Progressive Steps, Inc.

📚 Mark your calendars for this Summer’s reading festivities with the Santa Clarita Public Library.

The “First/Then” technique simplifies task completion, especially with challenging tasks for kids, by setting a clear sequence: the less preferred activity is followed by a more enjoyable one. This will help establish a clear set of expectations and your child will more likely remain attentive and focused on the task. For instance, “First pick up blocks, then ride your bike.” Offering a preferred activity as an incentive will likely help in motivating your child to complete a non-preferred task.

Here’s how to effectively implement the “First/Then” concept:

✅ Communicate clearly and concisely, establishing the completion of the initial task as a prerequisite for the desired activity. Phrases like “First bath, then book” or “First color, then stickers” work well by keeping instructions straightforward.
✅ Minimize lengthy discussions to ensure the message is understood.
✅ Employ visual aids or schedules for better comprehension, making transitions smoother, whether it’s for bedtime routines, daily activities, or having to prepare to change environmental settings such as leaving the house.

Remember the goal of using this method is to improve cooperation and to help with understanding a sequence of events! This may take lots of repetition so try to remain consistent!

Today is World Autism Awareness Day 🌎💙 We celebrate the unique abilities, personalities, and perspectives that children bring to our world. We believe in creating a nurturing environment - a space where every child can feel safe, supported, and celebrated for who they truly are. Together, we celebrate every step, every smile, and every breakthrough.

📸: Artwork image from

Today marks a truly special day — World Down Syndrome Day—March 21st is a day dedicated to celebrating the incredible individuals with down syndrome who enrich our lives in countless ways. Let’s celebrate today and beyond. 💙💛

At Progressive Steps, we understand the pivotal role of ‘wh-‘ questions in nurturing your child’s language development journey: Who, What, When, Where, Why. These ‘wh-‘ questions are building blocks to the foundation for our child’s ability to participate in conversations, learn about themselves and their surroundings, and foster their overall knowledge! These questions are usually learned in a sequential order, starting with simple questions that relate to their everyday interactions.

Here’s how these questions unfold in your child’s growth:

- 🧸 *Ages 1-2*: “What’s that?” A phase of wonder, answered with curious pointing and keen observation.
- 📚 *Ages 2-3*: “Where” and “Who” take the stage, sparking age-appropriate critical thinking with stories and pictures that bring familiar faces and places to life.
- 🌈 *Ages 3-4*: “When” and “Why” emerge, challenging but rewarding, as your child begins to grasp the concept of time and reasons behind actions.

We know these questions can sometimes stump our little explorers. To guide them through, consider these tips:
- 🖼️ Visual Cues: Use pictures to anchor the conversation, providing clear context.
- 👍🏼 Consistency with Variety: Introduce varied examples but stick to one type of question to reinforce understanding.
- 🔁 Model and Repeat: Show them how it’s done, then let them try, fostering confidence and mastery.
- 🔎 Focus: Tackle one question at a time to avoid overwhelming their eager minds.
- 📚 Interactive Reading: Dive into stories together, making the adventure a two-way conversation filled with questions and discoveries.

If your child is showing difficulty with answering age-appropriate questions, our certified speech-language pathologists will be able to provide more clarity and create a plan of care following a thorough evaluation. Our team is here to support you and your child throughout their developmental journey!🌱🌟

In the journey of early childhood, children may express themselves through biting and hitting. This can be a part of exploring their environment or a way to cope with sensory overload and frustration. Here’s how we can guide and support them:

🔍 Understand “Why”: These behaviors stem from sensory sensitivities or difficulties in communicating their needs. Biting or hitting might be their way of discovering the world, expressing frustration, or seeking attention. Recognizing this is the first step towards effective management.

🕵️‍♂️ Detect & Respond: Observe patterns and triggers. Is it a response to sensory overload, a way of communicating, or a sign of unmet needs like hunger or tiredness? Understanding these triggers can help in managing their behavior more effectively.

