King Speech Therapy Services

Back-to-School Language Tips for Parents

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:55:50 GMT

A new school year brings plenty of opportunities for children to grow their language and communication skills. Whether you're helping with homework, talking about the school day, or reading together before bed, small everyday moments can make a big impact.

Talk About the School Day

One of the easiest ways to encourage language development is by having conversations about your child's day.

Instead of asking, "How was school?" try more specific questions such as:

"What was the best part of your day?"
"Who did you sit next to at lunch?"
"What was something new you learned today?"

These questions encourage children to use longer responses and practice storytelling skills.

Build Vocabulary During Daily Routines

The back-to-school season introduces many new words and experiences. Use everyday moments to talk about:

Classrooms
Teachers
Subjects
Schedules
Backpacks
Lunchboxes
School supplies

The more children hear and use new vocabulary, the more confident they become communicating.

Read Together

Reading is one of the most powerful ways to support language development. Before reading, look at the cover and predict what the story might be about. During the story, ask questions and discuss new words. Afterward, encourage your child to retell what happened in their own words.

Practice Following Directions

School requires children to listen to and follow directions throughout the day. At home, practice with simple activities such as:

Packing a backpack
Setting the table
Cleaning up toys

Try giving two- or three-step directions to help build listening and comprehension skills.

Encourage Social Communication

Returning to school means reconnecting with teachers and classmates. Help your child practice social skills by discussing:

How to start a conversation
How to ask for help
How to take turns during conversations
How to introduce themselves to new friends

Role-playing these situations at home can help children feel more confident at school.

Learning Happens Everywhere

Language development does not only happen in the classroom. Conversations at the dinner table, reading before bed, and everyday routines all help children strengthen their communication skills. By creating opportunities to talk, listen, and connect, parents can support language growth throughout the entire school year.

Language Tip: Focus on connection, not perfection. The more enjoyable and natural communication feels, the more opportunities children have to learn and grow. ��✏️

Expansion & Extension Strategies

Expansion: Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension: Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Expansion Examples:

Child: “candy” → Parent: “Mmm, it's a yummy candy.”
Child: “roof” → Parent: “The roof is big.”
Child: “house” → Parent: “It's a gingerbread house.”
Child: “sticky” → Parent: “The frosting is sticky.”

Extension Examples:

Child: “house cookie”
Parent: “You want to build a big cookie house. Let’s build it.”
Child: “candy on”
Parent: “Yes! You’re putting candy on the roof to make it colorful.”
Child: “door”
Parent: “You want the door! Let’s put the red door on the front of the house.”
Child: “sticky frosting”
Parent: “The frosting is sticky because it helps the candy stay on.”

Language Enhancing Tips!

Follow your child's lead.
Talk about what you see, feel, and do.
Repeat new words often.
Pause (5-10 seconds) to give your child time to respond!
Have fun!

Next Steps...

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed (0-3 years of age)
contacting your local public school district to see if your child could be assessed (3+ years old)
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

If you are interested in learning more about our speech and language therapy services and are local to Upland, California (Inland Empire), please contact us to today by completing our Contact form.

Language Under the Stars: Language Learning Through Camping

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:53:00 GMT

Whether you're camping in the mountains or setting up a tent in your backyard, camping offers countless opportunities to support your child's language development through everyday experiences. By talking about what you see, hear, and do together, you can help build vocabulary, conversation skills, and early language concepts while making lasting memories.

1. Talk About Camping Gear

As you set up camp, introduce new vocabulary words such as:

Tent
Sleeping bag
Flashlight
Campfire
Lantern
Backpack

Try phrases like:"Let's put the sleeping bag inside the tent." "Can you find the flashlight?"

2. Build Descriptive Language

Encourage your child to describe what they see using words about:

Colors
Sizes
Textures
Shapes

Examples:"The tree is tall." "The rock feels rough." "The fire is hot and bright."

3. Practice Action Words

Camping is full of opportunities to model verbs.

Examples:

Walk
Climb
Gather
Roast
Explore
Hike

Try narrating activities:"We're walking down the trail." "You're roasting a marshmallow!"

4. Teach Location Concepts

Use camping activities to practice spatial concepts such as:

In
On
Under
Next to
Behind

Examples:"The backpack is next to the tent." "The sleeping bag goes inside the tent."

5. Encourage Conversation

Ask open-ended questions that encourage your child to share ideas:

"What was your favorite part of camping today?"
"What animals do you think live here?"
"What should we do next?"

These simple conversations help build vocabulary, sentence structure, and storytelling skills.

