Therapy for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Therapy for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Speech therapy for toddlers and preschoolers is designed to be engaging and fun, using play-based activities to help your child develop their communication skills. Here’s a breakdown of how it typically works:
Initial Assessment
The process begins with an initial assessment by one of our speech pathologists. During this assessment, we will:
- Observe your child’s speech and language abilities
- Discuss any concerns and relevant history with you
- Conduct standardised tests as appropriate, to identify specific areas of difficulty
Individualised Plan
Based on the assessment, we will create a treatment plan tailored to your child’s specific needs. We will collaboratively develop goals and determine best strategies for therapy.
Therapy Sessions
Therapy sessions are typically held at least once a week and can take place in the clinic, or via videocall. During these sessions, we will use a variety of age-appropriate strategies to support speech and language development, including:
- Modelling: Demonstrating language and correct speech sounds for your child to imitate.
- Play-Based Activities: Using specific toys, games, and books to make learning fun, motivating and engaging.
- Repetition and Practice: Encouraging your child to practice new sounds and words repeatedly in motivating ways.
- Interactive Communication: Support social interactions to build your child’s communication skills.
Be involved!
Parents are also encouraged to be actively involved in the therapy process, particularly for this age group. A key part of the therapy process is parent training. We will educate you on strategies and suggest activities for you to use at home with your child to reinforce what is learned during therapy sessions. Consistent practice in sessions and at home is important for your child to make progress.
We regularly monitor your child’s progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed. This ensures that the therapy remains effective and continues to meet your child’s goals.
Some goals for speech therapy at this age may include:
- Improving your child’s ability to understand and use language
- Enhancing speech clarity and pronunciation
- Building vocabulary and using longer sentences
- Using the correct sentence structure and grammar
- Encouraging communication with peers or in social settings
- Supporting pre-literacy and school readiness skills
Early Intervention
Speech therapy in the early years of a child’s development is the gold standard for treatment. Did you know that the first 2000 days of a child’s life is the most critical time for all developmental domains; physical, cognitive, social and emotional? What happens in the first 2000 days of a child’s development has been shown to have an impact throughout life (The First 2000 Days Framework, NSW Health). Children who receive timely support are more likely to achieve better academically, develop strong social skills and higher self-esteem.
Have you seen our article on the importance of early speech intervention? Check it out here, on page 50: Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce – Darling Spring 2024
Do you have any specific concerns or questions about how speech therapy might help your child? Contact us today.
Funding
At Kids and Cubs Clinic we accept the following funding options:
NDIS
- Self-managed funding
- Plan-managed funding
Private Health Insurance
- Please consult your private health provider to determine eligibility and rebate amounts.
Medicare
- Chronic Disease Management plan (previously known as Enhanced Primary Care plan)
- Please discuss Medicare funding options with your GP