🧸Sensory-Friendly Solutions: Offer sensory activities that are calming and engaging. This might include sensory toys, weighted blankets, or a quiet space to decompress.

🏃‍♀️ Physical Outlets: Engage them in physical activities like jumping, running, dancing or provide appropriate things to chew on. This helps in releasing pent-up energy and frustration.

🗣️ Clear Communication: Use simple, clear language to remind them about desired behaviors. Phrases like “Hands are not for hitting”, “No biting” or “Ouch, that hurts” can be effective. Visual aids can also be a great tool.

🤗 Model & Teach Empathy: Show empathy to anyone hurt and teach your child about the effects of their actions. Use straightforward and clear examples to illustrate this point.

💡Stay Calm, Be Consistent: Maintaining a calm and consistent approach is key. Your response sets an example.

🤝Seek Support: If these behaviors become overwhelming or persistent, our occupational therapists and speech therapists can offer significant help.

Every child is unique. Patience and understanding go a long way in supporting your child’s development. We’re here to help and guide you through this journey. 💙

Do you remember the classic wheelbarrow walking game from your childhood? Therapists dive a little deeper into this activity because there are so many developmental benefits to such a simple game! 🤸✨

🌈Here’s why it so awesome:

1️⃣ Wheelbarrow walking works a child’s proprioceptive system by sending signals from the
muscles and joints to the brain. This allows the body to regulate and become more
aware of where their body is in space by doing the heavy work.

2️⃣ The vestibular system is hard at work as the head is either in a downward or upward
position while the body is moving forward.

3️⃣ There is lots of bilateral coordination happening during this activity as each arm is doing
the same motion, but in an alternating pattern. The coordination helps create smooth
movements and keeps the child moving in a forward fashion.

4️⃣ Strength and endurance is key during wheelbarrow walking! It takes a combination of
core strength, shoulder and wrist stability, head control, balance, and hand strength to
play along.

5️⃣ The brain receives the signals from the body as it is moving. This helps build the motor
planning system as the brain realizes that moving the body in a certain way helps
accomplish a task!

6️⃣ Besides the benefits of the gross motor functions, this activity also incorporates visual
processing and convergence as the eyes work together to focus on a target object or
finish line.

🎲To make it extra fun:

🧩Create a puzzle adventure! Scatter puzzle pieces around and let them ‘Wheelbarrow-walk’ to gather them. It’s like a treasure hunt!

🏰 Set up a playful obstacle course with pillows, cones, ramps, and hula hoops

🚗🐻Incorporate their favorite toys – delivering cars to a garage or food to stuffed animals. Imagination meets exercise!

✨ Embrace the magic of developmental/education toys! Research suggests that incorporating holistic toys into your child’s play environment has several benefits as they promote more “doing” rather than “watching”.

Here are a few helpful reasons why these toys are some of our favorites:

🧸Less is more - Babies and toddlers are easily overwhelmed in a busy environment and given lots of choices of toys. Montessori, or wooden toys can be used in several ways.

💭 These toys encourage problem-solving and imaginative play which leads to creativity and boosts cognitive development! The creative nature of the toys helps lead to independent play as they explore the environment in a way that is age-appropriate.

🚂 Wooden toys help enhance fine motor skills as the child practices manipulation, stacking, pinching, or pulling. The simple set of blocks will soon become a royal castle or train, large wooden beads will be strung to make a beautiful necklace, or the wooden peg puzzle will soon be a mastered skill! It introduces children to early learning skills such as colors, shapes, and patterns.

There are many reasons why we just love having developmental toys as a part of our rotation! Children learn by hands-on play so we are always supporting the imagination and creativity of our little ones here at Progressive Steps.