Learning Through Adventure

Camping provides a natural and engaging environment for language learning. By talking about the sights, sounds, and activities around you, you can support your child's communication skills while enjoying quality time together. Sometimes the best language lessons happen right around the campfire! ��️

Language Tip: Remember to keep it fun! The goal isn't to quiz your child but to model language, encourage interaction, and follow their interests throughout the adventure.

Expansion & Extension Strategies

Expansion: Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension: Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Expansion Examples:

Child: “candy” → Parent: “Mmm, it's a yummy candy.”
Child: “roof” → Parent: “The roof is big.”
Child: “house” → Parent: “It's a gingerbread house.”
Child: “sticky” → Parent: “The frosting is sticky.”

Extension Examples:

Child: “house cookie”
Parent: “You want to build a big cookie house. Let’s build it.”
Child: “candy on”
Parent: “Yes! You’re putting candy on the roof to make it colorful.”
Child: “door”
Parent: “You want the door! Let’s put the red door on the front of the house.”
Child: “sticky frosting”
Parent: “The frosting is sticky because it helps the candy stay on.”

Language Enhancing Tips!

Follow your child's lead.
Talk about what you see, feel, and do.
Repeat new words often.
Pause (5-10 seconds) to give your child time to respond!
Have fun!

Next Steps...

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed (0-3 years of age)
contacting your local public school district to see if your child could be assessed (3+ years old)
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

If you are interested in learning more about our speech and language therapy services and are local to Upland, California (Inland Empire), please contact us to today by completing our Contact form.

From Idea to Reality: Victoria’s Journey Building King Speech Therapy Services

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:49:49 GMT

As King Speech Therapy Services celebrates its 6-year anniversary, we sat down with clinic owner Victoria to reflect on the journey from starting a small private practice during COVID to growing into the clinic it is today. In this interview, Victoria shares the inspiration behind the practice, the challenges and milestones along the way, and her hopes for the future of serving children and families in the community.

What inspired you to start your own private practice, and what do you remember most about the beginning of the clinic?

“I started building King Speech Therapy Services during the start of COVID in May of 2020. When everything shut down, I invested in a program online called Start Your Private Practice which mentored and provided a community for SLPs interested in starting their own practice. I had always been interested in being a business owner and eventually starting a "brick-and-mortar" clinic. The course I took provided the steps to get the business started. By July of 2020 - 6 years ago now - my business was officially approved by the state. I was excited to get started! First, I began seeing clients in their homes which was highly desired at the time since most services weren’t being offered in person. All of my first clients were through word of mouth - children of people I'd worked with, went to church with, or played softball with.”

Did you imagine the clinic would grow into what it is today? How has it evolved over the past 6 years?

“Having a physical location was my end goal and what I had imagined it would become. I wasn’t sure how I would get there, especially with how big of a financial investment it can be, but I built it slowly each year (while keeping my "day job") before making the leap.

Over the past 6 years it went from me going into the homes seeing just a couple clients while I was still working full-time in the schools, hiring a couple of part-time therapists , and then starting a contract with a local school district. Although I wasn't as passionate being in the school-setting, using my skills there helped me move onto my next goal which was renting a small room from another local business - The Adaptive Athlete. If you are in the Upland, CA area, you need to check them out! They have gymnastics, sensory classes, and more! Anyways, I think having a physical location helped me market the services I offered by becoming more known in the community. I participated in events and talked to many parents who were searching for services. We eventually outgrew the small room and moved to our first office space with multiple rooms and a waiting area. We started accepting insurance and connecting with local pediatricians which is what really launched our ability to grow over the past couple of years.”

What has been one of the most meaningful or rewarding moments since opening the clinic?

“I feel like I can’t really pinpoint a specific moment, but I think getting positive feedback from parents who express their gratitude during their journey. We've also "graduated" a handful of clients this past year - I think that's the most rewarding of moments when you work with a child that comes in multiple times a week to work on their goals and then they finally meet them after years of hard work. I always like to remind them of where they started and how proud they should be! Since one of my specialties is working with children with speech sound disorders, it is extremely rewarding to grow a child to a point where they can be fully understood by others, especially when they initially started at a point where they were rarely understood. Parents will look back at videos they took of their child and notice the difference from when they first started - which is great to do because sometimes we don't notice the small day-to-day changes. Parents are such a big part of the process too — they have to work hard by getting their child to therapy and then practice toward their goals at home - it's a lot of work but it is SO worth it! Nothing beats being able to communicate with others.”

What do you hope families and children feel when they come to the clinic?

“My goal is that they feel comfortable, safe, and heard. It’s also really important to me to help grow a child’s confidence because having difficulties communicating can really change how you express and assert yourself around others.

