Welcome Back!
Welcome back to all our Chatterbox families for Term 2!
We hope you had a lovely Easter break and are feeling refreshed and ready to smash some therapy goals this term.
We’re also excited to share that we have welcomed new team members on board…
Which means we currently have a ZERO waitlist!
Notices
Term two Public Holidays:
- ANZAC Day – 27/04/2026
- King’s Birthday – 08/06/2026
If your therapy session falls on a public holiday, your therapist will do their best to rebook your appointment.
Cold & Flu Season Reminder
Winter is fast approaching and so are those flu germs!
At Chatterbox, we offer online therapy sessions for families who are unable to attend the clinic. Current research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face sessions.
We understand it may look a little different and that change can sometimes be challenging. What’s most important is that your child continues to receive the support they need to build skills and maintain their progress.
Childcare Screeners
Our team has been busy visiting local childcare centres, providing speech and occupational therapy screeners.
One of the biggest benefits of early intervention is that if a screener identifies an area of concern, support can begin sooner rather than later leading to better long-term outcomes.
Screeners also help educators and parents better understand a child’s needs, allowing them to adapt strategies and environments to support development.
If you would like our team to visit your child’s centre, we’d love to help!
Reach out to us at: info@chatterboxspeech.com.au
Therapist Spotlight
Meredith - Occupational Therapist at Parramatta
Top Tips for Winter Sensory
- Dressing in winter for Sensory Sensitive Children can be a
challenge. Some adults see clothing as “warm,” however the child may experience
it as distracting, irritating, or overwhelming. Sensory-friendly clothing often
works best when it is soft, predictable, easy to remove, and low in extra
sensory input such as tags, hardware, stiff cuffs, or internal seams.
Look for flat seams, tag-free designs, soft waistbands, stretch fabrics, and simple cuts. - Prioritise soft, breathable base layers rather than thick or stiff outer layers straight on the skin Where possible, build warmth through layering thin soft items rather than one bulky jumper
- For children who dislike getting changed, keep the routine predictable: same order, same place, same preferred items
Sensory focused clothing brands:
- JettProof (Australia) — well known for sensory-focused clothing and seamless socks
for children and adults, often used by therapists and families supporting
children with sensory needs. - Sensory Friendly Clothing Australia — an Australian sensory-clothing brand focused on reducing irritation and improving comfort for people with sensory needs
and anxiety.
Jorja – Occupational Therapist at Kingswood
OT resources for Home
Working on your child’s therapy goals at home doesn’t have to break the bank! Here are three affordable resources you can use to keep making progress from home:
Suction construction Toy – $10.
Can be used at home to work on:
- Pinching (to encourage skills like buttons, zippers, pencil grasp and overall finger strength). Pinch and stick, or pinch and throw toy onto window or wall
- Balance and reach: After placed or thrown onto a window or wall, child can balance on tip toes, pillows, or balance beam and reach to get them. This builds stability and support outside of their center of gravity, while also building upper arm strength and precision.
Play & Learn Matching Eggs – $10
Can be used at home to work on:
- Colour and shape recognition: “This one is red. It’s a circle. It’s a red circle”
- Scanning skills and matching (can you find the yellow egg with the triangle, which one is the same?)
- Hand strength to open the eggs and put them back together
Alphabet Puzzle
– $10
Can be used at home to work on:
- Letter identification. Can make this trickier by hiding pieces/ making a scavenger hunt. “Can you find the T”.
- Name identification: Help children find letters of their name, or get them to scavenger hunt the letters of their name. Then help them build their name with the letters. “ B + E + N spells Ben!”
- Writing practice of name/ letters: Can trace letters with finger or pen. Assists children with correct letter formation (e.g. “T starts at the top,
then across” or “P starts at the top and goes down, then back to the top and around”
School Readiness programs;
Kingswood & Bella Vista
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Social interactions and turn-taking
- Emotional regulation and resilience
- Independence in self-care tasks
- Early literacy skills
For more information please contact your clinic or
speak to your therapist at your next session!
speak to your therapist at your next session!