Tag Archives: developmental delay

“Is Something Wrong with My Child?” Expert Advice from Dr. Ellenmorris Tiegerman

Readers: The following is an interview with Dr. Ellenmorris Tiegerman, Founder and Executive Director of the School for Language and Communication Development. She is an expert in the field of early childhood development, and her insight and wisdom is tremendously valuable. Hello, Dr. Tiegerman. Introduce yourself, and tell us a little about the school you founded. Hi, everyone. I am the Founder and Executive Director of the School for Language and Communication Development (SLCD) which provides educational services for children 18 months to 21 years with language and autism spectrum disorders. I started this program in 1985 when I was … Continue reading →

FLOOR TIME: Promoting Logical Thinking

This is the fifth and last blog in my 5-part floor time series. (“Floor Time” refers to getting down on the floor with your special needs child, and becoming his or her personal play therapist.) There is so much you can do as a parent to help your special needs child develop communication, motor, and social skills—and you only need to play with your child using a few particular techniques! If you’d like to start at the beginning of my five-part series, click here. At this point in your floor-time sessions, your child should be tolerating your presence, taking turns … Continue reading →

What in the World is an IFSP?

In the world of special education, abbreviations abound. You might schedule an IEP for your ADHD child after EI and obtain OT services in compliance with IDEA, for example. It’s a special needs alphabet soup. I remember as a young mother of a child with a disability, that I often became confused by it all. IFSP is a term most every parent of a special needs child will have to become familiar with. IFSP stands for Individualized Family Service Plan. What is it? The typical scenario is that a doctor will first diagnose your infant or toddler with a developmental … Continue reading →

“Play Dumb” and Encourage Your Child’s Language Development

I know, I know. Parents are supposed to be brilliant, with all the answers. Parents know what to do and when to do it. So what is all this about “playing dumb?” Well, there are certain times when holding back your parental smarts might just be a good idea. Example One: Maggie Let’s say three-year-old Maggie has a language delay, and she wants to play outside. She begins loudly banging on the back door. It’s very obvious what she wants. Her mother, annoyed by the noise, says, “Do you want to go outside, Maggie?” And Maggie groans and knocks louder. … Continue reading →