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 bold beginnings—and wow, did we grow!

When we officially launched Move Play Say, we dreamed of creating a space where children could learn and grow through movement, connection, and play. In just one year, those dreams have taken shape in bigger ways than we imagined.

Here’s what we accomplished in Year One:

This year, we rebranded from Speech with Stac to Move Play Say, embracing a fresh mission and a clearer vision that shaped everything from our social presence to the launch of our blog. With our new name came new energy and a growing community.

We welcomed many new clients and families into our practice, each bringing unique stories, strengths, and smiles that reminded us daily of the reason for building our unique brand. 

We offered our very own Sensory Speech Camps and Classes, thoughtfully designed to provide language-rich experiences that engaged both children and caregivers. These classes were filled with laughter, movement, and meaningful moments of growth.

In our effort to build a collaborative local network, we strengthened professional relationships by leading the Long Island Therapist/Providers group. As the group’s admin, we hosted our first in-person networking event and cultivated a spirit of collaboration over competition.

We were proud to give back to our community through donations of raffle prizes to local schools and businesses. During the holiday season, we raised $2,000 to purchase toys for children in hospitals and foster care, bringing moments of comfort and joy to families in need.

We also became an approved CPSE provider in Nassau County, expanding our ability to serve children through their school districts and increasing access to supportive services.

And perhaps most exciting of all, we secured our very first clinic location. Our brand new office at 520 Franklin Avenue in Garden City opens this July, and we are thrilled to welcome families into a space designed with purpose, play, and connection at its core.

This first year was filled with growth and not just for our clients, but for our practice. Every child’s first word, every moment of connection, every shared success with a family reminded us why we do what we do. We’re building something special here and we’re just getting started.

Let’s Talk About the Summer Slide

As school routines pause for the summer, it’s important to remember that children, especially early learners, can experience regression in communication, play, and feeding skills without continued support. This is often called the “summer slide.” For our little ones, even just a few months without structured interaction or therapeutic services can mean lost progress or slower gains.

The good news? Summer offers wonderful opportunities for continued learning! Language and speech skills thrive with consistent exposure, daily interaction, and playful practice.

Whether your child is working on early words, expanding sentences, navigating feeding challenges, or growing social skills, continuity matters. This summer, you can support progress with simple, meaningful routines. Narrate daily activities like getting dressed or cooking, and pause during books or songs to let your child fill in words. Offer choices such as “Do you want the red cup or the blue cup?” to encourage expressive language. Invite your child into the kitchen to explore textures and tastes, or model trying new foods during snack time. For social skills, set up short playdates, visit the library, or practice turn-taking and greetings during everyday outings. With a little creativity and consistency, summer can be both restorative and full of meaningful learning.

We Appreciate You

To our MPS families….thank you for trusting us, for partnering with us, and for being part of our very first chapter. Your support and belief in our mission means everything.

Summer is here, and we’re keeping the momentum going. Whether you’ve been with us from the start or are just joining in, we’re so glad you’re here. Here’s to the magic of beginnings, and to a future full of movement, play, and saying what matters most. We can’t wait to see what next school year brings!

With so much gratitude,

Stacia Maillis, M.A., CCC-SLP

Owner + Lead Therapist