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Explore tips, insights, and resources to support your child’s speech, language, and feeding development!


Growing Words Like a Garden: Helping 3–5 Year Olds Flourish in Language
A child’s language development is a lot like growing a garden. You cannot rush it. You cannot force it. But with the right environment and daily tending, it will bloom beautifully. Between ages 3 and 5, vocabulary growth explodes. Research shows that most 3 year olds use anywhere from 200 to 1,000 words, and by age 5 many children use around 2,000 or more words expressively. During these preschool years, children move from simple sentences like “I want juice” to more complex
Stacia Maillis
Mar 5


Move, Play, and Say… the Seuss Way!
Why Shared Book Reading Builds Powerful Speech and Language Skills At Move Play Say, we believe the best language growth happens in connection. Shared book reading is one of the most powerful ways to build speech, language, literacy, and confidence all at once. Inspired by the playful rhythm and rhyme of Dr. Seuss, let’s explore how reading together supports communication from preschool through elementary years. Research consistently shows that children who are read to regula
Stacia Maillis
Mar 2


Baking Up Speech and Language Skills at Home This Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to connect and bake something sweet with your little ones! But beyond the sprinkles and heart shaped cookies, baking offers incredible opportunities for speech and language enrichment at home. When children cook alongside an adult, they are exposed to rich vocabulary, turn taking, sequencing, and meaningful conversation. The best part is it feels like play. Below are easy, age appropriate ways to support speech and language development th
Stacia Maillis
Feb 4


Snow Days and Speech Development
How cozy indoor play builds language for young children Snow days invite us to slow down. The pace is different, routines are lighter, and children often stay home with more time to play, move, and connect. These moments are powerful for speech and language development because young children learn best through shared experiences and interactive play. With a few simple materials and intentional language, a snow day can become a rich learning environment for all! Supporting Spe
Stacia Maillis
Jan 26


Why January Is a Great Time for a Speech & Language Screening
January often brings a sense of reset for families. Routines settle back in after the holidays, schedules become more predictable, and parents have space to reflect on how their child is really doing. For some children, this may also be their first back to school or even their very first school experience, which can bring new communication demands. This time of year is especially important for noticing retention or regression of skills after breaks and how children transition
Stacia Maillis
Jan 5


Why Movement Matters in Winter: Indoor Gross Motor Games That Support Speech for Ages 1–5
As the weather gets colder, families naturally spend more time indoors. While cozy days at home can be magical, they can also mean less movement, less exploration, and fewer natural communication opportunities. For young children ages 1–5, movement is more than just “getting the wiggles out.” It directly supports early speech, language, attention, and social development. Here ’s why winter movement matters—and a few easy indoor gross motor games that build communication skil
Stacia Maillis
Dec 3, 2025


Thankful Talk: Building Gratitude Vocabulary in Children
November is the perfect time to slow down, reflect, and practice gratitude as a family. For children, gratitude is more than saying “thank you.” It’s about understanding emotions, recognizing kindness, and expressing appreciation with words. Encouraging gratitude not only supports social-emotional growth but also builds meaningful speech and language skills — especially for children ages 3–10 who are learning how to share their thoughts and feelings with clarity. Why Gratitud
Stacia Maillis
Nov 5, 2025


Halloween with Preschoolers: Supporting Sensory Needs
October brings so much excitement for little ones—pumpkins on doorsteps, twinkling lights, costumes, and the promise of fun. But for...
Stacia Maillis
Oct 2, 2025


Speech Homework in Busy Schedules
September is here, and for many families, that means a whirlwind of new school routines, homework assignments, big projects, and...
Stacia Maillis
Sep 3, 2025


From Summer to School: Easing the Transition with Simple Routines
As the long, playful days of summer wind down, many families find themselves navigating the sometimes-bumpy transition back into the...
Stacia Maillis
Aug 1, 2025


Now Available: First Foundations Handbook. Your Go-To Guide for Supporting Little Ones Ages 1 to 5
We are so excited to share that our brand new E-Book, First Foundations: The Ultimate EI and Preschool Handbook , is officially here....
Stacia Maillis
Jul 29, 2025


Why Shared Book Reading Matters and How to Make the Most of It
At Move Play Say, we believe that one of the most powerful ways to support your child’s speech and language development is simple: read...
Stacia Maillis
Jul 1, 2025


One Year of MPS: Building, Growing, and Celebrating
As we close out our very first school year as Move Play Say, we’re overwhelmed with pride, joy, and deep gratitude. This year was one of...
Stacia Maillis
Jun 3, 2025


Celebrate National Speech-Language-Hearing Month with MPS
May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! This is a time to raise awareness about the importance of early communication and feeding...
Stacia Maillis
May 1, 2025


Move Play Say Has a Home! Our First Location in Garden City
We are beyond excited to share some incredible news—Move Play Say officially has a home! Our first location at 520 Franklin Ave, Suite...
Stacia Maillis
Apr 1, 2025


Life Unscripted: Embracing the Path
We had the perfect first blog with a scheduled launch day. We map out our futures, set goals, and envision the perfect timeline—only to...
Stacia Maillis
Mar 12, 2025


Exciting News from Move Play Say!
Big things are happening! We’re launching a brand-new blog to share tips, insights, and updates on speech and language development. Stay...
Stacia Maillis
Jan 31, 2025
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