Navigating gaming and remote therapy with school-age kids (with Sam Helvie)

Whether we like it or not, gaming and devices are here to stay. As parents, therapists, and educators, we have to figure out how to help kids navigate these situations safely.That's why I invited Sam Helvie to the show to share his experiences as a speech-language pathologist, teletherapist, and gamer.Sam is a pediatric speech pathologist who has had a wide range of experience, but currently he serves a K-5 caseload in Southern California 100% online.He's done a lot of research on the differences between online and in-person communication, as well as social skills required to safely participate in online gaming.​​​​​​In this conversation, Sam and I discuss:✅Unexpected logistical challenges that come up when providing speech therapy online to high-needs areas.✅How to keep kids engaged in online therapy, while keeping therapy functional and relevant.✅How to help kids safely participate in online gaming communities, including the benefits and downfalls of online games for kids. ✅Practical suggestions for building speech and language skills using technology.To reach out to Sam, you can find him on LinkedIn here.You can also email him at helvie38@gmail.com.In this episode, Sam and I mention my Ultimate Guide to Sentence Structure, which outlines common sentence types that are challenging for kids with language processing issues. To get this guide and learn how to build the syntax skills kids need to have solid language comprehension skills, check out the Ultimate Guide to Sentence Structure here. 

Om Podcasten

On the De Facto Leaders podcast, host Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan helps pediatric therapists and educators become better leaders, so they can make a bigger impact with their services. With over 15 years of experience supporting school-age kids with diverse learning needs, Dr. Karen shares up-to-date evidence-based practices, her own experiences and guest interviews designed to help clinicians, teachers, and aspiring school leaders feel more confident in the way they serve their students and clients. She’ll cover a range of topics designed to help you support students' emotional and academic growth and set kids up for success in adulthood, including how to support language, literacy, executive functioning, and how to help IEP teams working together to support kids across the day. Whether you want to learn more effective strategies for your therapy session or classroom, be a more influential leader on your team, or find creative ways to use your skills to advance in your career, Dr. Karen has you covered.