Language Express
The Language Express Communication Checkup is Online!
The Language Express Communication Checkup makes it easy to check that your child’s development is on track, and to make a referral to Language Express if there are concerns.
Language Express News
May is Speech and Hearing Month in Canada
Attention Language Express Families
Are you interested in helping Language Express to plan for the future?
Language Express is looking for family representatives for our System Committee. The Language Express System Committee plans and coordinates speech and language services for children from birth Junior Kindergarten in Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville counties. The System Committee includes representatives of all of the agencies that provide preschool speech and language services in LLG, and representatives of a number of other agencies that serve young children (education, special needs, early childhood programs, etc.).
Language Express Services
Language Express provides both telepractice and in-person services. Your Language Express Speech-Language Pathologist will talk with you about what will work best for you and your child. Many families access both types of service. Please call the Language Express office for more information at 1-888-503-8885 or check out our Information for Newly Referred Parents.
The Whistle Stop Newsletter
Language Express Tip of the Week
It is apple picking season. Visit an apple orchard with your child. Talk about the shapes, sizes, and colours of the apples and bring some home for eating and baking. Make apple sauce or an apple pie together and let your child help with counting, measuring, stirring and adding ingredients.
Click here for more activity tips
Don’t Force It: Don’t try to make your child talk… WAIT, say what she would say if she could, then WAIT some more. Give your child a choice of things to wear, eat or do, then wait for her to make a choice by reaching, pointing or using words.
Find out what programs your Library is running this fall and sign up your toddler or preschooler. Look for these books while you are there; “Mouse’s First Fall” by Lauren Thompson; “Animals in Fall” by Martha E.H. Rustad and “When the Leaf Blew In” by Steve Metzger. Check out our local libraries online at the following links; Lanark County Libraries and Leeds Grenville Libraries.
Eye See Eye Learn program provides free eye exams and glasses for Kindergarten children. 1 in 4 children has a vision problem. Kids don’t often know what ‘normal’ vision looks like and won’t complain to their parents.
Take a walk on the wild side together. Play wild style Simon Says such as “Simon Says, Jump like a jack rabbit and slither like a snake”. Challenge your child’s listening skills by making the instructions longer and more complicated.
Limit Screen Time: Pediatricians recommend no TV or computer for children under 2, and less than one hour per day for children 2-5. Research on early brain development shows that babies and toddlers need direct face-to-face interactions with their parents and caregivers. https://www.cps.ca/uploads/about/ScreenTimePoster-EN.pdf
The Language Express Communication Checkup makes it easy to check that your child’s development is on track, and to make a referral to Language Express if there are concerns. Go to www.language-express.ca and click the “Communication Checkup” button to complete a checklist for your child’s age (6 months – 4 years).
Help your Child Learn How to Join in Play. Some children find it easy to join a group of children. For some children, joining in a game can be very challenging. Like other social skills, the skill of “joining in play” is one that can be taught – step by step. Learn more: https://connectability.ca/2010/09/23/joining-in-play/.
Get outside and play! Kids learn best when they’re having fun and experiencing new things. Check out these ideas!
Has your child started to stutter? It is common for preschool children to go through periods of stuttering, especially when they are tired, excited, or upset. Many children outgrow stuttering, but some do not. A speech-language pathologist can determine if your child needs speech therapy. It is important to begin therapy as early as possible. Click here to watch a short video about stuttering with ideas for things you can do to help.
Happy Father’s Day! Cooking with children helps develop their math skills and helps them to learn how to follow directions. It also allows for some great conversation! Make lots of comments about what you are doing while you cook together.
Language Express is a team of Speech-Language Pathologists, Communicative Disorders Assistants, and support staff working across Lanark, Leeds and Grenville. We provide speech, language, and social communication assessment and therapy for children from birth to Junior Kindergarten. Our services are funded by the Ontario government and are free for families.
We accept referrals for children from birth to September 1 of the year they enter Junior Kindergarten. Children must live in Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville counties.
Complete the Language Express Communication Checkup to determine whether or not your child needs help. You can also click below on “When to get help” or call our office at 1-888-503-8885 to ask questions or get more information.
- If you are concerned about speech/language/hearing development.
- If your child is not meeting all of the communication milestones for his or her age.
- If your child’s speech and language skills have not improved over the past six months.
- If your child is stuttering.
- If your child’s voice sounds different to you.
- If your child’s play or social interaction seems different from other children the same age.
- If your child has a diagnosis such as cleft lip/palate, hearing loss, Autism or developmental delay.
- If your child has a diagnosis such as hearing loss, Autism Spectrum Disorder, or developmental delay.
Complete the Language Express Communication Checkup. At the end of the checkup you will have the option to provide some contact information and make a referral directly online. You can also call our office at 1-888-503-8885 to make a referral. We accept referrals from parents/guardians, and from other referral sources (physicians, child care staff, and community professionals) with parental consent.
Coordinated Service Planning is available for families involved with more than one agency who would like help coordinating their child’s services. KidsInclusive is the lead agency for Coordinated Service Planning in Lanark, Leeds and Grenville. For more information, go to the KidsInclusive website or call the Language Express office.
1-888-503-8885 or 613-283-2742
