Rachel Verducci

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 holiday...

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 activities —...

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 gifts that support...