Child Development

The Power of Following a Child's Lead By: Gina Schumann, M.A., CCC-SLP This article was originally published in EP Magazine and is shared here with permission. If you'd like to read it in its original format, you can find it here: https://www.epmagazine.com/blog/the-power-of-following-a-childs-lead I had been working with Max (name changed to protect his privacy) for a little over a month. He was a sweet, bright autistic child who clearly understood much more than he was able

By Gina Schumann, MA, CCC-SLP About 15 years ago, during my clinical fellowship as a speech-language pathologist at a large, well-respected outpatient clinic, a group of colleagues and I were introduced to a brand-new tool to use in therapy sessions: an iPad. It was exciting. I remember watching therapists explore all the different features and apps. For whatever reason, I specifically remember checking out a Mr. Potato Head app that let you drag and drop body parts and faci

This article explores the idea of directing play less and allowing more opportunities for learning through self-directed play.

In this piece, expert speech-language pathologist Gina Schumann shares how small changes can make a big difference in a child's communication development.