is also a time to share stories, learn and share more about each other, and grow closer. 
    • Teaching Values and Traditions – Family meals are a great time to share and establish family traditions and values in your children, ensuring they grow up to be the best person they can be.
    • Providing Sense of Belonging – By dedicating regular time to spend with your children as a family, you give them more of a sense of belonging and higher self-esteem.

    Learn Eight Ways to Make Family Meals Enjoyable

    We don’t want your family mealtimes to be considered an obligation. It should be an enjoyable part of your day where you can spend time with those you love the most. Sometimes, it isn’t easy to get your child to sit still for a meal. South Shore Therapies wants to help alleviate any boredom your child might associate with mealtime. Below are eight great ways to make your family meals more enjoyable for everyone:

    • 1. Describe the Benefits of the Food They’re Eating – You can educate your children about the benefits of the meals they are eating, and it doesn’t have to be boring. Talk about how carrots improve vision, broccoli strengthens bones, and fish is good for the heart. These kinds of facts stick with children and help promote long-lasting healthy habits.
    • 2. Enlist Their Help With Choosing, Prepping, and Cooking – When children have a hand in making the meal, they are more likely to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Let them pick out the vegetables at the grocery store, wash the produce, and even do some of the cutting (with a child-safe knife). Not only will this help teach them basic motor skills and cleanliness strategies, but it will also be a fun bonding experience.
    • 3. Talk/Ask About Your Days and What You’re Looking Forward to – Encourage your child to share highs and lows for the day, what they learned, and what they’re looking forward to for tomorrow. This helps develop communication skills and lets you get closer to your child.
    • 4. Prioritize Eating Together as a Family – Making family mealtime a priority shows your child how much you value them and time with them. Carving time out of your busy day is always worth it for your family.
    • 5. Turn Dinner Into a Picnic – Shake up the routine by changing up the scenery for your family meal. If it’s a sunny day, spread a picnic blanket out in the grass outside. During the cold Massachusetts winter, you can have a picnic in the living room or on the floor.
    • 6. Be Playful and Use Your Sense of Humor – Making mealtime fun and a time for laughter can help children create positive associations with eating and family time. Tell jokes, play word games, or talk about funny things that happened during your day.
    • 7. Establish Family Routines – Having consistent family mealtime routines can provide security and structure for your children while also making them excited about something. Start your own Taco Tuesday or Pizza Friday traditions.
    • 8. Be Creative With Mealtimes – Theme your meals around different cuisines, create food art, or try some fun new recipes. Not only can creative meals make family mealtime more exciting for the young ones, but they can also help broaden their food preferences.

     

    The Importance and Fun of Family Mealtime

    Family mealtime can be fun for everyone. It’s about creating positive experiences and memories to promote happiness and health. Whether it’s establishing healthy eating practices or helping your toddler develop necessary motor skills, the benefits of family meals are endless. It doesn’t have to be a chore, though. Have fun with your family at mealtimes again and express your love in new ways. Reach out to us if you have any questions about how we can help you with family mealtimes.

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  • 04/05/2021 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Why Letting Your Child Lead is Important in Language Development

    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.

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  • 04/05/2021 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in pediatirc brain injury and stroke, but love working with all families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    What Is Pediatric Occupational Therapy?

    April is occupational therapy (OT) month – so that means we get to highlight the profession and why we love our OTs! Check out this article to learn more about pediatric occupational therapy – what we do, how we do it and why OT is so important. 

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  • 03/22/2021 - Allie Kimmelman. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I love working with children through a family-centered care approach. It is a passion of mine to help families problem solve life’s daily challenges, big and small. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com. 0 Comments
    Sensory Friendly Grooming: With Focus On Hair And Nail Care

    One primary role as parents is to assist our children through many activities of daily living in order to promote health, well-being and participation of our children with their environment. Hair cuts, nail clipping, and other grooming activities can be difficult for a child – and family - particularly if the child struggles with sensory processing. Click here to learn how to provide a sensory-friendly environment for difficult grooming activities in order to improve your child's tolerance and participation in such routine necessities.  

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  • 03/22/2021 - Allie Kimmelman. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I love working with children through a family-centered care approach. It is a passion of mine to help families problem solve life’s daily challenges, big and small. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com. 0 Comments
    Sensory Strategies To Help With Grooming Activities With Your Children

    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.

