From Food Fears to Family Cheers: Speech Therapy in NYC for Picky Eaters This Holiday Season

Holiday meals can be a stressful time for children with sensitive tummies, digestive concerns and limited food repertoires

Holiday meals can also sometimes be overwhelming to highly sensitive children that may be highly attuned to changes in their environments.

These environmental changes could include new people, novel faces, loud voices and a variety of cooking smells – all commonly experienced during large holiday gatherings.

So, what can parents do to make holiday mealtimes more comfortable, enjoyable and enticing for their highly sensitive children?

Here are some tips and tricks that I like to give parents to create a calm and enjoyable holiday mealtimes experience:

Firstly, make sure to clearly communicate the day’s schedule and expected activities for that day.

This will help create a sense of structure and familiarity for your child. Maybe discuss where you are going, who will be there, and what type of foods will be served.

Giving a differently abled child information about what to expect throughout the day is an extremely important step and will be calming to their nervous system.

Provide your child with some safe food options to bring along with them – foods that you know they will enjoy eating. Maybe that’s their favorite cracker or smoothie pouch – whatever it is – bring it along!

Let them bring their favorite snacks along for the ride. This will create a feeling of comfort and safety, while also allowing other new experiences to be had.

Encourage your child to “lightly try” a new food. There will be many opportunities to sample novel tastes – for sure – during this holiday season.

Consider allowing them to “sample” a new food in different ways. Sampling a novel food can include: looking at it, touching it, smelling it, or taking a small bite.

I invite you to proudly accept this brave new food try – remembering that these new environments may have many new faces, noises, and smells to boot!

Be mindful that these compounding sensory stimuli can be overwhelming for a highly sensitive child.

Lastly, I recommend designating a “small calming spot” for your child.

In the case of sensory overwhelm or overload your child can always choose to take a moment, pause, breathe and regroup.

If your child becomes dysregulated or overwhelmed during a holiday meal they can use a designated calming spot – to stop, pause, breath and gently come back to center.

I invite you to try these tips and tricks at your next holiday meal to encourage more calm and joy during this holiday season with your little ones!

Sincerely,

Heather Lynn Boerner MA CCC/SLP

Virtual Speech Therapy in NYC for Real-Life Routines

Communication doesn’t happen in a therapy room alone. It unfolds at the breakfast table, during playtime on the floor, and in quiet moments before bed. Children learn to express themselves through everyday interactions, long before words feel polished or consistent. At Chatty Child, we offer virtual speech therapy in NYC that meets families exactly where they are, seamlessly fitting into daily routines while supporting authentic, confident communication.

Our therapists use mindful, play-based, and regulation-informed approaches that translate easily from the screen into real life. Whether your child is practicing language skills from the couch, exploring movement during a yoga break, or chatting while helping in the kitchen, therapy becomes part of their natural world, not something separate from it.

Here’s how to get started with virtual speech therapy in NYC:

Schedule a free 15-minute phone call to talk through your child’s communication needs, strengths, and how virtual speech therapy can fit into your family’s daily rhythm.
Book a comprehensive virtual speech and language evaluation to better understand your child’s communication style, sensory profile, and areas for growth, all from the comfort of home.
Begin personalized online sessions that blend expressive language development, mindful communication strategies, and gentle regulation tools that carry over into everyday moments.
See your child build confidence in their voice, improve emotional regulation, and strengthen connection across real-life settings, not just during sessions.

Your child doesn’t need a perfect setup or a rigid schedule to grow. With virtual speech therapy in NYC, meaningful progress can happen anywhere your family already gathers. When therapy adapts to real routines, communication skills have the space to grow naturally, joyfully, and sustainably.

Helping Children Grow and Thrive at Chatty Child in NYC

At Chatty Child, we support children as they develop communication skills that help them feel confident, engaged, and understood. Our comprehensive approach to speech therapy focuses on the whole child, recognizing that language growth is deeply connected to emotional regulation, learning, and everyday relationships.

We collaborate with families to create individualized care plans that nurture self-expression, developmental progress, and confidence across home, school, and community settings.

Our services include:

InterAct – A playful, narrative-based program that uses storytelling, imagination, and interactive activities to strengthen language skills, social connection, and confidence.
Occupational Therapy – Individualized support for sensory integration, fine motor skills, and functional independence in daily routines.
In-Person Speech Therapy Sessions – Face-to-face therapy in NYC that allows therapists to engage children through hands-on play, real-time interaction, and movement-based learning.
Tutoring – Personalized academic support in reading, writing, and critical thinking to encourage curiosity and build strong learning foundations.
Functional Nutrition – Thoughtful nutrition guidance designed to support focus, emotional regulation, and developmental needs.
Consulting – Collaborative support for caregivers, educators, and professionals to promote consistency and alignment across environments.
Group Programs – Creative, small-group experiences that foster communication, social-emotional skills, and cooperative play.

By combining evidence-informed practices with warmth, creativity, and individualized care, Chatty Child helps children strengthen their voice, build resilience, and move through the world with confidence.

Meet Heather Boerner, Online Speech Therapist in NYC

Heather Lynn Boerner, MA, CCC-SLP, is a licensed and nationally certified speech-language pathologist with more than 20 years of experience providing pediatric speech therapy in NYC. Her clinical work is shaped by training in mindfulness and meditation, a trauma-informed perspective, and her lived experience as a neurodiverse, differently-abled individual — all of which inform her deeply responsive, whole-child approach to care.

Inspired by her personal journey, Heather founded Chatty Child Speech, Occupational & Physical Therapy, PLLC, a practice rooted in inclusivity, creativity, and individualized support. Her work extends beyond the therapy space as the author of Carrie the Colorful Chameleon, a children’s book designed to foster self-confidence, curiosity, and connection, complete with a companion guide for caregivers and educators.

Together with her team, Heather provides in-person therapy at the Tribeca clinic as well as virtual services across New York State, supporting children as they strengthen communication skills, build confidence, and share their voice with greater comfort and clarity.