🧠 This Week in Therapy: A Toy, a Tip, and a Big Win
At Hart Therapy Services, we believe in small moments that spark big growth. Each week, I’ll be sharing three quick insights from our therapy sessions: a toy we’ve loved, a tip I’ve shared with parents, and a client win that gave me goosebumps. Here's what stood out this week:
🧸 Toy of the Week: Suction Cup Balls on the Slide
A client reached for a pack of Target suction cup balls from my clinic shelf—and it turned into the best part of our session.
We used the slide in our therapy space to toss and watch them race down, which sparked so many language opportunities:
Initiation: eye gaze to request "more"
Early sounds: “wow,” “wee,” “woahhh”
Core words: “go,” “up,” “again,” “help”
Target words: “race,” “stuck,” “slide,” “fast,” “slow”
One client was fully engaged—throwing, watching, and waiting alongside me. That shared moment of joint attentionwas just as important as any spoken word.
These were a quick grab from the party favors section at Target—and they’ve been a huge hit because they’re simple, versatile, and fun.
Parent takeaway: Simple toys that do one thing well often give the most space for communication to emerge. Look for toys that slow the moment down and create opportunities for shared excitement.
💡 “I Know They Can Say It… So Why Won’t They?”
This is something I hear a lot from parents:
“They’ve said that word before—why won’t they say it now?”
Here’s the truth:
It’s rarely about refusing to talk. It’s about being able to access the words when they’re needed.
As humans, we almost always choose the most effective and easiest way to communicate—whether that’s gestures, sounds, pointing, or words. If your child isn’t using a word in the moment, it doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten it or are being defiant. It often just means they can’t reach it easily at that time.
If they could say it, they probably would.
When we create low-pressure environments, support their efforts, and build in language-rich routines, we give them a better chance to find and use their words.
Parent Tip: Communication is about connection, not correction. When you respond to what your child is trying to say—even when they don’t say it perfectly—you’re helping them feel safe and understood.
🎉 Client Win: A Spontaneous, Sweet “Hello”
Last week I visited a school at a slightly different time than usual. As I walked up, one of my clients happened to be arriving too—with a caregiver I hadn’t met before.
Without any prompting, she looked up and said my name.
It was her way of greeting me and introducing me to someone new—a real-world example of what we’ve been working on in therapy: greetings, introductions, and using communication for connection.
I don’t often target my own name with clients (it's not exactly a therapy goal!), but clearly she’d been paying attention. The moment felt genuine, spontaneous, and self-initiated. That’s what we’re aiming for.
There was no pressure. Just freedom, safety, and a confident little one using the tools she’s been building all along.
BIG win for this kid—and a very happy therapist.
Thanks for following along this week! Want to see more therapy tools, insights, and behind-the-scenes peeks? Comment below your questions for a chance to be featured in a future post. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and come back to the blog.
See you next week with more from the therapy room!
— Hart Therapy Services