I want to help change how they view themselves so they can feel confident and empowered to say things or try hard things, even when it’s difficult. I want to encourage them to attempt those hard things, be okay with failure at times, but ultimately deal with adversity to reach their goals. Because of my sports background, I work similarly like a coach. I push my clients along the way while showing them that they can do hard things.”

What keeps you motivated and passionate about this work after all these years?

“First, the field of speech pathology seems to be never ending with what can be learned. We can work with people of all different ages, stages, and needs - there's really never a dull or boring moment. Also, knowing that we can make such a big difference in a child’s and family’s life really is the motivation. Communication is everything that we do — it gets our needs met, our wants met, helps us share our ideas and thoughts — everything revolves around communication.

Making communication accessible for a child helps families learn their child’s personality, what they love, what they don’t love, and who they are. I think it’s motivating for us to continue working with these children and their families to make sure they have the voice they deserve so they can share who they are with the world.”

What does reaching this 6-year anniversary mean to you personally and professionally?

“Personally, when I see that number, it’s shocking that it’s been that long. I think, ‘Wow, I can’t believe it’s been six years - sometimes it feels like we just started this process.’ A lot of businesses in general fail within the first few years, so I know that I’ve definitely put a lot of 'blood, sweat, and tears' into keeping the business going. The difference that we can make as a team is motivating and makes putting the time and effort into creating a business that helps and serves people in our community worth it.

Professionally, I have learned a lot in the last six years from a clinical and business perspective. We now offer new services like feeding therapy and myofunctional therapy. I'm constantly wanting to be a better clinician myself while training our team of clinicians. It's an honor to be known in the community and by other local doctors, dentists, teachers, etc. ”

What are your hopes or goals for the future of the clinic, and is there anything you would like to say to the families and community who have supported you along the way?

“I think my goal and hope is that we continue to impact our community in a positive way by making services accessible through accepting insurance and continuing to find ways to see more kids and positively impact more lives. I also hope we continue growing in providing quality feeding therapy and myofunctional therapy - services that can be challenging to find. I want to continue expanding those services and helping children improve in those areas because they are so important. So much of our lives revolves around feeding and meals, so being able to help families navigate those challenges is really meaningful.

What I would like to say to the families and community who have supported us along the way is: thank you for trusting us with your children. As a parent, I know it can sometimes feel scary or vulnerable to ask for help and trust someone else with your child’s care. We are truly grateful for the trust and support families have given us over the years, and it’s an honor to be part of each child’s journey.”

Expansion & Extension Strategies

Expansion: Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension: Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Expansion Examples:

Child: “candy” → Parent: “Mmm, it's a yummy candy.”
Child: “roof” → Parent: “The roof is big.”
Child: “house” → Parent: “It's a gingerbread house.”
Child: “sticky” → Parent: “The frosting is sticky.”

Extension Examples:

Child: “house cookie”
Parent: “You want to build a big cookie house. Let’s build it.”
Child: “candy on”
Parent: “Yes! You’re putting candy on the roof to make it colorful.”
Child: “door”
Parent: “You want the door! Let’s put the red door on the front of the house.”
Child: “sticky frosting”
Parent: “The frosting is sticky because it helps the candy stay on.”

Language Enhancing Tips!

Follow your child's lead.
Talk about what you see, feel, and do.
Repeat new words often.
Pause (5-10 seconds) to give your child time to respond!
Have fun!

Seashells, Sandcastles, & Speech!

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:47:13 GMT

Beach days are naturally filled with opportunities for conversation. Children are exploring new textures, hearing unfamiliar sounds, noticing movement, and sharing exciting experiences with family members. Instead of turning the day into a lesson, parents can use small moments throughout the trip to encourage communication in a fun and natural way.

Beach Day Language Ideas for Young Children

Turn Collecting Seashells into a Conversation Game

Walking along the sand and collecting shells is an easy way to encourage describing, comparing, and commenting.

You can say things like:

“I found a tiny shell!”
“This one is smooth.”
“Your shell is bigger than mine!”

Children can also practice concepts like:

colors
counting
big/small
rough/smooth

This keeps language connected to what your child is actively seeing and touching.

Use Beach Toys for Pretend Play

Buckets, shovels, and sand molds can easily become part of imaginative play.

Pretend your child is:

building a bakery
making ice cream
cooking dinner
digging for treasure

Model phrases like:

“Let’s make a giant cake!”
“The treasure is hiding!”
“Pour the sand in.”

Pretend play encourages creativity, sequencing, and expressive language without feeling structured.

Narrate the Environment Around You

The beach is full of sounds, movement, and sensory experiences that naturally support vocabulary development.

Point out things like:

seagulls flying
waves crashing
people surfing
kites moving in the wind

You can model:

“The kite is flying high!”
“I hear loud waves.”
“The sand feels hot.”

