About
Laughing Monitos
Through our uniquely designed playgroups we focus on the early development of language skills. We work towards proactively helping parents set their children up for success. Our playgroups offer exposure to speech, language and social skills.
The purpose of Laughing Monitos is to create a nurturing, inviting, fun and educational space for children and parents to learn about speech and language development
At Laughing Monitos, our mission is to create a vibrant and nurturing community where children and families come together to celebrate the joy of learning, play, and connection. We are dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and imaginative environment where children can explore, discover, and grow. Our commitment to fostering friendships, nurturing creativity, and sparking curiosity fuels our passion to deliver exceptional social playgroups and experiences. Through laughter and shared adventures, we aim to enrich the lives of the families we serve, leaving a lasting, positive impact on the hearts and minds of the children who are the future of our world
Our Mission
Our team of experienced speech-language pathologists will provide personalized attention and expert guidance throughout the program, ensuring your child's progress is maximized.
Expert Guidance
Your child will embark on a captivating journey filled with interactive activities, games, and songs that make learning a joyous experience.
Engaging Activities
Watch in amazement as your child's vocabulary expands, sentence structure improves, and communication confidence soars.
Language Expansion
Our program fosters social interaction among children, promoting friendships and enhancing social skills in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Social Connection
We believe parents play a vital role in their child's development. As part of the program, we provide parents with valuable strategies and resources to reinforce learning at home.
Parental Involvement
Meet The Expert
Judy Batista
Owner and Speech-Language Pathologist
I'm a first generation American born to Dominican immigrants. I was raised in a single parent home. Due to my mother’s impoverished conditions back in the Dominican Republic she was forced to leave school at the age of 10. With her basic reading and writing skills she independently managed to raise her two daughters, turning them both into college graduates.
In 2007, I graduated from Florida State University with my Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences. I’m a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist, currently working in the state of North Carolina. I’ve been practicing in the field of Speech Pathology for over 15 years. During my time as a student, I discovered a love for speech pathology that I had not known before.
While completing my undergraduate studies, I enrolled in a public speaking course given by a speech pathologist who had a significant stuttering problem. She has been an inspiration and guide throughout my professional life. Because of her tenacity, in spite of her significant speech impairment, I was reminded that it is possible to achieve success despite the limitations imposed by circumstances outside your control. As I dove headfirst into this field, I knew I had found my calling in life. This field was an excellent fit for my caring nature, since it satisfies my passions and my desire to help others. I began my career as a licensed SLP in a county hospital in Miami, Florida, where the majority of our patients come from economically disadvantaged communities. There, I was presented with opportunities to develop both professionally and personally, using my skill set as I helped those in my community who were struggling the most.
My family and I recently relocated from Miami, Florida to North Carolina in 2019. I am married to my number one supporter. We have a 5-year-old daughter named Ella. She is the love of our lives. My husband and I both share similar stories regarding our struggles as children of immigrants in this country. We have both persevered in life and accomplished so much with very little.
Continuing to give back to my community through my skills and experience is my ultimate goal. My business Laughing Monitos is a language development program designed for children from birth through 4 years of age. Our program is designed through playgroups with proactive language strategies for all stages in children’s development. Laughing Monitos is an inviting environment where infants and toddlers can unleash their full creative potential and for parents to gather information regarding language and speech development from a licensed professional. Playgroups at Laughing Monitos integrate language, play and social development through music, art, discovery, structured and unstructured play in children. Songs, chants, fine and gross motor movement activities, arts and crafts, unique props, puppets, sensory play, and individual instruction from our qualified speech-language pathologist are all part of our programs. Our strategies promote development of important milestones and life skills right from the start. It will all help families support their child’s development and growth.