Leaps & Bounds SLT

16/09/2026

10/08/2026

This may interest some of my lovely parents 👌

the Autism and Language Delay Programme is available to parents/carers of children aged two- six who are resident in the Southern Trust area, with a confirmed autism diagnosis or waiting assessment.

Parents/carers will be supported to:

• Promote their childs development in communication, language, play and social skills
• Help their child learn self-regulation skills
• Reduce stress and challenging behaviour

When: Starting on Thursday 10th September 2026
Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm
Duration: 14 weeks
Location: Autism Services The Oaks, Old Longstone Hospital
Site, St Lukes, Armagh, BT61 7PR
For further information/to make a referral please contact Maria:
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07880 474747

23/07/2026

I *may* be completely hopeless at social media but when you are a one woman, very small business trying to balance raising 3 babies, a job in the NHS, a small business and all the other juggles of life...these reviews have made it all worthwhile 💗🥰

Thank you to the amazing parents, carers and teachers who have chosen me to help support and develop their children's communication skills. It means the world, thank you!!! You are all keeping me busy with your recommendations without actually having to post on social media 😂🙏 so thank you! 🤩

12/03/2026

🛒Developing communication skills everyday 🛒

I was just whizzing around this morning doing a top-up shop 🫠🙈 with the toddler today thinking about how hard it is to fit everything in but how language development every day works best 👌 👍  it doesn't have to be an extra thing to add into your busy day!

🍓🥦🥑 LABEL those food items in the grocery shop...describe them, explain food and where it comes from, ask and answer questions (as they get older)

🍎🍇🍄‍🟫 FOLLOWING instructions to get the toddler to select items they know, ask them to put them on the scanner or in the bag/trolley

👐👃💐 EXPLORE using different senses, smell, sight, touch, taste

🥰 have fun with the simple routines, this can also help those picky eaters out there... making their own choices when shopping can help the variety of food they may be willing to have on their plate 🤩

*DISCLAIMER* there are less language development opportunities available when you are trying to do the big shop with the toddler in tow between the 1 hour gymnastics drop off and pick up 🤣🙃

11/11/2025

I KNOW it's still November but I also know how many emails I am getting about Black Friday and how organised some of my parents are...

So I'm going there.... 🎅🎄

✨️ help guide your child to toys that work for their developmental level, don't worry about the age guide too much. You do not need more toys they won't play with.

✨️ help them choose toys that engage them...whether that's stacking/spinning toys, repetitive toys, visually stimulating or auditory stimulating toys or imaginative play toys

✨️ help them choose toys that can be used for lots of purposes

✨️ rotate your toys, try to help your child focus to have better quality play with 1 or 2 items, rather than tipping all the boxes out, multiple times per day

✨️the toys won't matter, you do!! Get down at their level, play with them or alongside them (depending on their preferences). Be present and conscious of your time with them, even if it means setting an alarm for 5-10mins

✨️ messy play is a joy but I get it, the hassle is immense! Contain it... use a plastic storage box for it, a tray or a sandpit.

Let me know how I can help support your child's communication skills through play...what else would you add to this list?

🎅🎄 Bring it on 🎅🎄
'stime therapy

02/09/2025

September always feels like the start of a new year to me...kids back to school, new routines, starting big new journeys into education 🤩 Don't delay the start of your child's journey towards better communication skills, get in touch today ✨️👋

29/07/2025

When a mummy tells you...

"it is so amazing to see him find joy in communicating"

You know it's a good day in the office 🥰

❤️

14/07/2025

Well this weekend has reinforced 3 things for me...

#1 early language strategies that work for little ones, developing language in the typical way, are: following your child's lead/interests, repetition of simple words and sounds appropriate to the context, using an exaggerated intonation and make it fun...and do it all again 😀 lol

#2 life is better in the ☀️shine

#3 children learn more through play, especially for mine when it's outdoors

🚘🚗⛽️ The baby has found the cosy coupe and has gotten "in/out" approximately 10,000 times this weekend 😂 lots of practice for those first words...car/in/out/open/close/door/knock knock/brmm/beep/fast/slow

Let's hope the sun continues shining all summer 😎🌞☀️👏🙌

01/07/2025

👶🏼 Babble babes 👶🏼

Awww this is one of my favourite stages..."mama", "dada", "googoo"...babbling is often a precursor to those first words and sounds emerging. It's how babies try to communicate with us...so how do we encourage it?

🗨 use those sounds yourself in a "parentese" voice, which is a higher pitch, exaggerated tone and a sing-song type voice... think Miss Rachel 😉

👄 respond back to your baby, take turns and encourage more babble by allowing lots of pauses in your communication

🤭 using funny sounds and noises, like animal noises, 'uh-oh', "mmm", "aaachoo", "brrmm" will gain your child's attention and make them more likely to try to copy you, especially if you use a gesture alongside the sounds.

✨️Repeat, repeat, repeat