Santa brought the holiday magic to this weeks groups, spreading joy and laughter with our littles ones and their families.🎅🏼✨♥️
Don’t forget to leave out his favorite cookies and milk on Christmas Eve! 🍪🥛🎄

A night to remember! 🌟A huge thank you to our incredible team for making our holiday party as special as the work you do everyday. Your efforts have been the heartbeat of Progressive Steps. Here’s to us and the wonderful memories we’ve created together this year! 💙

Today, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible families who have entrusted us with the privilege of supporting their children on their unique journeys. Your trust fuels our passion, and we are grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact in your lives. 🙏

To our dedicated team, your hard work and unwavering commitment are the heart of our mission. Together, we create a space filled with love, understanding, and growth for every child. ✨

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! 💙

🍂✨🌈 The holiday season is here, filled with delicious treats and family food traditions! But what if you have a little one who's a picky eater? Here are some fun activities to do alongside your child that will help get all their senses involved to try and find comfort in new things:

🐻 ‘Food Play’ with Animal Shapes: Create an open-faced sandwich with a Nutella bear face and banana slice ears, or let goldfish "dive" into a cup of blue jello for a swim! Make a rainbow-colored caterpillar using fresh fruits and veggies. Encourage your child to repeat the animal names or sounds, fostering language development and social skills.

☕ Tea Party Extravaganza: Set up a fun tea party with tiny teacups and small dishes. Whether you're playing pretend or letting your child eat at their leisure, transforming mealtime into a play scenario can reduce stress and make a world of difference.

🧸 Invite a Toy to the Table: Let your child's favorite toy join for mealtime! Demonstrate feeding the toy and encourage your child to follow suit. Creating a dialogue between the toy and your child promotes conversational skills and vocabulary building.

🎨 Condiment Painting: Bring out the condiments and set up small dishes for a "painting" activity using food. Use paintbrushes for an extra enjoyable touch! Pair ranch dip with fresh veggies, ketchup with a small meat patty, or nut butter with a crispy apple slice. Yum!
By engaging in the sensory experience of preparing, serving, and eating new foods, your child becomes more familiar with tastes, smells, textures, and sounds. Keep exposing them to new foods as they age, even if they seem hesitant at first.

If you're navigating the challenges of a picky eater, our therapists at Progressive Steps are here to support you and your child on their feeding journey. 🌈🍴

📚✨Embracing the season of gratitude and joy! 🌟 Did you know that weaving the magic of story time into your child’s routine, is like sparkling fairy dust on their developmental journey? 🧚‍♂️

According to the American Association of pediatrics, one in three children will start kindergarten without the skills they need to learn to read. We’ve gathered some insightful research based facts to share:

🧠 Supporting Cognitive Development: Dive into the enchanting world of books early on! It helps your child unravel the mysteries of the world, enhancing their vocabulary and cognitive perception.

💭🗣️ Improved Language Skills:
Reading to your child, starting in their early months of life, stimulates the part of their brain that allows them to understand the meaning of language to help build communication, literacy, and social skills. The reading of books introduces new language that is different from what they hear, and their day-to-day life, as it is typically more descriptive and grammatically structured.

📚 Prepare of Academic Sucess:
Studies show that more words that are introduced to a child early on, the stronger the language skills. 🚀

👩‍👧‍👦 Developing a Special Bond:
Picture this – snuggles, giggles, and the warmth of a shared story. Reading with your child is not just a task; it’s a cherish opportunity for loves attention and trust building. 💕

💭✨ Increased Concentration and Improved Imagination:
It might be obvious to you that, at a certain age it is very challenging for your little one to sit still for very long! By introducing regular reading, there may be a shift in their behavior that you begin to notice. Your child will be able to learn to sit and concentrate for a duration of the time, until the book is finished!
📖 Reading as an imaginative activity can help them use their imagination to explore new places, characters, and events be on their own experiences. This can stem into widening your child’s creativity, which can then benefit them as they become of school aged.

Join the festive fun! 🎉 What’s your family’s go-to book for magical moments? ✨

Halloween preparations and early trick-or-treat adventures in full swing at our center-based group program. Our little princesses and tiny superheros in action today! 🎃🍁🍭👻

🎃 Be in the Know: Pumpkin Season

Spooky season is upon us, and the time for Halloween decorating has arrived! 🦇 But before you set out your pumpkins and scarecrows, let’s dive into the profound meaning behind the blue and teal pumpkins.