Describing what your child sees and hears helps expose them to rich vocabulary in real-life situations.

Keep Language Simple & Repetitive

Children learn language best through repetition and shared experiences. During the beach trip, try:

repeating fun phrases
pausing to give your child time to respond
using gestures along with words
following your child’s interests during play

Simple, playful interactions throughout the day can create meaningful opportunities for communication growth.

Expansion & Extension Strategies

Expansion: Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension: Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Expansion Examples:

Child: “candy” → Parent: “Mmm, it's a yummy candy.”
Child: “roof” → Parent: “The roof is big.”
Child: “house” → Parent: “It's a gingerbread house.”
Child: “sticky” → Parent: “The frosting is sticky.”

Extension Examples:

Child: “house cookie”
Parent: “You want to build a big cookie house. Let’s build it.”
Child: “candy on”
Parent: “Yes! You’re putting candy on the roof to make it colorful.”
Child: “door”
Parent: “You want the door! Let’s put the red door on the front of the house.”
Child: “sticky frosting”
Parent: “The frosting is sticky because it helps the candy stay on.”

Language Enhancing Tips!

Follow your child's lead.
Talk about what you see, feel, and do.
Repeat new words often.
Pause (5-10 seconds) to give your child time to respond!
Have fun!

Next Steps...

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed (0-3 years of age)
contacting your local public school district to see if your child could be assessed (3+ years old)
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

If you are interested in learning more about our speech and language therapy services and are local to Upland, California (Inland Empire), please contact us to today by completing our Contact form.

Celebrate, Play, & Talk This 4th of July!

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:42:44 GMT

The 4th of July is full of exciting moments for young children: fireworks, music, snacks, and time with family. These simple holiday moments can also help build early language skills naturally. Children learn best through play, routines, and everyday experiences, especially when adults model fun and descriptive language throughout the day.

Easy 4th of July Language Activities at Home (Ages 2–6)

You do not need special crafts or supplies to encourage communication. Many language opportunities can happen using items you already have at home during holiday celebrations.

1. Snack Time Language Fun

Whether you are eating popsicles, watermelon, chips, or burgers, snack time is a great opportunity to model language.

Try using phrases like:

“The popsicle is cold!”
“Crunchy chips!”
“The watermelon is sweet and juicy.”

You can also offer choices:

“Do you want red or blue?”
“Do you want more strawberries or grapes?”

Describing foods helps children learn new vocabulary during meaningful routines.

2. Backyard Bubble & Firework Play

If your family uses bubbles, sparklers, or watches fireworks, narrate what your child sees and does.

Examples:

“Pop, pop, pop!”
“The bubbles go up high!”
“Boom! The fireworks are bright!”

Using animated voices and repetition helps children stay engaged and remember new words.

3. Red, White, & Blue Scavenger Hunt

Walk around your house or backyard together and look for red, white, and blue items.

You can model:

“I found something blue!”
“The flag is red and white.”
“It's a big blue ball!”

This simple activity encourages describing, labeling, and following directions while using things already around your home.

Simple Ways to Encourage Language During the Holiday

Throughout the day, try:

describing what your child is doing
repeating fun phrases
giving simple choices
using action words during play
pausing to allow your child time to respond (allow up to 10 seconds!)

Language learning happens best during shared, enjoyable experiences with family.

Expansion & Extension Strategies

Expansion: Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension: Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Expansion Examples:

Child: “candy” → Parent: “Mmm, it's a yummy candy.”
Child: “roof” → Parent: “The roof is big.”
Child: “house” → Parent: “It's a gingerbread house.”
Child: “sticky” → Parent: “The frosting is sticky.”

Extension Examples:

Child: “house cookie”
Parent: “You want to build a big cookie house. Let’s build it.”
Child: “candy on”
Parent: “Yes! You’re putting candy on the roof to make it colorful.”
Child: “door”
Parent: “You want the door! Let’s put the red door on the front of the house.”
Child: “sticky frosting”
Parent: “The frosting is sticky because it helps the candy stay on.”

Language Enhancing Tips!

Follow your child's lead.
Talk about what you see, feel, and do.
Repeat new words often.
Pause (5-10 seconds) to give your child time to respond!
Have fun!

Next Steps...

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed (0-3 years of age)
contacting your local public school district to see if your child could be assessed (3+ years old)
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

If you are interested in learning more about our speech and language therapy services and are local to Upland, California (Inland Empire), please contact us to today by completing our Contact form.

