The Language of Play - Kids that Listen, Speech Therapy, Language Development, Early Intervention

Hey Friends~  You’ve told your child what comes next, but they’re still not moving. Then the tears start, and a simple morning routine becomes a struggle - again.   What if your child needs more time and support to do what you’re asking? Today’s guest was once that child, having those big meltdowns. Getting ready for school could become so overwhelming that her parents carried her to the car, and...

Hey Friends~  Would you love for your child to learn another language, but wonder how to help when you don’t speak it yourself?  You can begin learning together, and everyday moments offer a place to start. In this episode, fellow speech-language pathologist Lindsey joins me to explore how parents can introduce another language through the things their little ones are already doing, noticing, and...

Hey Friends~  How many words should your 2-year-old be saying? There are developmental norms - and those numbers matter. But words don’t come out of nowhere. There are foundational communication skills developing underneath spoken language that help those words grow. In this episode, we’ll talk about what’s typical at age two, what actually builds vocabulary, and where to focus when words are slow...

Hey Friends~  Does your child come home from school and suddenly seem like a different kid? They're whining. Fighting with siblings. Ignoring directions. Melting down over something tiny. And you're thinking, “You know how to do this. Why is everything so hard?” What if that behavior isn't just something you need to stop? What if it's giving you information about what your child needs in order to...

Hey Friends~  Homeschooling is a choice more families are considering, and it opens up some interesting conversations about how children learn best. In this episode of The Language of Play, we explore freedom and flexibility in learning, following a child's curiosity, and paying attention to the individual child rather than assuming one approach works for everyone. My guest, Amanda Schenkenberger,...

Hey Friends~  What if your child’s wildest, most ridiculous ideas are actually a doorway into learning? In this episode, I talk with Josh Davidson, co-founder of Night Zookeeper, about using imagination, creativity, and play to help children develop reading and writing skills. We explore how drawing, talking, and writing about their ideas gives children multiple ways to express themselves, expand...

Hey Friends~  Why does your child fall apart over transitions they know how to do - or do every day? Getting out the door, leaving the playground, turning off the tablet, or getting ready for bed can be a battle.   In this episode, you’ll discover why transitions can be so difficult, seven reasons your checklist or visual schedule may not be helping yet, and simple shifts that can make routines ea...

Hey Friends~  Have you ever thought about what your baby is actually experiencing when you sing to them? Because it turns out, your baby doesn’t care whether you think you can sing. Your baby wants to hear you sing.  And those little moments of singing, playing, smiling, and simply enjoying each other can do far more than fill the time. They can help build secure connection, support emotional regu...

Hey Friends~  Back-to-school season brings a lot of change—and sometimes, a lot more meltdowns, “NOs,” and moments when your child suddenly seems unable to do something you know they can do. - and it seems like they are REFUSING TO DO.   But what if the problem isn’t ACTUALLY refusal? In this episode, we’ll explore why transitions can be so challenging for kids—and how all that change can make it...

Hey Friends~  Do you want your child to cooperate with you—or simply comply? The difference may be more important than we realize.  Katherine Sellery explores what happens when parenting relies on power over children and introduces the 3 R’s: Resistance, Rebellion, and Retaliation—responses that can grow when children feel controlled. This episode offers a different way forward: moving beyond obed...

Hey Friends~  What if the books you're already reading with your child could become one of your best speech therapy tools? In this episode, I'll show you simple ways to use story time to help your child hear speech sounds more clearly, try new sounds, and practice the ones they're still learning—all without adding another thing to your day. We'll also talk about why these strategies work for many...

Hey Friends~  We all want our kids to become lifelong learners. But what does that actually mean? It isn't about checking boxes or finding the perfect curriculum. It's about raising children who believe they can learn anything, anywhere, anytime. In this conversation with Kami, we explore how to build a family culture that develops curiosity, critical thinking, strong values, and confidence before...

