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Holiday Travel Changes Everything — Including Communication Holiday travel often looks like: • airport lines • long car rides • delayed flights • busy houses • new sleeping spaces • loud environments • unpredictable schedules Every one of these increases cognitive + sensory load for  all ages  — toddlers, school-aged children, teens, and adults. When the brain is out of routine, communication becomes more effortful and emotional regulation becomes more fragile. This is

Why the Holidays Change Screen Time Use for Everyone (All Age Holiday schedules can bring joy, connection, and special traditions — but they also bring: • disrupted routines • travel days • irregular sleep • overstimulation • out-of-sync eating • social overwhelm For kids, teens, and adults alike, these changes increase cognitive load. When the brain is tired, overwhelmed, or dysregulated, people of  all  ages naturally gravitate toward passive, predictable, low-demand

Holiday shopping can feel overwhelming — especially when you want gifts that are meaningful, supportive, and actually help build communication skills. The good news? Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) consistently recommend simple, open-ended, engaging tools over flashy, overstimulating toys. Whether you’re shopping for a toddler, a school-age child, a teen, or an adult — communication grows through play, interaction, creativity, problem-solving, and social connection. And g

Learn how holiday stress affects communication and how SLP strategies support emotional regulation for kids, teens, and adults. Includes evidence-based tools and neurodiversity-affirming approaches. Holidays often bring joy, connection, and shared traditions—but they can also introduce overstimulation, disrupted routines, sensory overwhelm, and emotional intensity. These factors can significantly affect communication for individuals of all ages, including children, teens, and

Fun, multi-age winter activities that help toddlers, children, teens, and adults build vocabulary, communication, and social language skills at home. Winter routines naturally create opportunities for meaningful communication. Whether you’re enjoying cozy indoor activities, celebrating holidays, or navigating the seasonal slowdown, this time of year invites connection—and connection fuels communication. For individuals of  all  ages—from toddlers to teens to adults—speech and

Technology can be a powerful ally in speech and language development—when used intentionally. In today’s digital age, parents often ask:  Can screen time ever be beneficial for speech therapy?  The answer is yes—if it’s  interactive, balanced, and purposeful. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are increasingly incorporating evidence-based apps, games, and tools to enhance language learning and carry therapy goals into daily routines. When guided by professionals and supporte

When a child struggles to express their thoughts or feelings, frustration can quickly follow. Tantrums, shutdowns, or anxiety often aren’t signs of “bad behavior”—they’re signals that communication and emotional regulation are out of sync. Speech-language therapy can play a powerful role in helping children not only  find their words  but also understand, manage, and express emotions in healthy ways. Research has shown that  language development and emotional regulation are d

Did you know that speech therapy can also help with feeding and swallowing? It’s true—speech-language pathologists (SLPs) don’t just focus on words and sounds. They’re also experts in how the mouth, tongue, lips, and jaw work together to support both speech and safe, effective feeding. Feeding challenges are more common than most parents realize. Up to  25–45% of typically developing children  and as many as  80% of children with developmental differences  experience feeding

Playdates are more than just fun—they’re one of the most powerful tools for language learning and social growth. When children interact with peers, they naturally practice communication, problem-solving, turn-taking, and empathy in ways that structured lessons can’t always replicate. Speech-language pathologists often emphasize peer interaction as an essential part of developing strong communication skills. Research shows that children learn new words and conversational patte

Every child develops at their own pace—but when it comes to speech and language, delays can be confusing and even concerning for parents. It’s natural to wonder:  Is my child just a “late talker,” or is there something more going on? Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) specialize in helping families understand the difference between normal variation and signs that extra support may be beneficial. Early identification and intervention have been shown to significantly improve l

The way we approach speech therapy is just as important as the techniques we use. For many years, therapy was often centered around “fixing” differences in communication. But today, a growing movement led by autistic and neurodivergent self-advocates, families, and professionals is changing that narrative. Neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy  recognizes that neurological differences like autism, ADHD, and other communication profiles are not deficits to be erased—they’re

Executive functioning skills are like the brain’s “air traffic control system.” They help us focus attention, plan and organize, remember information, and regulate our behavior to reach goals. For children, strong executive functioning skills make it easier to follow directions, participate in class, manage daily routines, and communicate effectively. Many people don’t realize that speech-language therapy can play a powerful role in building these skills. Because language and

Strong language skills lay the foundation for reading and writing. Long before a child sounds out their first word, they’re building the listening, vocabulary, and narrative abilities that make reading possible. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a key role in supporting literacy development by strengthening the language systems that underpin decoding, comprehension, and expression. Language and literacy are deeply intertwined: children with language delays are at a hig

Parents are a child’s first—and most important—teachers. While speech therapy sessions provide essential support, progress is greatest...

Children learn best when they’re engaged, curious, and having fun—and nothing captures that better than play. Play isn’t just about fun...

Every voice deserves to be heard. For some children and adults, speaking out loud may not be possible—or may be very difficult—due to...

Strong communication skills do more than help children express their needs—they lay the foundation for friendships, classroom...

Stuttering is a common speech difference that can affect people of all ages—from young children just learning to talk, to teenagers...

Raising a bilingual child is a gift, but it often comes with questions: “Will learning two languages confuse my child?”, “Is it normal if...

Speech and language are the building blocks of human connection. From a child’s first words to a grandparent’s final conversations, the...