Oral Motor Exercise Guide for Parents

Fun ways to help your child strengthen lips, tongue, and mouth muscles for clearer speech!

🕓 How Often?

Complete ___ repetitions of each exercise, ___ times a day (as recommended).

Hold each position for 5–10 seconds, then relax.

Encourage your child to do them in front of a mirror — make it fun!

👄 Lip Exercises

1. Big Mouth Stretch
   💋 Open your mouth as wide as you can, hold 5–10 seconds, then close.
2. Lip Squeeze
   💋 Press your lips together tightly, hold 5–10 seconds, then relax.
3. Lip Pucker
   💋 Pucker your lips tightly, like for a kiss, hold 5–10 seconds, then relax.
4. Big Smile
   😀 Smile as wide as you can, hold 5–10 seconds, then relax.
5. Pucker–Smile Alternation
   😀 Alternate between a big pucker and a wide smile: pucker → smile → pucker. Hold each for a few seconds.

👅 Tongue Exercises

1. Tongue Out
   👅 Stick your tongue out as far as possible, hold 5–10 seconds, then pull back.
2. Side-to-Side Stretch
   ↔️ Stick your tongue out to the left, then right. Hold each for 5–10 seconds.
3. Up and Down Stretch
   ⬆️👅 ⬇️ Move tongue up toward your nose, then down toward your chin.
4. Side-to-Side Movement
   😜 Move your tongue side to side, touching each mouth corner.
5. Tongue Circles (Inside Mouth)
   👅 🔁 Move your tongue in a circle inside your mouth (between teeth and lips).
   👅 ➡️ Halfway through, switch directions!
6. Tongue Circles (Outside Mouth)
   👅 🌀 Circle your tongue around your lips “licking lips.” Change directions halfway.
7. Roof Swipe
   👅 Swipe your tongue from behind your teeth along the roof of your mouth, from front teeth to back of mouth.

 👅 Tongue Depressor Exercises

1. Press Up
   🔼 Stick out tongue, place depressor on top, press up, hold 5–10 seconds.
2. Press Down
   🔽 Place depressor under tongue, press down, hold 5–10 seconds.
3. Press Left
   ⬅️ Place depressor on left side of tongue, press against it, hold 5–10 seconds.
4. Press Right
   ➡️ Place depressor on right side, press against it, hold 5–10 seconds.

😊 Cheek Exercises

1. Cheek Puff
   🫧 Puff both cheeks full of air and hold for 5–10 seconds, then release.
2. Cheek Puff Switch
   ↔️ Move the air from one cheek to the other without letting it escape your lips.
3. Cheek Suck-In
   😯 Suck your cheeks in tightly, making a “fish face.” Hold for 5–10 seconds.
4. Blowing Practice
   🎈Blow through a straw, blow bubbles, or pretend to blow out birthday candles.
5. Cheek Resistance
   🪄 Puff your cheeks and have someone gently press on them while you keep the air in. Hold for 5–10 seconds. 

💡 Tips for Parents

🪞 Use a mirror so your child can watch their mouth move.
🎵 Turn exercises into a game or song.
⭐ Praise effort, not perfection — consistency matters most!
🦷 Try during daily routines (after brushing teeth, before bedtime).

 Questions?

Contact your Speech Pathologist for guidance or to adjust the routine.

Tips For Teaching Students Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing - Guidelines for Effective Communication in the Classroom & Beyond

GETTING ATTENTION

Gently tap the student’s shoulder, wave, or use a visual cue before speaking.

CHECK ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Ensure the student has access to their hearing aid or cochlear implant.

Confirm that any FM system or assistive listening device is properly connected.

Keep microphones or transmitters close to your voice source for sound clarity.

INTRODUCE THE TOPIC

Let the student know what subject or topic you're discussing so they can follow.

HOW TO SPEAK EFFECTIVELY

Face the student directly. Even a slight turn of your head can make lip-reading difficult.

Keep your mouth visible - avoid covering it with hands, objects, or facial hair.

Speak slowly and clearly - don’t yell or over-exaggerate.

Use short, simple sentences when possible.

MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT

Eye contact helps with connection and understanding - speak directly to the student.

LIGHTING MATTERS

Avoid standing in front of bright lights or windows - shadows make lip reading hard.

IF THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND

Repeat once, then rephrase if needed.

Don’t hesitate to use paper, pencil, or digital tools to clarify.

USE NON-VERBAL CUES

Gestures, facial expressions, and body language keep communication engaging.

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING

Ask open-ended questions instead of yes/no to confirm understanding.

SEATING TIPS

Seat the students where they can clearly see the speaker’s face.

VOCABULARY & CONTENT SUPPORT

Provide new vocabulary in advance whenever possible.

Share lecture outlines or scripts ahead of time.

AVOID TALKING WHILE WRITING

Don’t talk with your back turned - explain after writing or using visuals.

WRITE IMPORTANT INFO

Write down key announcements or special assignments.

SLOW THE PACE

Speak a bit more slowly and allow extra time for students to ask or answer questions.