Hey Friends~  Have you ever called your child's name outside...once...twice...five times...and wondered if they even heard you? Between the wind, the playground, the garden hose, the neighborhood noise, and kids who are completely absorbed in what they're doing, it can feel impossible to get their attention without yelling. What if there were a better way? What if one simple, unique signal could m...

Hey Friends~  What if the fastest way to help your child become calm... is to begin with yourself? In this episode, Ann shares the power of co-regulation and reminds us that our state is contagious. The good news? Calm is contagious, too. You'll discover simple ways to release tension from your own body, use your breath to create a greater sense of peace, and even learn a beautiful visualization t...

Hey Friends~  Today we are investing in you first, because the healthier you are, the healthier your parenting becomes. With that in mind, the first part of this episode focuses on you as a human being—as an adult. I think that's valuable. After all, before we're parents, we're people. And that's what leads us to an important question: What if becoming a calmer, more regulated version of yourself...

Hey Friends~  Have you ever noticed your child can sing every word of a favorite song but struggles to say those same words in conversation? Or maybe your child isn't talking yet, avoids back-and-forth interaction, has difficulty with rhythm or imitation, or simply learns differently than other children. What if music could become a bridge? In this episode, we explore how music creates a safe spac...

Hey Friends~  Have you ever been so tired you'd try just about anything to get your child to sleep?  You're not alone! My guest, pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi, knows that feeling firsthand. She spent two years struggling with her own child's sleep before discovering there was an entire field of pediatric sleep support that most parents—and even most pediatricians—never hear about.  You'll al...

Hey Friends~  Have you ever found yourself thinking, "Why isn't my child listening?" Or wondering why they can do something one day but seem completely unable the next? Before we assume it's defiance, laziness, or a bad attitude, what if we asked a different question: What if communication is what's hard? For the past three months, we've been exploring the many ways communication can get disrupted...

Hey Friends~  Your child hears you say something... but did they actually get the message?  Sometimes communication breaks down because children can't fully access language. It may be hearing loss, difficulty processing information, speech delays, or simply not yet having the words they need. In today's episode in the series When Communication is Hard, we're exploring how access impacts communicat...

Hey Friends~  Some kids can talk—but don’t in certain situations. Maybe they suddenly go silent at school, church, or around other people. In this episode of our When Communication Is Hard series, we’re talking about selective mutism and anxiety-based communication challenges. These children may have the words, know what they want to say, and still feel unable to access their voice in certain situ...

Hey Friends~  Most of us don’t remember what it felt like to learn language for the very first time as young children. We focus so much on letters, books, and what children see—but are we overtraining eyes while undertraining ears? After experiencing a brain injury that forced her to relearn language from the beginning, today’s guest, Emily Cadiz, gained a life-changing understanding of what it tr...

Hey Friends~  If you’ve ever wondered whether your child’s mouth breathing, poor sleep, unclear speech, or constant frustration could mean something deeper… this episode is for you. Today, I’m talking with Luba Patlakh about tongue ties, therapy, when parents should seek help, and what real support looks like—whether surgery is involved or not.  We also talk about practical communication strategie...

Hey Friends~  Many parents think reading begins with letters, flashcards, and sounding out words. But the foundation for reading actually begins much earlier—through listening, sound play, hearing sound patterns, understanding language, building vocabulary, and everyday conversation. So whether you have a toddler and want to give them the strongest start possible… or you have an older child who st...

Hey Friends~  When communication changes or a child suddenly loses words after a seizure, brain injury, pediatric stroke, or regression, it can leave families feeling scared, confused, and unsure what to do next. In this episode, we talk openly about what these communication changes can look like, what helps the brain heal, and how parents can support their child without adding pressure during alr...

Hey Friends~  In this episode, we’re talking about communication in children with Down syndrome, genetic syndromes, and learning differences. I’ll share how cognition, memory, and learning style shape language development—and why repetition, consistency, and strength-based support make such a difference. This is about meeting kids where they are and building communication step by step. Always chee...