Understanding Feeding Therapy: When Mealtimes Become a Challenge

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 10:40:00 GMT

As parents, it’s common to hear phrases like “they’ll grow out of it” or “they’re just a picky eater.” While many children go through normal phases of selective eating, some feeding challenges go beyond typical picky eating and can impact a child’s nutrition, development, and family mealtimes.

What Is Feeding Therapy?

Feeding therapy supports children who have difficulty eating, drinking, chewing, swallowing, or accepting a variety of foods. Challenges may be related to sensory sensitivities, oral-motor skills, medical conditions, developmental delays, or anxiety around food.

The goal is not to force children to eat. Instead, therapy creates positive experiences with food while helping children develop the skills needed for successful mealtimes.

Picky Eater or Feeding Disorder?

While picky eaters typically eat a variety of foods and gradually accept new ones, children with feeding disorders often:

Eat a very limited number of foods
Refuse entire food groups or textures
Become distressed around unfamiliar foods
Struggle with feeding concerns for years
Have difficulty participating in family meals

If feeding challenges are persistent and impact daily life, professional support may be beneficial.

What Does Feeding Therapy Look Like?

Feeding therapy is often play-based and child-led. Sessions may include:

Exploring foods through sight, touch, and smell
Practicing chewing, drinking, and feeding skills
Learning about new textures and flavors
Building comfort and confidence around food

Children progress through small, manageable steps rather than being expected to immediately eat new foods.

Who Can Benefit?

Feeding therapy may help children who:

Have extremely limited diets
Struggle with severe picky eating
Gag, cough, or choke during meals
Have difficulty chewing certain textures
Experience sensory sensitivities around food
Have autism, developmental delays, or a history of feeding difficulties

Our Approach at King Speech Therapy Services

At King Speech Therapy Services, we provide feeding therapy for infants and children who have difficulty eating, drinking, or transitioning to age-appropriate foods. Using play-based and supportive strategies, we help children develop safe, positive, and successful feeding skills while providing parents with practical strategies to support progress at home.

Feeding Therapy Is About More Than Food

Feeding difficulties can impact a child's nutrition, confidence, social experiences, and family routines. With the right support, children can develop the skills they need to become safer, more confident, and more successful eaters.

Expansion & Extension Strategies

Expansion: Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension: Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Expansion Examples:

Child: “candy” → Parent: “Mmm, it's a yummy candy.”
Child: “roof” → Parent: “The roof is big.”
Child: “house” → Parent: “It's a gingerbread house.”
Child: “sticky” → Parent: “The frosting is sticky.”

Extension Examples:

Child: “house cookie”
Parent: “You want to build a big cookie house. Let’s build it.”
Child: “candy on”
Parent: “Yes! You’re putting candy on the roof to make it colorful.”
Child: “door”
Parent: “You want the door! Let’s put the red door on the front of the house.”
Child: “sticky frosting”
Parent: “The frosting is sticky because it helps the candy stay on.”

Language Enhancing Tips!

Follow your child's lead.
Talk about what you see, feel, and do.
Repeat new words often.
Pause (5-10 seconds) to give your child time to respond!
Have fun!

Next Steps...

If you are concerned about your child's feeding skills or limited diet:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a feeding/swallowing evaluation)
contacting a local private practice that specializes in feeding/swallowing (typically a speech therapist or occupational therapist can support your child in this area)

If you are interested in learning more about our feeding/swallowing therapy services and are local to Upland, California (Inland Empire), please contact us to today by completing our Contact form.

Stars, Stripes, & Speech: Memorial Day Language Activities for Children

Fri, 22 May 2026 10:37:31 GMT

One of the sweetest parts of Memorial Day is watching young children enjoy the excitement of summer beginning: waving little flags, helping at family barbecues, and blowing bubbles outside. These simple moments are filled with opportunities for connection and communication. The best Memorial Day language activities happen naturally through play, routines, and shared experiences that encourage children to hear and use new words in meaningful ways.

3 Creative Memorial Day Language Activities for Toddlers (0–4 Years Old)

Holiday weekends are full of exciting opportunities for language learning . Focus less on asking questions and more on modeling fun, descriptive language throughout the day.

1. Turn BBQ Prep into a Lan guage Routine

Let your child help prepare for the family barbecue while you narrate actions and describe what you see.

Examples:

“I’m flipping the burgers!”
“The watermelon is cold and juicy.”
“You’re carrying the big blue plate!”

You can also model simple action phrases like “pour the lemonade,” “open the bag,” or “mix, mix, mix!” Repetition during everyday routines helps children connect words with actions naturally.

2. Narrate Firework Sounds and Colors

Whether your child sees real fireworks, books, or videos, Memorial Day is a great opportunity to introduce exciting descriptive language .

Examples:

“Boom! The fireworks are sparkling!”
“I see bright red lights!”
“The fireworks are loud and shiny!”