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  • 03/08/2021 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Executive Functioning in Kids, Here’s How We Can Help (From Your Speech Therapist)

    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. 

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  • 03/08/2021 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in pediatirc brain injury and stroke, but love working with all families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Executive Functioning in Kids: Here’s How We Can Help (From Your Occupational Therapist)

    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. 

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  • 03/01/2021 - Jessica Szklut and Allison Minsky. We are part of the South Shore Therapies team and love working with families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Color With Kip!

    One of Kip's favorite things to do, especially on rainy days, is to color. Coloring is fun way for kids to express their creativity while simultaneously developing foundational fine motor skill needed for handwriting. Plus is can be a relaxing/calm down activity for the kids to engage in while their parents cook dinner. Check out some of Kip's coloring pages here! (free PDF downloads)

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  • 03/01/2021 - Allison Minsky and Jessica Szklut. We are part of the South Shore Therapies team and love working with families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Meet Our Mascot, Kip!

    Kip the Kangaro has become an integral part of our daily routines both in our clinics and at home. Click here to learn why we love Kip. 

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  • 02/22/2021 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in pediatric brain injury and stroke, but love working with all families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    How To Practice Cultural Humility With Your Kids

    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.

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  • 02/15/2021 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    We Are All Unique

    Even the most successful of individuals have faced adversity. Check out this article to learn about a variety of celebrities who have speech and language, sensory, motor and mental health disorders.

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  • 02/08/2021 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in pediatirc brain injury and stroke, but love working with all families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    6 Fun Ways To ‘Learn’ About Food With Your Picky Eater

    Feeding is necessary for survival. Food is what gives our brain and our bodies the energy to learn, grow, develop and reach our optimal potential. But it is important to know that eating does not come naturally to some kids and thus, mealtime- and feeding in general- can be a very stressful time for families. Learn more about the importance of food play and investigation here.

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  • 02/08/2021 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in pediatirc brain injury and stroke, but love working with all families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    5 Valentine's Day Food Craft Ideas

    Kids learn about food through play. Allowing your child to use all of their senses to explore foods can help prepare them for eating a variety of different flavors and textures. Assisting with meal time and including your kids in a variety of food crafts is an awesome way to have some fun while learning. With Valentine's Day around the corner, why not spread some love with food crafts. Check out some fun food crafts here. 

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  • 02/01/2021 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I love working with families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Handwriting For Kids

    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.


    Discover the Foundations for Good Handwriting for Kids

    Handwriting for kids is all about good hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and cognitive development. By encouraging a child’s ability to hold and write with a pencil,our staff can help them perceive, recognize, and understand letters, numbers, words, and concepts. Handwriting practice is not about making sure their letters look pretty. Handwriting practice is an excellent start to instill confidence, promote success, and achieve learning goals in a wide range of child developmental areas.


    Why Is Handwriting Still Important?

    In a world where typing and texting have taken over, the relevance of handwriting might seem diminished. However, it is more than just a way of communicating. It’s a crucial tool for learning and development. To ensure your child is ready for all forms of written communication, South Shore Therapies recommends your children establish good handwriting practices. Teaching your child proper handwriting skills has many benefits that may not be readily apparent. Some of them include:

    • Enhancing Communication and Cognitive Development
    • Improving Fine Motor Skills
    • Activating Different Parts of the Brain
    • Boosting Creativity
    • Aiding in Memory and Learning
    • Providing a Calming Activity

    Discover Seven Good Handwriting Tips for Kids

    We want to make the process of learning or improving handwriting for kids as fun and engaging as possible. By developing those handwriting skills, we can ensure your child is on the right academic and developmental track for a bright future. The sooner you can recognize your child’s difficulty with handwriting, the better. Our pediatric occupational therapists are always available to help, but if you want to establish good habits outside of our care, here are seven tips on how to improve handwriting for kids:

    • 1. Ensure They Have the Correct Grasp – Correct form is an essential foundation for handwriting. When a child holds their writing tool correctly, they can control their movements better. We recommend holding it between the thumb and index finger and resting it on the middle finger.
    • 2. Use the Right Pressure – Too much pressure can lead to hand fatigue and messy writing, while too little pressure can result in faint, barely visible letters. Help your child learn how to apply appropriate pressure to get clear, legible handwriting without strain.
    • 3. Create a Fun Writing Environment – Where your child writes can significantly improve handwriting skills for kids. Make writing enjoyable by incorporating colorful pens, patterned paper, and stickers. You could also introduce handwriting games or challenges to make the process more engaging, too.
    • 4. Encourage Drawing and Puzzle Games – Handwriting doesn’t have to be just letters and numbers. Drawing and puzzle games are not only fun, but they also help develop fine motor skills essential for good handwriting. Activities such as tracing, dot-to-dots, and mazes can improve your child's hand-eye coordination, precision, and control, which are vital for handwriting.
    • 5. Change the Writing Tools – Experimenting with different writing tools can make handwriting practice for kids more exciting. Thick markers, chalk, paintbrushes, or even finger painting can be a fun way to learn letter formations. Plus, these activities can strengthen hand muscles and improve form.
    • 6. Ensure an Appropriate Environment – While you want the writing environment to be fun for your kid, you should also ensure it is appropriate for learning. Make sure you have good lighting, a comfortable chair, and a table that rests at the right height. Removing any unnecessary clutter and digital distractions can also help encourage your child to focus on improving their handwriting.
    • 7. Practice, Practice, and Practice – Like any other skill, handwriting for kids improves with practice. Regular and consistent handwriting helps children develop muscle memory, producing more natural and fluent writing. It doesn’t matter if it’s drawing, writing math problems, coloring, or solving pen-and-paper puzzles. All kinds of writing practice help improve your child’s handwriting.  

    Improving Kids’ Handwriting with Our Tips and Therapies

    Handwriting for kids helps develop fine motor skills, cognitive growth, and persistence. As your partners in your child's development journey in the Massachusetts region, we are here to provide the proper guidance, resources, and handwriting tips for kids. We hope to make handwriting a fun and rewarding experience for your child. No matter what issues or roadblocks arise for your child, we help alleviate those struggles and improve handwriting processes and techniques. The journey to excellent handwriting begins with a single stroke. Get in touch with us today, and let us help you set your child up for success.

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  • 02/01/2021 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Storytelling for Kids

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

    Learn About the Benefits of Storytelling for Kids

    South Shore Therapies provides expertise on storytelling for kids in Hingham, Pembroke, and Norwood, MA, to highlight the importance of different ways of storytelling for children. Stories have always been a fundamental part of human experience. They entertain, educate, and inspire. By weaving narratives, children cultivate their imagination, enhance their language skills, and nurture their emotional intelligence. Storytelling fosters connection, too. It allows children to explore different perspectives and helps them make sense of their world. By providing you and your child with the building blocks for narrative, we hope you can build a solid familial relationship and support child development.


    Discover How Narrative Formulation Impacts Your Child

    Narrative formulation is vital for children to make sense of their world. Early trauma, neglect, or other unknown factors can alter the way a child sees the world. Because of these moments, a child’s understanding of the world can become fragmented. This results in struggles developing emotionally and mentally. Your child needs a strong foundation in the world to grow and develop at a healthy rate. Narrative formation and storytelling help with this, and can prevent anxiety, stress, and problems with caregiver bonding. Our experienced team will always take the time to understand you and your child to help formulate the best therapy approaches. Good storytelling is often a strong start.


    Why Is Storytelling Important for Kids?

    Whether it's through occupational therapy, speech therapy, or our specialized feeding therapy, we understand the essential tools for helping children learn, grow, and thrive. One often overlooked tool for encouraging healthy child development is storytelling. When children listen to stories, they are not just being entertained. They’re learning about cause and effect, recognizing patterns, and gaining stability and understanding of the world. Some of the benefits of storytelling for kids include:

    • Improves Language Skills – Storytelling naturally introduces children to new words and expressions, enhancing their vocabulary and language comprehension. In addition, it also helps them structure thoughts and articulate ideas.
    • Fosters Imagination – Transport your children to different worlds, cultures, and experiences with storytelling. It is important to foster strong imagination and creativity at a young age, and telling stories helps do that.
    • Boosts Memory – Remembering characters, settings, and plotlines enhances memory and concentration, extending the benefits beyond your storytelling sessions.
    • Develops Empathy – Stories with different characters and experiences help children understand different perspectives and make them more empathetic and tolerant of others.
    • Enhances Bonds – By spending time with your child telling stories, you get to spend quality bonding time with them. Any time spent with your child is valuable and makes them feel valuable, too.

