It's that time of year again... ASHA convention. As we head to Orlando, there will no doubt be a lot about screen time and technology. Apps can also help us and parents as together we work to facilitate high quality interactions around media and technology. We use apps for a variety of purposes – to stream videos for entertainment, organize our finances, increase our productivity at work, write reports for school, help us communicate socially with friends and family, and crea

Time spent curling up with a good book is never wasted - whether that be on the warm sandy shores of the beach or on the hearth next to a crackling fire. As adults, there is little distinction between becoming immersed in the pages of a good book that we turn with our fingers or scroll through on a tablet or e-reader. For kids, the pages of an e-book can look quite different. Just like a traditional book, no two e-books are alike and multi-media features play a big role. Know

Screen time has been a pretty big buzz word the past few years among parents, teachers, SLPs, and the general public. Roughly speaking, screen time is the time that a person spends using screen-based devices. It's easy to think that this is confined to newer forms of technology, like smartphones and tablets, but it also involves time spent using other screen-based devices such as televisions, computers, laptops, movie screens, smart watches, GPS, etc. You get the picture. Scr

It's that time of year - when new goals meet reality! We all have good intentions, whether that be to eat healthier, exercise more, or spend more time with those we love. For many, new goals also include limiting, reducing, or even eliminating screen time - the time we spend using screen-based technology (e.g., smartphones, tablets, computers, televisions, etc.). Media content and technology use is a complex subject. It doesn't come in shades of black and white with clear and

Every year, I find myself doing something exciting, something that resonates deep within me and captivates my thoughts and energy. This year was no different. This was the year that I dove farther into the media world, blending my interests in media processing research and educational media (especially as it impacts those with communication impairments). This was the year that I earned a Master's Degree in Media and Communication. This was the year that I published my first j

Pumpkins, squash, & gourds provide endless autumn fun! Autumn is by far my favorite time of year! Unfortunately, we don't see too much in the way of fall colors and weather here in Texas. A few years ago, inspiration struck during a trip to the grocery store. The result was one of the best and easiest preschool language activities to date. It was low-key, but the kids loved having the opportunity to explore and touch all the different pumpkins, gourds, squashes, and veggies.

There is an old adage among speech-language pathologists (SLPs) – you don’t know who we are unless you need one. As professionals who work to ensure that every individual has access to the power of communication – a fundamental human right - this is disheartening. If you haven’t heard, May is Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM)! It is our opportunity as SLPs to share critical information about communication health, early warning signs associated with communication difficul

In a world where handheld devices and touchscreens seem ever present, don't be fooled, sensory books are alive and well. Our sense of touch is a powerful tool we use to interpret and learn about the world around us, particularly for young children. While the allure of electronic toys and digital devices is sometimes hard to push aside, you might be surprised that sensory-based books and activities also command the attention (and tiny hands) of active young preschoolers. Senso

Children learn the most from screen media when a more capable individual mediates the experience with them! Takeuchi, L.M. (2011). Families Matter: Designing Media for a Digital Age New York: Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop #digitalmedia #earlychildhood #parents #postcards #slps

Who doesn't love Show and Tell? Growing up, Show and Tell was the day that you never missed at school. Excitement brewed over the unlimited possibilities. Kids whispered days in advanced as they narrowed their selections. "K" at the beginning of words includes couch, cookie, crayon, card, comb, kazoo, cup, cone, can, compass, coin, carrot, corn, kaleidoscope, cauliflower, cake, and cup cake Working with preschoolers, I was always trying to find new ways to increase parent par