Using animated voices, gestures, and repetition helps make new vocabulary more memorable and engaging for young children.

3. Build Early Language During a Picnic

Picnics create natural opportunities for requesting, commenting, and describing during shared family experiences.

Examples:

“Crunchy chips!”
“The blanket is soft.”
“I want more watermelon.”

You can also describe actions throughout the picnic like “sit down,” “open the basket,” or “clean it up!” Children learn best when language is connected to real experiences they can see, touch, and enjoy.

Expansion & Extension Strategies

Expansion: Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension: Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Expansion Examples:

Child: “candy” → Parent: “Mmm, it's a yummy candy.”
Child: “roof” → Parent: “The roof is big.”
Child: “house” → Parent: “It's a gingerbread house.”
Child: “sticky” → Parent: “The frosting is sticky.”

Extension Examples:

Child: “house cookie”
Parent: “You want to build a big cookie house. Let’s build it.”
Child: “candy on”
Parent: “Yes! You’re putting candy on the roof to make it colorful.”
Child: “door”
Parent: “You want the door! Let’s put the red door on the front of the house.”
Child: “sticky frosting”
Parent: “The frosting is sticky because it helps the candy stay on.”

Language Enhancing Tips!

Follow your child's lead.
Talk about what you see, feel, and do.
Repeat new words often.
Pause (5-10 seconds) to give your child time to respond!
Have fun!

Next Steps...

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed (0-3 years of age)
contacting your local public school district to see if your child could be assessed (3+ years old)
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

If you are interested in learning more about our speech and language therapy services and are local to Upland, California (Inland Empire), please contact us to today by completing our Contact form.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day: Early Language Strategies for Young Children

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:27:10 GMT

Valentine’s Day brings a whirlwind of hearts, colors, and affection; perfect for nurturing language in young children. In this post, we'll share strategies that go beyond simple naming, incorporating dynamic words to help your child express more fully during this loving season.

An Engaging Activity for Expanding Vocabulary (Ages 2-6): Valentine’s Sensory Book Creation

Turn Valentine’s Day into a vocabulary booster with a "Valentine’s Sensory Book Creation" activity—a hands-on craft that doubles as an interactive book. This encourages exploration of verbs (like "sticking," "sparkling") and adjectives (like "fuzzy," "sweet"), with visual support from textured materials and pictures.

What You'll Need:

construction paper
glue
sensory items (feathers, glitter, fabric hearts)
markers
photos or printed images of Valentine’s elements

How to Do It:

Start by flipping through a simple picture book about love or holidays for visual inspiration. Use self-talk : "I'm turning the page slowly, I see shiny red hearts!"
Help your child glue items onto pages to create their own book. Narrate your child’s actions as you go: "Push, push, push! You put it on!"
Add labels with visuals: Draw a "twinkling star" or "sweet chocolate kiss."
Recast gently: If they say "heart," say, "The big, red heart", or draw a smile and call it the “happy heart!”
Read the book together , providing wait time for them to chime in. (e.g., “I see a..”, “look is the…”, “that heart is…”)

Next Steps...

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed (0-3 years of age)
contacting your local public school district to see if your child could be assessed (3+ years old)
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

If you are interested in learning more about our speech and language therapy services and are local to Upland, California (Inland Empire), please contact us to today by completing our Contact form.

Expansion & Extension Strategies

Expansion: Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension: Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Expansion Examples:

Child: “candy” → Parent: “Mmm, it's a yummy candy.”
Child: “roof” → Parent: “The roof is big.”
Child: “house” → Parent: “It's a gingerbread house.”
Child: “sticky” → Parent: “The frosting is sticky.”

Extension Examples:

Child: “house cookie”
Parent: “You want to build a big cookie house. Let’s build it.”
Child: “candy on”
Parent: “Yes! You’re putting candy on the roof to make it colorful.”
Child: “door”
Parent: “You want the door! Let’s put the red door on the front of the house.”
Child: “sticky frosting”
Parent: “The frosting is sticky because it helps the candy stay on.”

Language Enhancing Tips!

Follow your child's lead.
Talk about what you see, feel, and do.
Repeat new words often.
Pause (5-10 seconds) to give your child time to respond!
Have fun!

Turning Chores into Language Activities: Early Language Strategies for Young Children

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:21:41 GMT

Turning everyday chores into language-rich moments can transform every task into opportunities for language growth! The following tips and tricks can be used to reframe mundane tasks like laundry or grocery shopping, into playful language builders. Below, we'll share strategies that infuse these routines with verbs and adjectives, creating meaningful connections without relying on questions or simple naming.