🟦 TEAL Pumpkins: Ever heard of FARE’s Teal Pumpkin Project? It’s all about a safer and more joyful halloween for kids who are dealing with severe food allergies or sensitivities. When you spot a teal pumpkin on someon;es doorstep, it’s a heartwarming sign. This teal treasure chest means they’ve stocked up on non-food treats for trick-or-treaters (think glow sticks, slime, pencils, and more!). Keep an eye out for trick-or-treaters carrying teal pumpkin buckets; it’s their way of letting you know they have a food allergy.

🔵 BLUE Pumpkins: Now, let’s talk about the significance of blue pumpkins. These pumpkins are a symbol of children with Autism. Some of these little ones may not readily shout “trick or treat” when they approach your door, and some may be nonverbal. Bright lights, loud sounds, and certain masks/costumes can be overwhelming for them. Likewise, if a house is decorated with blue pumpkins at their door, this ensures that the house is sensory-friendly to meet the needs of our children who have certain sensitivities.

👻 Join us in spreading the message of inclusion this Halloween season and make it a fun and exciting experience for all! 💙

🎃 Kids in the Kitchen: Halloween Treats 🍪

Looking for a great home activity to do with your child to incorporate some therapy skills outside of the clinic? Grab an apron and head to the kitchen!

Baking is a great way to naturally practice social skills, follow step-by-step instructions, refine motor skills (rolling, cutting, mixing, and more), and dive into a great sensory experience!

Here is a quick Halloween recipe that is an easy, no-bake option to kickstart the spooky fun:

👻 Nutter Butter Ghost Cookies:

Only 3 Ingredients: 1 package Nutter Butter cookies*, 12 oz white almond bark or white melting chips, mini chocolate chips

📝 Steps:

1. Melt the almond bark or white melting chips following the package directions.
2. Dip the cookie into the melted white chips and use a fork to retrieve, making sure to let the excess drip off or squeeze white chocolate over the top arch of the cookie and the back side clean.
3. Place the coated cookie on a wax/parchment paper lined cookie tray.
4. Place 2 mini chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth or melt the chocolate chips and pipe three circles on each ghost cookie.
5. Let them set at room temperature or pop in the fridge to allow the white chocolate to harden.

🍓*Looking for an allergy friendly substitute? You can use strawberries or halved bananas instead!

We’d love to see you and your little sous chef working your magic in the kitchen! Be sure to tag us in your baking adventures — let’s create some memorable kitchen moments together! 👩‍🍳👦🏻

📸:

Ever wondered what "W-sitting" is all about and why it's essential to address it? 🤔

"W-sitting" refers to a child's posture when they sit with bent knees, feet pointed behind them, creating a "W" shape with their legs. But here's the catch:

🌟Children often prefer this position because it offers better stability due to a wider base of support, which might indicate lower core strength or overall muscle tone.

But why should we be concerned and encourage a change? Here's the scoop:

🦵It can lead to shortened leg muscles and ligaments, resulting in increased muscle tightness.
🦵Increased risk of hip dislocation.
Difficulty with trunk rotation during play.
🦵Limited bilateral coordination, as they get 'locked' in a forward-facing position.
🦵Poor weight shifting ability, which can later affect balance and body coordination.
🦵Delayed core muscle development as they rely on their legs for stability.

Here are some tips to help your child transition to a proper sitting position and strengthen their core:
1️⃣ Encourage them to sit cross-legged; show them, assist physically, and praise their efforts.
2️⃣ Include core-strengthening activities like yoga poses, animal walks, playing on hands and knees, and balancing on a yoga ball in their playtime.
3️⃣ Have them kneel with their feet tucked under while playing.
4️⃣ Promote tabletop play to encourage upright sitting with feet supported on the floor.

