Using praise
Praise and encouragement is often used by adults when they want to motivate children to do things, learn new skills or develop more confidence. Are there right and wrong ways to praise children? Is...
View ArticleKids feeling good?
Being able to manage your emotions is important for having good mental health and being able to get along with others. Positive interactions with caring adults helps children develop the ability to...
View ArticleDo we need NDIS?
With the approaching state and federal budgets there is lots of talk that funding for the NDIS may be cut or delayed. The story of this little boy is just one example of why the NDIS is so important...
View ArticleHow to get along
There are different types of families and people may be related in different ways however families share emotional bonds, and support each other. When there are children in the family the adults are...
View ArticleDo you care for you?
Do you look after yourself? Parenting is a tough job, but it is even tougher when one or more of your children have special needs. It is hard for parents to take then time out to care for themselves...
View ArticleHow to help emotions
Children begin to learn about emotions very early in life. They need to know how to recognise, understand and manage their emotions for many reasons and parents are often the first people who model...
View ArticleHow to be school ready
Will your child be ready to start school next year? All children starting school in 2015 in South Australia will begin at the same time, and for the first time some will only be four years old. If...
View Article10 school report worries
Sometimes, when school reports come home, they are not what we as parents are hoping for. Here are ten areas where some kids struggle at school and some ideas about what parents can do to help. Before...
View Article10 ways visuals help
Last week we looked at areas where kids struggle at school. One strategy that helps kids in lots of areas is to use visuals. Visuals can help school aged children with daily activities, learning,...
View Article14 Q & As about ASD
No two children (or adults) with autism spectrum disorder are the same and individuals can vary enormously from one to another. Living and working with people with ASD is never dull. It is filled with...
View Article7 social skills tips
Most children develop social skills much like ducks learn to swim. Simply by being immersed in interactions with others they learn how to interpret messages they receive from other people and to...
View ArticleHelping kids with fires
Many children in our community have been impacted by the recent fires. This may be directly through property damage and evacuation, or indirectly through seeing smoke, watching the news or hearing...
View ArticleAutism Spectrum Disorder 101
Are you wondering about autism but not sure what it really means? Are you concerned about a child you know and want to find out more? Here is an overview of the characteristics of autism and some...
View Article10 tips for special mums
Being a mum is a tough job, but it is even tougher when one or more of your children have special needs. It is hard for mums to take then time out to care for themselves when their child’s needs seem...
View Article10 waiting room skills
At Talking Matters we are passionate about parents making the most of teachable moments to help children learn. For children who visit us regularly whether for therapy or because they are waiting for a...
View ArticleTantrums and meltdowns 101
All parents have been there at some time, the screaming child, face down on the shopping centre floor while shoppers look on with that “do something with that child look”. I still remember when my...
View ArticleLearn by playing? Imagine that!
It looks simple, but it is also so valuable. Kids really do learn lots and lots of skills just by playing. If parents can take time out from their busy lives to play too the learning will be even...
View Article7 ways to begin pretending
Children have an in-built need to play which begins when they are babies. Play is vital for developing language, thinking, motor skills and social skills. As children grow and develop the type of play...
View ArticleTalk with me…about friends and feelings.
For speech pathology week we have been following the theme “Talk with me”. Talking with kids is not just important for language and learning, it is vital for social and emotional development too. Here...
View Article10 reasons to celebrate Dad!
Tomorrow is Father’s Day so today’s post looks at why Dad’s are important to kids in all kinds of ways. You probably don’t need an excuse to celebrate the dad in your family but here are 10 reasons...
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