    Seven Tips on How to Make Storytelling Interesting for Kids

    Whether you make it a bedtime routine or something you do together throughout the day, storytelling is a fun way to build a bond between you and your kid. It is a powerful tool for child development and should be taken seriously. However, we always want it to be a fun experience for both you and your child. Here are seven ways to make storytelling interesting for kids:

    • 1. Select Good Stories – Effective storytelling starts with choosing the right story. You’ll want something engaging and age-appropriate. The best stories teach life lessons, stimulate curiosity, and spark imagination. Consider your child’s interests and hobbies, and even invite them to help pick the story.
    • 2. Introduce “Story Words” – Story words are keywords that help children understand the sequence of events in a story. Words like 'first,' 'then,' 'after,' and 'finally' can aid in comprehending how the story unfolds. This also helps children understand concepts like cause and effect.
    • 3. Teach Story Grammar Elements – Teach your children the basic elements of a story as you tell it, such as characters, setting, conflict, and resolution. This will help them understand the flow of a story and also help improve broader comprehension and communication skills.
    • 4. Have Fun With “String-a-Long Stories” – You can make storytelling exciting by involving the kids in creating a 'string-a-long' story. Start with a basic storyline and let them add their own elements and twists. Go back and forth adding new parts to encourage creativity and make storytelling an active affair.
    • 5. Be Expressive – The way you tell the story matters. An expressive storyteller can bring a story to life much more effectively than a monotonous one. Use facial expressions, and gestures, and change your tone of voice to match the mood of the story.
    • 6. Use Props – Props can make storytelling more engaging and tangible for kids. They can be simple everyday items or DIY creations that relate to the story, like puppets or even pictures. Props add visual elements that can enhance imagination and memory retention.
    • 7. Provide Feedback – Ask your child questions about the story after your storytelling. Their answers will give insight into their understanding and perception of the story. Offer positive feedback to encourage their participation in future storytelling sessions.

    Cultivate Social and Emotional Development with Storytelling

    Storytelling for kids is not just about reciting a story. It's about engaging your child in a captivating journey that fuels their imagination, enhances their understanding, and strengthens your bond with them. By telling good stories to your kids, you can also instill good values, teach them about the world, and help establish a strong foundation for their emotional and social journey. If you want to learn more about the benefits of storytelling for kids, reach out to our pediatric therapy practice and schedule a consultation today.

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  • 01/25/2021 - Amanda Young. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about supporting children’s differences and highlighting their strengths, in addition to helping their caregivers reframe their thinking about their child’s challenges. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Why It Is So Important For Parents to Validate Their Children

    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.

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  • 01/18/2021 - Ashleigh Moore. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    5 Tips for Talking to Kids About Politics and Elections

    Check out this post for five useful tips you can use when talking to your kids about politics and elections. 

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  • 01/11/2021 - Jessica Szklut and Allison Minsky. We are part of the South Shore Therapies team and love working with families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    How to Help Your Kids Set and Achieve Goals in 2021

    Setting goals is critical to happiness and success. Teaching kids to establish and work towards goals introduces them to responsibility, time-management, self-confidence, resilience and perseverance. Check out this post to learn more about steps for setting realistic goals for a productive 2021.

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  • 01/04/2021 - Jessica Szklut and Allison Minsky. We are part of the South Shore Therapies team and love working with families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    How To Help Your Kids Develop A Gratitude Attitude

    As we enter a new year, it is so important that we learn from the lessons of the past and practice gratitude every day in order to build a better world for ourselves and our children. Check out this article to learn about the four parts of gratitude and tips for teaching your kids how to embrace the gratitude attitude.

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  • 01/04/2021 - Jessica Szklut and Allison Minsky. We are part of the South Shore Therapies team and love working with families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    The Best Attitude Is Gratitude

    Did you know that there are many scientific benefits of practicing gratitude? Seriously, can actually change your life. Check out this article to learn more about the importance of developing and practicing the gratitude attitude.

