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Parent Resources

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Tap the one that sounds most like your family, and we’ll take you straight to the answer. You don’t need the perfect words, and there are no silly questions.

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Common questions from parents

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What you might be noticing

What you might be wondering

I have a feeling my child is behind with talking, but I can’t quite explain why

Trust that feeling. You know your child better than anyone, and you don’t need a list of symptoms or the perfect words to reach out. Many of our families started right here.

You might notice

  • Your child understands a lot, but says less than other kids their age
  • Back-and-forth with your child fizzles out quickly
  • Big frustration or meltdowns when your child can’t get their message across
  • Something just feels different, even when others say to wait and see

Try this at home

  • For one week, jot down the words, sounds, gestures, and phrases your child uses, and what happens right before the hard moments. It gives us a wonderful place to start together.

How we can help

A free 15-minute consultation is a real conversation with a speech-language pathologist about what you are seeing. If an evaluation would help, we’ll explain why. No referral needed, and no pressure either way.

Free consultationSigns worth noticing

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My child isn’t talking yet, or only uses a few words

Children communicate in so many ways before words: looks, reaching, leading you by the hand, sounds, and gestures. All of it counts, and all of it is something we can build on.

You might notice

  • Your child leads you to what they want instead of asking
  • A few words, or words that come and go
  • Frustration when you can’t figure out what they need

Try this at home

  • Get down on your child’s level and join what they are already doing. Add short, playful phrases with lots of feeling: “up, up, up!”, “uh oh!”, “ready, set, go!”
  • Pause and wait. Give your child room to take a turn with a look, a sound, or a word.

How we can help

We start with connection and play, because language grows best when a child feels calm, safe, and connected. For some children, AAC (a speech device or another way to communicate) gives them a voice right now while spoken language develops.

Free consultationMore about language delays

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My child repeats lines from shows, songs, or things we say

That repeating is called echolalia, and it is communication. Some children learn language in whole chunks first, like “let’s go outside!” or “ready, set, go!”, and each chunk carries a whole meaning or feeling. This is called gestalt language processing.

You might notice

  • Phrases from favorite shows, songs, or people your child loves
  • A line that means something else, like “do you want a snack?” meaning “I want a snack”
  • Longer phrases, but fewer single words early on

Try this at home

  • Get curious about when your child uses a phrase and what it might mean to them.
  • Model short, easy phrases your child can borrow: “let’s go!”, “all done!”, “uh oh!”

How we can help

We honor your child’s scripts and help them break chunks apart over time, so they can build sentences of their own. Dr. Taylor knows this path well: her own daughter developed language this way.

Free consultationGestalt language processing

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My child can ask for things, but seems stuck there

Many children learn to request (“more,” “cookie,” “iPad”) and then get stuck. Requesting is a great start. The next steps are sharing, commenting, saying no, and going back and forth with the people they love.

You might notice

  • Words used mostly to get things, not to share or show you something
  • Copying words, but rarely using them on their own
  • Back-and-forth that ends after a turn or two

Try this at home

  • Follow your child’s lead and keep the back-and-forth going. Every turn counts, even a look or a giggle.
  • Comment instead of quizzing: “wow, so big!”, “uh oh, it fell!”

How we can help

This is where DIR/Floortime shines. We build connection, back-and-forth, and shared joy first, so your child wants to communicate for more than getting things.

Free consultationWhat is DIR/Floortime?

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My child has a hard time connecting with other kids

Every child connects in their own way, and there’s no one right way to be a friend. We don’t try to make kids act like everyone else. We help them understand others, share what they think and feel, and build friendships that feel good to them.

You might notice

  • Your child wants friends but isn’t sure how to join in
  • Play with other kids often ends in frustration or tears
  • Back-and-forth conversation, taking turns, or sharing ideas in play feels hard
  • Misunderstandings with other kids that leave your child feeling left out

Try this at home

  • Set up short, easy playdates with one friend, built around something your child loves.
  • Talk moments through together afterward: “What do you think she was feeling? What could we try next time?”

How we can help

Social skills are one of Dr. Taylor’s specialties. We work on them through play and real connection: joining in, taking turns, noticing what others think and feel, and speaking up for yourself.

Free consultationOur approach

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People have a hard time understanding my child

Young children’s speech is often unclear at times. If family, friends, or teachers regularly can’t understand your child, or your child gets upset about being misunderstood, it’s worth a closer look.

You might notice

  • Sounds left out, swapped, or said differently, like “tat” for “cat”
  • You understand your child, but others often don’t
  • Your child avoids talking or gets upset when asked to repeat

Try this at home

  • Say it back the clear way, without asking your child to repeat it: “Yes, a cat!”
  • Let your child see your face while you talk, and keep it playful.

How we can help

We figure out which sounds are tricky and why, then practice them in play so it never feels like drills.

Free consultationSpeech sound disorders

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My child gets stuck on words, or stutters

Many young children go through a stage of repeating sounds or words as their language grows. If it sticks around, happens a lot, or your child seems tense or upset about talking, we’re happy to take a look.

