Unlocking Your Toddler’s Full Potential: The Magic of Occupational Therapy

A 2026 meta-analysis found structured exercise produced large gains in motor skills in autistic children. Here's what it means for parents and therapists.

The answer may surprise you. One of the biggest concerns parents have about Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is: "If my child starts using an AAC device, will they stop trying to talk?" It's an understandable fear. Every parent wants to hear their child's voice. Many worry that introducing a communication device means they're giving up on speech. The good news is that decades of research continue to show the opposite. AAC does not prevent children from learning to talk. In fact, many children who use AAC develop spoken language just as quickly, or even more quickly, because they are finally able to communicate successfully while speech continues to develop. Now, exciting new research published in 2026 adds another reason for families to feel hopeful. It found that preschoolers using AAC can learn much more than requesting their favorite toy or snack. With the right therapy, they can begin building sentences and expressing more complex thoughts.

Chapter 1: Why Do Some Children Use Standers?

For many families, mealtime can feel more stressful than enjoyable. Parents often worry when their child suddenly refuses foods they used to love or insists on eating only a small handful of familiar items. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we understand how confusing and frustrating picky eating can feel. Our Feeding & Mealtime Wellness Visit helps families turn mealtime struggles into calm, confident routines where children can explore food without pressure and parents can feel supported.

In today’s tech-filled world, many parents notice the same pattern at home: when there’s a quiet moment, children often reach for a screen. While technology can be helpful in moderation, play remains one of the most important ways children grow, connect, and learn about the world. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Play Development Wellness Visit helps families understand how play develops and provides simple, practical strategies to encourage creativity, independence, and connection—without the daily battles over screen time.

For many families, learning to ride a bike is one of childhood’s biggest milestones.It represents freedom, confidence, independence, and fun.But for some children, bike riding can also feel frustrating, scary, or overwhelming. Parents often wonder:

In today’s digital world, children are spending more time typing, tapping, and swiping, and less time writing by hand. Many parents notice the effects quickly.

When parents think about kindergarten or preschool readiness, most think about academics first:

Summer is a time for fun, family vacations, pool days, and a much-needed break from the school routine. But for many children, summer can also bring something educators call the “summer slide” the loss of important academic skills during the months away from school. For children who struggle with reading, language, or literacy confidence, those gaps can grow even wider over the summer months. That’s why Progressive Pediatric Therapy created our Summer Private Reading Intensive — a personalized, one-to-one literacy experience designed to help children strengthen foundational reading skills while building confidence and momentum before the new school year begins. Using the trusted Lively Letters® approach, our summer program combines evidence-based literacy instruction with engaging, multisensory learning strategies that help children stay motivated and successful.