4.5 Years: "Near Perfect" Articulation
Belle is doing well and has been enjoying some spring-like weather in February! She has managed to stay healthy this season (minus her chronic runny nose). Belle's good health has allowed her to go roller skating for the first time, participate in her preschool's Valentine's Day party, perform with her dance class on stage for 300+ people, and cheer on her older siblings at wrestling tournaments and basketball games.
I haven't noticed any big changes in her speech or language abilities lately, but she seems to be continuing her progression. Belle likes to make up stories about who she is going to marry and how she needs to go to the doctor/dentist because she hurt her arm, has a loose tooth, etc. etc. While watching her older sister's basketball practice last week, she hollered, "Come on girls; find your man!" Completely out of the blue. I enjoy her creativity. There is never a dull moment with Miss Belle.
Here is a quick video of Belle working on very short two word phrases. We are shooting for "near perfect" articulation here .
-Lanie Beetsma
Annabelle has Down Syndrome and has been using TalkTools Therapy since she was born. Her story is a great inspiration for parents seeking help for a child with Down Syndrome. Follow Miss Annabelle’s journey from the beginning here.
Explore more
- #downsyndrome
- #TalkToolsWorks
- /d/
- /l/
- /n/
- /t/
- 5 Years Old
- 6 years old
- ABC
- ABCs
- airflow
- alphabet
- Anabelle
- Annabelle
- Annabelle Beetsma
- Annabelle updates
- Annabelle's Monthly Updates
- Annabelle's Progress
- Annabelle’s Progress
- annual IEP meeting
- apraxia bilabial shapes
- apraxia shapes
- apraxia tactile tubes
- Apraxia therapy
- Apraxia tools
- Apraxia tubes
- articulation
- audiovisual speech therapy
- baby development
- baby feeding
- baby food
- baby stages
- baby with Down Syndrome
- back to school
- back to school routine
- behavior
- Belle
- Belle Beetsma
- Belle updates
- birthday
- Bite Blocks
- bite tube set
- bite tubes
- blended sounds
- blog
- blowing bubbles
- blowing candles
- Bubble Bear
- bubble blowing
- Bubble Blowing Hierarchy
- bubble hierarchy
- Bubble Kit
- bubble therapy
- chewing exercises
- chewing hierarchy
- chewing skills
- chewy tube
- chewy tubes
- child independence
- child with Down Syndrome
- Christmas
- communication
- communication skills
- counting
- crossbite
- dairy free diet
- dance recital
- dentist check up
- dentist visit
- Disneyland
- Down syndrome
- Down syndrome child
- Down Syndrome communication
- Down Syndrome girl
- Down Syndrome Mom Blog
- Down syndrome parent
- Down Syndrome speech therapy
- down syndrome student
- Down Syndrome therapy
- Down syndrome toddler
- Down syndrome toddlerhood
- Down syndrome walk
- Dr Kinder
- drinking
- elevation and lateralization
- family reunion
- family road trip
- Feeding
- feeding exercises
- feeding issues
- feeding skills
- Feeding therapy
- finger cuff
- first sleepover
- four year old
- Girl with Down Syndrome
- gluten free diet
- green tool
- Gum chewing
- gum exercises
- honey bear
- honey bear cup
- Honey Bear with Flex Straw
- horn #1
- horn #2
- horn #3
- horn #6
- horn 1
- horn 2
- horn blowing
- horn hierarchy
- horn kit
- horn therapy
- hown blowing
- individualized education plan
- infant development
- infant feeding
- infant toothbrush
- intelligibility
- Jaw
- jaw grading bit blocks
- jaw strength
- Julia Kinder
- kindergarten
- kisses exercises
- Lanie
- Lanie Beetsma
- lip closure
- Liz Smithson
- mealtime
- mom blog
- Monica Mitchell
- Monica Purdy
- mouth breathing
- mouth posture
- name puzzle
- NSOME
- number puzzle
- open mouth posture
- OPT
- oral motor
- oral motor exercises
- oral motor program
- Oral Motor Therapy
- Oral Placement
- oral placement exercises
- Oral Placement Therapy
- oral sensitivities
- oral speech therapy
- oral stimulation
- Oral-Motor
- original horn kit
- palate expander
- parenting
- playing dolls
- potty training
- preschool
- preschool screening
- pretend play
- pureed food
- puzzles
- reading
- reading skills
- receptive language
- recessed lid cup
- red bite blocks
- s sound
- Santa
- self feeding
- shape puzzle
- siblings
- special needs mom
- Special Needs Mom Blog
- special needs student
- speech
- speech assessment
- Speech Clarity
- speech development
- speech program
- speech therapist
- speech therapy
- speech therapy at home
- speech therapy exercises
- Speech Therapy for Down Syndrome
- speech therapy homework
- speech therapy success stories
- speech therapy video
- spoon slurps
- straw #2
- straw #6
- straw cup
- straw drinking
- Straw Hierarchy
- Straw Kit
- straw therapy
- summer schedule
- summer setback
- summer time
- Summer Vacation
- surgery
- swallowing
- table food
- talk tools
- TalkTools
- TalkTools bite blocks
- TalkTools Bubble Kit
- TalkTools client
- TalkTools community
- TalkTools exercises
- TalkTools homework
- TalkTools Horn #3
- TalkTools Horn Hierarchy
- TalkTools Horn Kit
- TalkTools program
- TalkTools program plan
- TalkTools purple cup
- TalkTools success stories
- TalkTools tactile tubes
- TalkTools Therapy
- teaching numbers
- therapy success story
- therapy toothbrush
- three year old
- three year old birthday
- three year old girl
- toddler
- toddler drinking
- toddler with Down syndrome
- toddlerhood
- tongue placement
- tongue protrusion
- tongue retraction
- Tongue Thrust
- tongue tip elevation
- tongue tip lateralization
- Tongue Tip Lateralization & Elevation Tools
- tongue tip tool
- tonsils
- toothette
- tradition
- traditional speech therapy
- two year old
- typical child
- typical classroom
- typical students
- Underbite
- verbalization
- visual aid
- vocabulary
- Walt Disney World
- Whitney Pimentel
- yellow chewy tube
Leave a comment