REPEAT QUESTIONS

If someone asks a question, repeat it aloud so everyone can follow.

 

Remember: The goal is inclusion and understanding, not perfection.

Be patient, flexible, and open to using multiple methods to communicate.

"Helping Your Child Find Their Voice: A Parent’s Guide to Building Confidence, Communication, and Self-Advocacy"

 Managing Social Anxiety

1. “Calm Down Kit” for Transitions or Overwhelm
Create a small kit she can carry or access in class, with:

• Fidget toy or squishy ball
• Laminated “calm-down” visuals
• A small photo book of happy memories or favorite people
• Visual step-by-step breathing guide

2. Practice “Brave Talk” Scripts
Prepare short, easy-to-remember phrases for situations that cause anxiety:

• “Hi, my name is ____.”
• “Can I play with you?”
• “No, thank you.”
• “Can you help me, please?”
• “Can I go to the bathroom, please?”

How to Practice:
Role-play these during playtime, in front of a mirror, or with a trusted family member. Praise effort even if she just attempts the first word.

Vocalizing Needs

1. Use “I Need…” or “I Feel…” Sentence Starters
Place these on the wall, table, or on her AAC device.

Visual Prompt	Example Phrases
“I need…”	“I need help,” “I need a break,” “I need space”
“I feel…”	“I feel worried,” “I feel excited,” “I feel mad”

2. Communication Cards for When Speech Feels Too Hard
Make or print simple cards she can hand to an adult:

• “I need help.”
• “I need a break.”
• “I want to be alone.”
• “I don’t know what to do.”

3. Empower Her to Make Choices
Offer frequent, low-stakes choices to practice expressing preference:

• “Do you want to wear the red or blue shirt?”
• “Would you like to sit here or there?”
• “Do you want a hug or space?”

Even if she gestures or points at first, you can model the language:

“Oh, you picked the red shirt! You can say, ‘I want red.’”

Self-Advocacy Skills

1. Teach Her to Say “No” Respectfully
Children with anxiety often go along with things to avoid conflict. Practice ways to say “no” or set boundaries:

• “No, thank you.”
• “I don’t want to play that right now.”
• “That makes me uncomfortable.”

Use dolls, pretend play, or storybooks to practice this in a safe way.

2. Give Her a “Help Button”
This can be a literal laminated card or symbol she can hand to someone or tap on her AAC device when she needs support. 

3. Teach Her About Body Signals and Personal Space
Use a mirror or pictures to help her recognize when she feels overwhelmed (e.g., clenched fists, tight chest, needing to fidget) — then link those to self-advocacy:

“When your hands feel tight like that, it might mean you need a break. You can say, ‘I need a break.’”

Collaborating with School and Public Settings

1. Practice Scripts for Asking Adults for Help
Prepare and practice:

• “Can I talk to the teacher?”
• “I don’t understand.”
• “I need a break, please.”

2. Use Visual Schedules for New or Stressful Events
Before a birthday party, school event, or doctor visit, walk her through what will happen using visuals. Prepare “What can I do if I feel nervous?” strategies.

Book Recommendations (for Kids & Parents)

• For Kids:
• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (for separation anxiety)
• What to Do When You Feel Too Shy by Claire A. B. Freeland
• Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival
• My Mouth Is a Volcano by Julia Cook (for turn-taking, self-control)
• For Parents:
• Helping Your Anxious Child by Ronald Rapee
• The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel

Closed-Set and Open-Set Tasks To Assess Hearing and Language Skills in Children and Adults with Hearing Impairments

Closed-set and open-set tasks are used by audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to assess hearing and language skills in children and adults with hearing impairments, especially those using cochlear implants. In speech therapy, a closed-set task provides a limited, specific number of response options for a patient to choose from, making it easier to identify what was said. An open-set task, in contrast, presents the patient with unlimited possibilities for both stimuli and responses, requiring more complex processing to understand. Closed-set tasks are often used for initial evaluations, especially in children, while open-set tasks are more challenging and assess real-world speech recognition ability. 

Closed-Set Tasks

Description:

The therapist presents a limited number of choices, such as pictures or word lists, and the patient selects the correct one. 

Example:

A child is shown four pictures of different animals and asked to point to the one the therapist names. 

Advantages:

Easier for patients, especially those with hearing loss or underdeveloped auditory skills. 

A good tool for initial evaluations and assessing children with limited receptive vocabulary, such as the World Intelligibility by Picture Identification (WIPI) test.

Considerations:

May not accurately reflect real-world speech recognition skills because the choices are restricted. 

Open-Set Tasks

Description:

The patient is asked to repeat or identify spoken words or sentences without any visual aids or a limited set of options. 

Example:

Asking a person to write down or say a sentence spoken out loud in noisy conditions. 

Advantages:

A more difficult and realistic assessment of a person's ability to understand speech in real-world environments. 

The use of multiple talkers and unfamiliar environments can help with the generalization of learned skills to new situations. 

Considerations:

More challenging and less precise for identifying a change in hearing compared to open-set tests. 