Always remember to consult with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's development. A pediatric therapy evaluation might be the right step to support your child's milestone achievements! 💕

CSUN Family Focus Resource Center Presents:
IEP (Individualized Education Program) Essentials - Empowering & Preparing Parents for their Child’s IEP.

October and November: Training will be available for parents to learn basic information about IEP, to more advanced strategies on steps you can take when you don’t agree with your IEP. participating parents will receive a FREE digital downloads to help you create your IEP binder at home!

At Progressive Steps Inc., we are proud to champion the future of early child development through research and education. Our incredible students are currently engaged in a research project focused on understanding the types of sensory strategies used by caregivers and the factors influencing implementation. 🧠💡

We invite you to support them by taking the survey found here:
https://naz.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3R9xpaGSiswJiia?Q_CHL=qr

Discover Adaptive Clothing for Your Little Ones! ✨👚👟

With all the buzz on ‘Back-to-school’ shopping, we’ve gathered a list of great brands offering adaptive-style clothing such as zipper/button side closures, adjustable paint legs, easy-access pockets for port or feeding needs, and shoes that adapt to fit AFOs or other bracing needs.

1️⃣ , , and offers adaptive clothing for kids. Keep in mind, most of their adaptive lines are available online. 🛒📲

2️⃣: Based in London, UK, they craft organic-cotton that caters to almost all adaptive needs. 🌎👕

3️⃣ For our little ones with sensory preferences, check out:
: Offering compression garments.
: Stylish and sensory-friendly options.
: Tag-less, flat seams, and more!
: Comfort and style combined.
: Soft, cozy, and tag-less for ultimate comfort!

5️⃣ And for those kiddos who wear AFOs or leg/foot braces, consider these brands:

: Functional and fashionable.
: Encourages heel to toe walking, designed with AFO and SMO braces in mind.
: Shoes that adapt to various bracing needs.

We’d love to hear other recommendations of where you’ve found adaptive clothing for your littlest ones. Drop them in the comments below! 🌈✨

Do you notice that your little one is walking on their toes after the age of two?🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

Sometimes children will resort to toe-walking because of a sensory disturbance (sensory processing disorder or autism spectrum disorder), a movement/muscular disorder such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, or just purely out of habit. Identifying the cause is crucial for their proper development.

After consulting with your pediatrician to help find a possible cause for toe-walking, it may be recommended to follow up with a pediatric therapist to help establish an age-appropriate walking pattern for proper development.

🌈Here are a few activities to try at home that can reduce toe-walking:

🐾 Animal walks: bear crawl or crab walk with all fours on the ground, leapfrog to “jump” forward
🛴Scooter board using bare feet while pulling forward
🪑 Play with your little one standing on a wedge or couch cushion
🏞️Walk across a balance beam or outside curb with a grown up’s help!
🚶‍♀️ Walk uphill or on heels
🖐 Pick up a scarf or washcloth with toes
🎨 Paint a picture using just the feet
🚶‍♂️ Walk backward down an incline
🦶 “Squish” playdough with heels

Your child’s development is important to us. Our therapists at Progressive Steps are filled with ideas to help you and your little one succeed!

Torticollis is a condition that causes an infant to tilt their head to one side while turning their face in the opposite direction due to tightness in the neck muscles.It can be present at birth or can develop in the first few months after birth. If your baby is diagnosed at birth, it is often because of a cramped position in the uterus, especially if the baby is positioned breech (upside down).

Fortunately, Torticollis is a treatable condition, especially when detected early. At Progressive Steps, our highly trained therapists specialize in providing individualized stretches, strengthening exercises, and positioning techniques to help your little one. We also create a customized home exercise program for ongoing care.

Here are some common symptoms of Torticollis that you may notice in your baby: tilting the head to one side when at rest, difficulty bringing the chin to the chest, trouble turning the head to track movement with the eyes, and showing frustration when attempting to turn the head fully.