5 Key Strategies for Building Language in Toddlers (0-3 years old)

Mundane tasks are perfect for modeling extra language input.

When doing laundry, provide opportunities for “matching” to prompt receptive understanding (e.g., matching colors of socks, separating shirts from pants).
Narrate what you are doing to model new vocabulary "I'm stacking the soft towels”, “I’m looking for a striped sock.”
When grocery shopping, provide your child with opportunities for autonomy by giving choices : "Do you want apples, or bananas?"
Establish routines , like weekly "helper time," where your child can be included in the appropriate chores.
Use the time to repeat routine phrases such as "pour it out!" or "wipe it up!."

How to Create an Engaging Activity for Expanding Vocabulary (Ages 2-6): A Household Chore Sensory Bin

Elevate chores with a "Household Chore Sensory Bin". This activity builds upon vocabulary (e.., "scrubbing," "pouring", "soapy," "sticky"), using visual and tactile props.

What You'll Need:

a bin
mini household items (sponges, cups, safe utensils)
water
dish soap

How to Do It:

Set up the bin with items and visuals. "I'm filling the bin with warm, bubbly water."
Let them play and participate in cleaning the floors, walls, or plastic dishes!
Narrate their efforts: "You're squeezing the sponge! You’re scrubbing the plate”
Repeat as a weekly routine, with wait time for their input.

This bin turns drudgery into discovery, visually reinforcing language through hands-on play.

Expansion & Extension Strategies

Expansion: Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension: Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Expansion Examples:

Child: “candy” → Parent: “Mmm, it's a yummy candy.”
Child: “roof” → Parent: “The roof is big.”
Child: “house” → Parent: “It's a gingerbread house.”
Child: “sticky” → Parent: “The frosting is sticky.”

Extension Examples:

Child: “house cookie”
Parent: “You want to build a big cookie house. Let’s build it.”
Child: “candy on”
Parent: “Yes! You’re putting candy on the roof to make it colorful.”
Child: “door”
Parent: “You want the door! Let’s put the red door on the front of the house.”
Child: “sticky frosting”
Parent: “The frosting is sticky because it helps the candy stay on.”

Language Enhancing Tips!

Follow your child's lead.
Talk about what you see, feel, and do.
Repeat new words often.
Pause (5-10 seconds) to give your child time to respond!
Have fun!

Next Steps...

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed (0-3 years of age)
contacting your local public school district to see if your child could be assessed (3+ years old)
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

If you are interested in learning more about our speech and language therapy services and are local to Upland, California (Inland Empire), please contact us to today by completing our Contact form.

Embracing Seasons Changing: 7 Early Language Strategies for Young Children

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:11:54 GMT

As the leaves turn vibrant shades of red and orange, or the first snowflakes begin to fall, the changing seasons offer a natural canvas for building language skills in young children. The following strategies and activities help to foster early language, emphasizing verbs and adjectives alongside nouns to paint a fuller picture of their experiences.

7 Key Strategies (with examples) for Building Early Language Skills (0-4 years old)

For children in this age group, language development thrives on consistency and low-pressure interactions .

Instead of using questions such as "What color is that leaf?", focus on modeling rich language through your own words and actions, "The leaf is brown!".
Use parallel talk by narrating what your child is doing: "You're crunching the dry leaves under your feet! I see brown and orange leaves!." This helps them connect words to their sensory experiences.
Incorporate self-talk during seasonal routines, like dressing for cooler weather: "I'm zipping up my cozy jacket because it's getting chilly outside."
You may also repeat key phrases naturally to build familiarity. For example, as your child walks through the leaves you may say “hop, hop, and stop!”, multiple times during a walk.
Allow wait time after your models; pause silently for 5-10 seconds (the silence can feel uncomfortable - we encourage counting in your head) to give your child space to respond in their own way, perhaps with a babble or gesture.
Recasting is another powerful tool: if your child says "leaf," expand it gently to "Yes, the leaf is brow", or “the leaf is falling!”.
Building routines around seasons, like a daily "weather check" where you describe the sky as "cloudy and gray" or "sunny and bright." helps to create predictable opportunities for language exposure and encourages imitation over time.

Next Steps...

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

If you are interested in learning more about our speech and language therapy services and are local to Upland, California (Inland Empire), please contact us to today by completing our Contact form.

Expansion & Extension Strategies

Expansion: Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension: Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Expansion Examples:

Child: “candy” → Parent: “Mmm, it's a yummy candy.”
Child: “roof” → Parent: “The roof is big.”
Child: “house” → Parent: “It's a gingerbread house.”
Child: “sticky” → Parent: “The frosting is sticky.”

