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Vacations create countless opportunities to build your child's language through everyday moments. Discover simple, practical ways to turn road trips, beach days, meals, and family adventures into meaningful communication experiences.

Discover how simple wooden toddler puzzles can help build receptive language, vocabulary, following directions, and early communication skills using easy, play-based strategies for parents and professionals.

Ever wish you could get more than “fine” when you ask your child how their day was? Building expressive language is all about helping kids share their thoughts, feelings, and stories in ways that make sense and sparkle with personality. The best part? You don’t need fancy tools or a classroom setting. With a little creativity and fund, everyday play and routines can become powerful language boosters. Here are 8 parent-approved, kid-loved tips to grow those expressive language

Around 25 to 30 percent of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are minimally verbal or do not speak at all. But does this mean they are not communicating? Meghan O’Neill, MD, Neurodevelopmental Disability Physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, explained "When a person with autism is nonspeaking, they do not communicate using spoken language, including vocalizations or sounds which have symbolic meaning. This does not mean that the individu

“Will speaking two languages hurt my child’s language development?” Many parents worry that using two languages will confuse their child or make language learning harder, but the good news is you do NOT have to pick just one language. Children with autism or developmental delays can learn two languages the same way other children do: through exposure, daily routines, and meaningful interaction with the people who love them. Speaking two languages does not delay language devel

As a speech-language therapist with nearly 30 years of experience, I find joy in every step of the journey. With my first global adventure to Ethiopia, I had the privilege of connecting with parents and professionals passionately advocating for change and striving to improve the lives of the children they care for. My trip to Ethiopia deeply impacted my professional life and direction. In September, 2023, I was invited to travel to Ethiopia to provide training for parents and

Here are few of my favorite websites with free printables, games and activities! www.freeslep.com/free-slp-articulation-and-phonological-processes/ Find videos, games, activities and more! www.mommyspeechtherapy.com Find articles, "how to's" and free downloads of speech sound practice worksheets www.speechera.com/free-articulation-worksheets/ Free articulation worksheets to use on the computer or print! www.heatherspeechtherapy.com/free-worksheets/ More free articulation work

The speech sound ladder is a visual representation of the step progression needed to practice and make progress with speech sound errors. Let's learn the best way to use this information! How the Ladder Works Start with the lowest level your child is able to produce a sound. Let's take the "s" sound for an example with all the levels. Sound Awareness: The ability to hear, notice, and recognize speech sounds in words is an important first step. Before children can clearly say

Children with autism often have lower receptive language skills than expressive language skills. They can appear as if they are not listening which can be frustrating to parents. If your child does not respond consistently to their name (or not at all), does not follow simple routine directions (e.g. "come here" or "sit down") or seem to understand what you are asking them, they may have receptive language deficits. Don't Ignore Your Child's Lack of Receptive Language Skills

I love reading as a way to build a child's receptive language skills. Whether it is at home reading before bedtime, or in the classroom with a grade level text - reading is extremely important to building receptive language skills! Key Way to Build Receptive Language by Reading: Choose Engaging Books your child will be interested in. If your child is not interested in the book, you may have a hard time getting them to read with you. Give them a choice of 2-3 books before yo

One of the best ways to build expressive language skills is reading with your child! Reading can significantly enhance and boost a child's expressive language and vocabulary skills. Here are some key benefits: 1. Exposure to New Vocabulary Reading introduces children to a wide range of words that they may not encounter in everyday conversation. This exposure helps them learn new terms and understand their meanings in context. 2. Improved Sentence Structure Hearing complex s

I absolutely love core communication boards because they are a great way to provide visual supports for children as they learn language. A core communication board is a visual representation of language with a set of words and pictures organized in a grid. It is organized in a very specific way that will support building language at the level your child is. The board contains "core" vocabulary words, which are the basic and frequently used words that make up a large portion

Simple Ways to Help Your Child Communicate Communication is more than spoken words. Some children need extra support to express their wants, needs, thoughts, and feelings. Low-tech AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) includes simple communication tools that do not require batteries or technology. These supports help children communicate more successfully throughout the day. The best part? Many low-tech AAC strategies are easy to start using at home. What Is Low-T

"Guess What I Did Today!” - The Magic of Expressive Language in Kids Have you ever waited (maybe a little impatiently!) for your child to finally tell you about their day? The back-and-forth communication with your child - that’s expressive language in action. Expressive language is more than just talking; it’s how kids share their ideas, needs, feelings, and stories with the world. And here’s the exciting part: as parents, you play a huge role in helping those little voices

Every parent dreams of their child growing, learning, and thriving. But here’s a fun secret: before kids can tell you about their day, share their favorite joke, or argue for one more bedtime story, they first need to understand the words and ideas flying around them. That’s where receptive language skills come in....the superhero foundation of all communication. Think of receptive language as the “understanding side” of language. It’s what helps your child follow directions,

Not everyone uses words to communicate. So how can we help our children who are not speaking or using a limited number of words to communicate? Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies can help children share their thoughts, feelings, and needs. Let's explore some AAC strategies, their benefits, and practical examples to enhance communication for those who need it. Understanding Augmentative and Alternative Communication Augmentative and alternative commun

“Can you say that again??? ”If you find yourself asking this often, you’re not alone. When your child is hard to understand, it can feel frustrating for both of you. Your child is trying to share ideas, stories, and needs… and you’re trying your best to keep up. That gap can lead to tears, guesswork, and a lot of “wait, what?” The good news? With simple strategies and regular practice, your child’s speech can become clearer over time. Use Visuals for quick practice Articulat