It’s important to address Torticollis promptly as it can lead to other challenges, including delayed motor skills development (such as difficulties with rolling or tummy time), feeding issues, flattening of the head on one side or the back (plagiocephaly/brachycephaly), hip dysplasia, scoliosis, and uneven visual and vestibular development.

Remember to consult your pediatrician if you have any concerns. Our Physical Therapists at Progressive Steps are here to support you and are eager to assist you and your little one in their journey. 💙

🎉Congratulations to this little one on graduating from speech therapy! It’s truly heartwarming to witness the growth and progress Conor has made. We are proud to have been a part of Conor’s journey, and we’ll be cheering him on every step on the way! 👏🏼💙
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Posted • SO THIS HAPPENED TODAY 🥲💚🎉🥳👏🏼HE DID IT!

After about three years of private speech therapy at Conor is a speech graduate!

Our family is moving and I knew this would be his last session with Sonia, but when Conor walked out of their session showing off his certificate, I was so surprised and proud of him! 😍😭

He is thriving and ready for kindergarten in the fall and will continue his speech journey through his new school which will be a new experience getting speech therapy in a group session.

We are so grateful for a wonderful experience with two really knowledgeable SLPs in Apraxia who have worked with Conor to get him where he is today with their genuine love and care for him. Thank you and ! We love you both and will always have a special place in our hearts for Conor 🙏🏼❤️🎉

🌱Nutruing Little Voices: Unlocking Early Milestones 🗣️💬

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), it is normal for young children to have difficulty pronouncing some letter sounds. Here are a few that are key to keeping track of early milestones:

🐣Age 1-2: “p, b, m, h, w”
🐥Age 2-3: “k, g, f, t, d, n”

Talk to your pediatrician for any concerns in regards to your child’s speech and language. Remember, your child’s unique path is beautifully evolving! Our speech therapists are here to guide you.💙

Our occupational therapists here at Progressive Steps have obtained advanced training to implement Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) into your child’s therapy plan. We can help them stay on track by teaching this evidence-based program to improve handwriting abilities using a multisensory approach. This is a fun way to help children improve letter formation, legibility, letter sizing and word spacing! Keep the learning going even during summer break! 🌞📝✍️

To learn more about our programs and how we can support your child's development, contact our clinic. We're here to provide the details you need.📲💡

Let’s honor our Incredible Speech Language Pathologists! 🎉💬

This May, we celebrate National Speech & Hearing Month by recognizing our amazing Speech Language Pathologists and Speech Language Assistants for their dedication and incredible work supporting the families at PS 👏🌟

They work with each child to unlock the power of communication and fostering early language development. 🗣️💕 From guiding their first words to building vocabulary and enhancing social skills, this A-team continues to make significant impact on every child's journey. 🌈✨

Join us in showing appreciation for our exceptional Speech Language Pathologists and Speech Language Assistants! Let's celebrate their passion, expertise, and endless commitment! 🙌🤗💙



evelopment

Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible moms out there! Your unwavering love, selflessness, and endless sacrifices have shaped us into who we are today. Thank you for being our guiding light, our confidante, and our constant support system. Here's to celebrating all the moms who make the world a better place, one hug at a time! 🌞♥️🌻

🏊‍♂️👶 Did you know that the color of your child's swimsuit can help save their life? It's true! 👀

As parents, we mostly shop for “comfort” but a recent study suggests COLOR should be on the top of your list.

👉 Bright, easily visible colors like orange, yellow, and pink can help lifeguards and other swimmers spot your child quickly if they get separated from you or have trouble in the water.

👉 On the other hand, dark colors like navy, black, or dark green can make it harder to see your child in the water, especially in low-light conditions or when there are waves or shadows. Dark colors can also be mistaken for leaves, dirt, or seaweed.

🌊 So next time you go swimming with your little one, remember to choose a swimsuit that is brightly colored and easy to spot. It's a simple step that could make all the difference in an emergency situation.

👉 Have you ever thought about this before? Let us know in the comments! And don't forget to share this post with other parents who might find it helpful. 😊