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  • 12/28/2020 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I love working with families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    How to 'Therapize' your Virtual Game Night (to set your children up for success)

    The year of 2020 has brought a lot of unpredictable change to what we considered “normal”. Forcing us to reevaluate and redefine how we interact with one other and stay connected to those important to us. Virtual game nights are a great way to bring some entertainment to your family and friends while staying safe and healthy during this crazy time. This article provides simple tips, tricks and how-to's for adapting your game nights in order to target a variety of developmental skills for your children in a fun and entertaining way.  

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  • 12/28/2020 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    How to Host a Virtual Game Night (From Your Speech Therapist)

    With 2020 bringing many challenges to us all, it is important to connect and have some fun with our loved ones, near or far. Here are our top 10 games for hosting or participating in a virtual game night. 

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  • 12/21/2020 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I love working with families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    2020 Gift List for Kids 6 and Under (from your Occupational Therapist)

    2020 has managed to be the longest and shortest year simultaleously - and even though we might not believe it, the holidays are right around the corner. Our OTs have come together to compile some of our favorite games for our little ones. Check it out here.

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  • 12/21/2020 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    2020 Toy List for Kids 5 and Under (from your Speech Therapist)

    2020 has managed to be the longest and shortest year simultaleously - and even though we might not believe it, the holidays are right around the corner. Our Speech Therapist's have come together to compile some of our favorite games for our little ones. Check it out here.

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  • 12/13/2020 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I love working with families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Tips and Tricks For Getting Dressed for School (with a tactile sensitive child)

    Getting dressed for the day is a daily activity that can also cause a lot of stress on both parents and the child. With weather changes, comes changes in clothing, which for our touch sensitive kids can be a big deal. In this article we share some tips to help ease the transtision from summer to school clothes for your kids. 

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  • 12/13/2020 - Kathleen Austin. Hi, I am an Occupational Therapy Supervisor at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in working/supporting children with sensory and/or behavioral challenges. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    How to Predict and Prepare for Your Child's Next Meltdown

    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.

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  • 12/13/2020 - Kathleen Austin. Hi, I am an Occupational Therapy Supervisor at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in working/supporting children with sensory and/or behavioral challenges. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Tips and Tricks to Help Manage Your Child’s Behavior and Avoid 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. 

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  • 12/13/2020 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I specialize in pediatirc brain injury and stroke, but love working with all families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Embracing The Growth Mindset With Your Child

    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. 

     

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  • 12/13/2020 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Nonverbal Communication While Wearing Face Coverings

    The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced many changes into our daily routines, one of them being the need to wear a mask to protect ourselves and others. With this new normal, you might be asking “how can my child read someone’s facial expressions if they can only see less than half of their peer’s face?”.  Let’s talk about some key areas to “zone in on” when identifying nonverbal communication while wearing a mask, as well as ways to teach nonverbal communication with a mask on.

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  • 12/13/2020 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Conversation Skills During the Holiday Season

    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. 

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  • 12/13/2020 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    Nonverbal Communication Materials

    Teaching your child to read nonverbal cues (e.g., facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, eye contact) will allow them to better identify how someone feels, and therefore how to act. 

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  • 12/12/2020 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    What are Phonological Processes?

    Many children's intelligibility is impacted by the use of phonological processes. These are simpliciations of difficult-to-produce adult sounds. 

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  • 12/12/2020 - Jessica Szklut. Hi, I am an occupational therapist at South Shore Therapies. I love working with families to help kids reach their optimal potential. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    What are Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)?

    An activity of daily living – also known as an ADL – is a primary occupation an individual needs to perform every day. Both kids and adults need to engage in ADLs in order to function within their environment. Read more here. 

     

     

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  • 12/12/2020 - Allison Minsky. Hi, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at South Shore Therapies. I am passionate about planning and delivering creative, individualized treatment designed to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. Our mission with SST's social media platform is to empower, educate and inspire families to take on life’s challenges while promoting an optimistic outlook and a brighter future. If you want to read more about us, visit www.southshoretherapies.com 0 Comments
    What is Pragmatics?

    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.

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