You might notice

  • Repeating sounds or words: “I-I-I want,” “b-b-ball”
  • Stretching sounds out, or getting stuck with no sound coming out
  • Tension, frustration, or avoiding talking

Try this at home

  • Slow your own talking down a little and give your child plenty of time. Try not to finish their words.
  • Respond to what your child says, not how they say it.

How we can help

We support easy, confident communication, and we help your whole family know how to respond.

Free consultationFluency and stuttering

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My child has a hard time getting started, staying organized, or following steps

Planning, getting started, remembering steps, switching between activities, and managing big feelings are all part of what’s called executive functioning. Lots of kids find these skills tricky, including many kids with ADHD, and they’re closely tied to language: we use words in our heads to plan, remember, and talk ourselves through things.

You might notice

  • Directions with more than one step get lost after the first
  • Big struggles with transitions, like leaving the park or turning off a screen
  • Getting started on homework or chores feels impossible, even when your child wants to
  • Stories or explanations that jump around and are hard to follow

Try this at home

  • Break tasks into one or two steps at a time, and show them with pictures or a quick checklist.
  • Give a heads-up before transitions: “Two more slides, then shoes on.”

How we can help

Executive functioning is one of Dr. Taylor’s specialties. We build these skills in ways that fit how your child’s brain works, with visual supports, planning out loud together, and strategies your child can use at home and at school.

Free consultation

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My child is older, or an adult, and still needs support communicating

It’s never too late. We see clients from 18 months to adulthood, and communication support can begin at any age.

You might notice

  • Speech that’s hard for others to understand
  • Needing a more reliable way to communicate at school, at work, or out in the community
  • A speech device that isn’t working well, or was never set up to fit

How we can help

We meet each person where they are, whether that means finding the right AAC system, working on clearer speech, or building language for everyday life.

Free consultationDevelopmental disabilities

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When will my child talk?

It’s the question every parent asks, and it’s a fair one. The honest answer is that no therapist can promise a date, in any style of therapy. Every child’s path is different.

What affects the pace

  • How your child learns language: in chunks, or word by word
  • Feeling calm, safe, and connected. A regulated, happy child learns best.
  • How much practice happens at home, not only in therapy
  • Having a way to communicate right now, like AAC

Early signs of progress

  • Staying calm and engaged in play for longer
  • Seeking you out and sharing joy with you
  • Copying sounds, songs, or phrases
  • Fewer meltdowns once they can tell you “no” or “all done”

How we can help

Instead of a date, we give you clear goals made for your child, a progress check-in every three months, and simple ideas for everyday routines at home.

Free consultation

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Someone mentioned AAC or a speech device. What does that mean?

AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) is any way of communicating besides speaking: a speech device or app, pictures, signs, or gestures. AAC is talking, too.

Good to know

  • AAC gives your child a voice now, while spoken language develops.
  • Research has found that AAC does not hold back speech. Many children say more once they have a way to communicate.
  • There’s no age or skill your child has to reach first.

How we can help

We offer AAC evaluations, help with the funding process, training for parents and everyone on your child’s team, and close collaboration with teachers and therapists.

Free consultationAAC servicesCommon AAC myths

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We’ve been told to get a speech evaluation. What happens?

An evaluation is a relaxed, play-based visit, about an hour long, where we get to know your child and how they communicate. There is no pass and no fail, and the pace belongs to your child.

What to expect

  1. We talk with you about your child, your questions, and what you notice at home. Your observations matter a lot.
  2. We play, with puppets, kinetic sand, and your child’s favorite things, and watch closely how they communicate.
  3. You get a written report with your child’s strengths and clear next steps.

How we can help

No referral is needed. Start with a free consultation, and we’ll help you decide whether an evaluation makes sense right now.

Free consultationWhat happens during an evaluation

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How can I help at home without it feeling like therapy?

You don’t need flashcards or a special time of day. The best practice happens in the routines you already have: bath time, snacks, car rides, and play.

Try this at home

  • Follow your child’s lead and join their play. Be the most fun toy in the room!
  • Model instead of quizzing: say what your child might say, rather than asking them to say it.
  • Pause, wait, and celebrate every way your child answers: words, sounds, gestures, or AAC.

How we can help

You’re welcome in sessions, and we share simple ideas you can use all week long. Dr. Taylor’s shop, Patchwork Speech, also has materials for practicing at home.

Free consultationCaregiver coaching

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How do I know if a therapist is the right fit?

Every therapy has a style. Two therapists can work on the same goal and run very different sessions. Ours are child-led, play-based, and neurodiversity-affirming, and the best fit is the one that matches your child, your goals, and your family.

Questions to ask any therapist

  1. How will this goal help my child at home and in everyday life?
  2. How can my child tell you yes, no, stop, or “I need a break”?
  3. What do you do when my child is upset or doesn’t want to do something?
  4. How do you make sure new skills show up at home, not only in the therapy room?
  5. How will you show me progress, and how often?

How we can help

We want you to feel confident in your decision. If another provider turns out to be a better fit, we’ll help make the change a smooth one.

Free consultationOur approach

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More support

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

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A free consultation is a real conversation with a speech-language pathologist about what you are noticing—no referral needed, and no pressure either way.

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