Talking Toddlers

Why do you have to repeat something over and over until you find yourself yelling? Why are they tuning us out? Although we need to be mindful of early signs of true developmental issues - MOST kids have LEARNED to not listen ... and the truth is, we kind-of trained them to tune us out. Yep - that's right. You read that correctly. In today's episode I share 5 simple steps to get your chil...

Communication is a two-way street.  So why are so many toddlers struggling at finding their words? Are you uncertain if your toddler is on track developmentally, or are you looking for confirmation? Do you compare to other kids his age ... or hear that voice in your heading, "all kids eventually talk, right?" You are not alone; most new parents are 'guessing' and 'doing th...

Episode 022 PLAY is the WORK of your child … In this episode, I expand on what types of play is best for the 12 - 18 month old AND why they need you to play with them. It’s a very exciting growth period with a lot of Aha moments.  Your toddler is constantly moving, doing, and trying things out … don’t inhibit this exploration. He is busy building his brain circuits! Also - I explain why they need...

Did you know that the lack of play can make us more vulnerable to depression, anxiety, impulsivity and sedentarism? Do you feel pressure to orchestrate your time with your toddler, or perhaps you were told "they figure it out on their own" - let them be kids. As we continue our discussion into the Science of PLAY I share the need for both ... some structure AND free style play... but the...

PLAY is as critical as sleep & nutrition to your child’s healthy development. In this episode, I continue to share the 7 Types of Play identified through Dr. Stuart Brown’s work at the National Institute For Play by exploring #4 SOCIAL PLAY. Social Play - one of the most complex forms of play, helps your child establish social norms, develop interpersonal skills, and helps him create successfu...

In this episode Erin introduces the strong connection between the PRACTICE of PLAY and the emotional and cognitive development of  the brain. PLAY is anything but trivial. It's a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. PLAY SCIENCE is a real thing - and we all need to take note - no matter what age, with or without children, at work and at home. This is the first epi...

In this episode I remind moms to put on your oxygen mask first ... As the summer comes to an end and we start to transition back to school schedules, whatever that may look like for you and your family, change is hard. Give yourself time to adjust. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with your family. Be patient with your little ones. Be realistic. This episode is a reminder that parenting is a j...

Why do some kids persevere, figure it out, or seem to be unflappable? Are some kids just born that way? Can we become more resilient? Can we humans change our perception, develop grit and tenacity - or is it fixed at birth? In this episode, I dive deep into some of the original research behind the FIXED vs GROWTH MINDSET by Dr. Carol Dweck; how we can use her large body of work to benefit our pare...

Can you separate brain facts from brain fiction? In this episode I cover how several brain myths , or neuromyths, won't go away and have led us to ineffective or even counterproductive strategies as parents, teachers, and students. Don't fall for them! Challenge yourself to think logically as I walk you through 5 Neuromyths that persist - even when debunked years ago! So why do misconcep...

I am often asked, "What would you do if you were in my shoes?" If I could take my 35 years of clinical practice,  continued education and training, plus my personal parenting experience - without a doubt, these would be my TOP 10 PARENTING ESSENTIALS. They aren't in any specific order, but they do relate to one another. Parenting through these first three years is often exhausting,...

This episode covers why parents need to step up and be their child's strongest (and best informed) advocate. We can't rely on "systems" such as your pediatricians, early intervention, preschools, or educators. Too many of them take the "wait & see" approach, are spread too thin, or simply don't have the knowledge to inquire further. Parents who have a better...

In this episode we cover the four (4) main parenting styles and how they influence your toddler's learning. I always use "labels" with a word of caution , but they can be helpful when we are learning something new or searching for a better understanding.  The quadrants are on a continuum, a kind of slider ruler. We can change according to the situation, developmental stage, number o...

In this episode we continue to make a strong connection with eating / chewing and speech development from 18 - 24 months of age. Understanding that kids' preferences may wax and wane doesn't change your style of parenting. Parenting with consistency requires us to set the boundaries around healthy choices while allowing exploration. Parents who understand how structure, function and deve...

In this episode we continue the series on the connection between eating and speech development. There is a massive developmental explosion - again - between 9 and 15 months and parents feel better prepared and act with confidence when they know what to expect. Toddlers can be unpredictable at times, yet when families have a plan and are able to develop routines, you find peace more often than not....

In this episode I share the truth about Fruit & Vegetable Pouches. I cannot speak how eating/chewing and speech development are connected without sharing the truth on pouches…  we’ve been duped! Babies and toddlers MUST experience a variety of food tastes, textures and consistencies in order to build a healthy relationship with real food - as well as exercise their oral-motor skills, LITERALLY...

The human being is an intricate system of systems - and navigating this modern world keeps parents on their toes - or at least it should. Whether you're thinking about having a baby, just became a new parent , or a parent of a first grader - this episode will help shed light on how the developmental parts fit together.   We often need to step back and get different perspectives to see the who...

This episode topic is SO CRITICAL that I ended up creating a series which will be covered over the next several weeks. You won't want to miss any of them! This episode is Part 1, and we dive deep into your baby's or toddler's relationship between early eating (sucking and chewing) and speech development. Why? Because we are "hard-wired" to do both AND one feeds the other (...

In this episode I share the importance of understanding how speech skills and language development differ. Parents are pivotal in laying this foundation, especially in the first few years, so you don't ever want to leave it to chance. When you  know why babbling is an important precursor to his first words - you'll want to sing, read, and giggle all day long with your little one. When yo...

Reading To Babies And Beyond - The Top 4 Purposes In this episode, I share specific purposes behind reading to your baby and beyond. No matter what age you start, reading aloud gives you the best bang for the buck - regarding time, money and effort. It cannot be understated. Remember what your END GOAL is … build a love for literacy, rich vocabulary, positive attention, imagination and healthy con...

In this episode, I share that although newborns / babies are designed to acquire speech and language naturally, it takes effort ... by all parties - the caretakers and the baby / toddler. Human babies are born highly unfinished ... they are still under construction. We understand better how everyday experiences wire our brains (neuroplasticity) and create neuro-connections and networks (learning),...

This episode continues from last week, discussing the 10 Must-Haves to Get to First Words . Children don't just wake up on their first birthday and start talking ... there is A LOT of serious work, growth, and development that can sometimes get lost in the shuffle between feedings, diapers, sleeping and just keeping your little one safe! Last episode we covered the first 5, so if you haven&ap...

In this episode, I introduce the first 5 precursors a baby must have to be Developmentally Ready to Talk  for you to consider. This modern world can be confusing, and I don't want you to leave it to chance or to feel uncertain. Some parents may not be aware how much they can do with their babies to build a strong language foundation and help establish a true connection.  Growth and developmen...

Talking Toddler’s host, Erin Hyer, shares why she is starting her podcast now… April 2022. If you're a new mom of a young toddler or preschooler and feeling a bit overwhelmed, uncertain, or perhaps looking for confirmation on how well your beautiful toddler is really doing - maybe questioning the “wait and see” recommendation by your pediatrician, or feeling a bit guilty for sheltering him du...