Summary Table 

Feature	Closed-Set Task	Open-Set Task
Number of Choices	Limited, predefined set	Unlimited possibilities
Difficulty	Easier, less challenging	More difficult, more challenging
Application	Initial evaluation, pediatric testing	Assessing real-world speech perception, cochlear implant outcomes
Example	Pointing to a picture from a small set	Repeating a sentence in a noisy room

Family Trip to Puebla & Spanish Immersion — July 2025

Puebla is a colorful, cultural city away from mass tourism, filled with history, colonial charm, and delicious cuisine. Just two hours from Mexico City, it’s a perfect destination for Spanish learning and exploration.

Drink only bottled water, no street food, no ice drinks, no fruits from the street. Boil the water. If you're sick, getting to the doctor's is cheap.

Travel to Puebla

Taxi from Mexico City Airport: ~2 hours, €100–160

Coaches: cheaper and luxurious

Public transportation: More affordable (~€10–20), takes a bit longer

Spanish Immersion Program

LIVIT Spanish Immersion Center

Privada Nuevo León #18, Col. El Carmen, C.P. 72530, Puebla, Mexico

T +52 (222) 290 6060, Fax +52 (222) 491 2006

Program Details

• 2–3 students per instructor
• Schedule (Mon - Fri):
• 9 am –1 pm: Classes
• 1 – 2 pm: Lunch (Mon/Wed/Fri meals by Chef Flora)
• 2 – 4 pm: One-on-one conversations OR cultural tours (Mon–Wed)
• **Thursday excursions outside Puebla

Cultural & Historical Attractions

Churches

1.    Iglesia de Santo Domingo & Capilla del Rosario

Baroque masterpiece built between 1571–1659. The gilded Capilla del Rosario is an ornate highlight once considered the 8th wonder of the world.

2.    Templo Convento San Francisco

Built 1535–1760, this richly decorated church is one of Puebla's oldest religious sites.

3.    Cathedral Basilica of Puebla

A city icon with 70-meter towers. Construction of its towers took nearly two centuries!

Art & Markets

• Mercado de Parian

Traditional artisan market — ideal for unique souvenirs like Talavera pottery.

• Barrio del Artista

Puebla’s creative quarter filled with local artists and open studios.

City Center Highlights

• Zócalo de Puebla

Puebla’s historic main square. Lively spot with restaurants, performances, and colonial architecture.

Zona Histórica de los Fuertes

Where the famous Battle of Puebla (Cinco de Mayo, 1862) took place.

• Monuments, museums, and large green areas
• Explore the battle site and its significance in Mexican history

Biblioteca Palafoxiana

The first public library in the Americas (1646). Free; very small.

• UNESCO-listed
• Holds over 45,000 rare books and manuscripts
• A must-see for history and book lovers

Puente de Bubas

500-year-old tunnels, formerly used to isolate those with the plague (“bubas”).

• Open to public since 2016
• Small museum + rooftop view
• Be prepared for a musty smell but an interesting visit!

Street Art in Puebla

Puebla's historic core is full of colorful murals and striking graffiti.

Great walking tour or self-guided stroll for photos and art lovers.

Lucha Libre Show

Once a week, ARENA PUEBLA https://cmll.com/ . Tickets go fast, so buy them online or at the window in the morning. If sold out, buy from the dialers, double the price but worth to see it. The balcony has a good view. The show starts at 7 pm. Line up at least 30 minutes earlier.

Ecological Parks in Puebla

These city parks combine recreational areas with environmental conservation. Big/to relax.
Perfect for:

• Walking, running, or cycling
• Family picnics and playgrounds
• Learning about local ecosystems

Key parks include:

• Parque Ecológico Revolución Mexicana
• Jardín del Arte
• Parque Centenario Laguna de Chapulco

Teleférico de Puebla

Cable car ride with panoramic views over the city. 

• $38 MXN one-way | $57 MXN round-trip, € 2.50
• Tue - Sun: 10:30 am – 9:30 pm
• Two gondolas hold 35 passengers each
• ~3 - 5 minutes ride time

Hiking Iztaccíhuatl Volcano  

Tough alpine hike with epic views of Popocatépetl; best for experienced hikers.

 

Day	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday	Spanish class	City orientation tour	Dinner in Zócalo
Tuesday	Spanish class	Barrio del Artista & Parian	Ride the Teleférico
Wednesday	Spanish class	Visit churches (Santo Domingo, etc.)	Cultural performance
Thursday	Spanish class	Excursion to Zona de los Fuertes	Explore street food
Friday	Spanish class	Biblioteca Palafoxiana & Puente de Bubas	Free time/shopping
Saturday	Ecological Park	Visit Ecological Park (Whole day)	Group dinner
Sunday	Day trip	Visit pyramid & church in Cholula

Travel Tips

• July is rainy season — bring rain gear & light jackets
• Stay hydrated and use sunscreen even when cloudy
• Use Uber or Didi for safe, affordable rides
• Local specialties to try: mole poblano, cemitas, chiles en nogada (seasonal), and tamales
• Many museums offer discounts for students, teachers, and INAPAM holders
• Most museums are closed on Mondays