The Speech Dynamic Blog

    Yes…   but only by a little bit   Girls tend to reach all of their language milestones first, including the number of words they produce, the number of words they understand, the number of words they combine, sentence complexity, and sentence length.   There are different reasons scientists use to explain these […]

Although biting and hitting are common concerns.  Children with speech delays are even more likely to exhibit “behaviors” like biting and hitting because they just don’t have the words to communicate. All behavior is communication.  It’s helpful to view behavior through this lens because it helps us find ways to address the underlying cause.  In children with […]

It’s that time of year! Time for pumpkin patches, cooler weather, and new books!  Books are such a great way to learn about new things and experiences. Books can also reinforce what your little one is learning about out in the world.  For example, if you are planning to go to a pumpkin patch, you […]

There’s no denying that traveling with a toddler can be tough! Here are a few ideas that might keep your little one entertained while traveling to your next destination!     Painter’s Tape: Make a track, shapes, letters, etc. I love all the colors in this set   Water Wow Books: So fun and no mess   Quiet Books: […]

    As a speech therapist specializing in working with toddlers, books are a go-to activity for me!  Here are a few that have become all time favorites over the years:   My First Learn to Talk Book: We typically hear little ones imitate fun sounds before they imitate words. This book, written by a […]

  All About Gestures: When a little one isn’t talking yet, we focus tend to put the focus on talking more. However, there are some foundational skills that little one needs before they start talking. One of these skills is gestures. Gestures come before️ words! In fact, Children who convey a wide variety of different […]

  Whenever a child is not meeting our expectations, it’s easy to assume it’s a behavior or he is simply refusing to do what we are asking. It’s easy to think they are being “stubborn” or “lazy.” What if we reframed this? What if we simply acknowledged that if they could, they would, and it’s […]

    When little ones are engaged, they are ready for learning. The longer they stick with an activity, the more opportunities there are for language and communication! We can use what they are already interested in to teach new skills. Here are some examples:     Expand the play: Model new ways to play: […]

    Labeling is only one aspect of language: Labeling pictures is great, but there are so many other reasons we use language! These include requesting, commenting, asking questions, answering questions, and sharing our ideas. Flashcards tend to only work on the skill of labeling.   Communication is an interaction: Communication is a two-way street […]