Extension Examples:

Child: “house cookie”
Parent: “You want to build a big cookie house. Let’s build it.”
Child: “candy on”
Parent: “Yes! You’re putting candy on the roof to make it colorful.”
Child: “door”
Parent: “You want the door! Let’s put the red door on the front of the house.”
Child: “sticky frosting”
Parent: “The frosting is sticky because it helps the candy stay on.”

Language Enhancing Tips!

Follow your child's lead.
Talk about what you see, feel, and do.
Repeat new words often.
Pause (5-10 seconds) to give your child time to respond!
Have fun!

Gingerbread House Language Activity Ideas for Parents

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 10:03:26 GMT

A fun holiday activity to build vocabulary and grow early language skills!

Building a gingerbread house can be more than a fun holiday tradition—it’s can be a powerful opportunity to support your young child’s speech and language development. With a little intention, this hands-on activity can encourage new vocabulary, turn-taking, following directions, and expressive language skills, all while enjoying a fun, hands-on activity. Below are examples of phrases, vocabulary, that you can use to turn gingerbread house decorating into a playful language-building experience at home.

Nouns (People, Places, or Things)

Use these words during gingerbread building so your child learns object names.

Noun Examples:

house • cookie • frosting • candy (gumdrops) • door • roof • walls • lights • wreath • gingerbread •

windows • sprinkles • ornament

Examples of how to model new learned nouns:

“I see the roof.”

“You have the cookie.”

“Let’s add windows.”

Verbs (Action Words)

These tell what you and your child are doing while building.

Verb Examples:

put • make • build • stay • count • having • decorating • sticking • dripping

Examples of how to model new learned verbs (simple ideas):

"Put frosting on top"

"Let's count - 1, 2, 3 candies!"

"Let's build!"

Examples of how to model new learned verbs (complex ideas):

“We are making a gingerbread house.”

“Let’s build the house.”

“I want to decorate the door.”

“I am decorating the roof.”

“The frosting is sticking to my hand.”

Modifiers (Describing Words)

Use descriptive words to help your child talk about what they see and feel.

Modifier Examples:

sticky • colorful • hard • big • little • small • tasty • yummy • fun

Examples of how to model new learned modifiers:

“The frosting is sticky.”

"The lights are colorful.”

"The house is big.”

"Mmmm, yummy candy.”

Expansion & Extension Strategies

Expansion: Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension: Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Expansion Examples:

Child: “candy” → Parent: “Mmm, it's a yummy candy.”
Child: “roof” → Parent: “The roof is big.”
Child: “house” → Parent: “It's a gingerbread house.”
Child: “sticky” → Parent: “The frosting is sticky.”

Extension Examples:

Child: “house cookie”
Parent: “You want to build a big cookie house. Let’s build it.”
Child: “candy on”
Parent: “Yes! You’re putting candy on the roof to make it colorful.”
Child: “door”
Parent: “You want the door! Let’s put the red door on the front of the house.”
Child: “sticky frosting”
Parent: “The frosting is sticky because it helps the candy stay on.”

Language Enhancing Tips!

Follow your child's lead.
Talk about what you see, feel, and do.
Repeat new words often.
Pause (5-10 seconds) to give your child time to respond!
Have fun!

Building Language using your Christmas Tree!

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:56:39 GMT

The holiday season is full of fun opportunities for your child to learn language — and guess what? You can build tons of skills with just a Christmas tree! Decorating, exploring, or simply observing can spark vocabulary growth, language development, and communication.

Language Skills You can Build

Nouns (things you see): lights, star, ornaments, branches, stump, gifts

Verbs (things you do): wrapping, putting, moving, reaching, decorating

Describing Words (adding details): shiny, smelly, bright, green, big, small

Prepositions (where things go): on, under, on top

Language Strategies You can Use

Self-Talk

Talk out loud about what you are doing. Children learn from listening!

Examples of Self-Talk:

“I’m putting the lights on the tree.”
“I’m reaching up high for the star.”
“I’m moving the presents under the tree.”
“I’m wrapping the gifts.”
“I’m looking at the shiny star.”

Expansion

Repeat what your child says and add grammar to make the phrase fuller. (TIP: Use short, complete sentences.)

Extension

Add more information and details to help your child learn longer ideas.

Examples of a Child's Phrase → Expansion → Extension:

C: “Wow, star!” → "Wow, it's a star!” → "Wow, it's a shiny star on top of the tree!"
C: “Look, lights.” → “Look at the lights.” → "Look at the bright lights on the tree."
C: “Blue ornament.” → “It's a blue ornament.” → "It's a blue ornament on the tree."
C: “Bright star.” → “It is a bright star.” → "It is a bright star shining on top."
C: "Let's smell it." → "Let's smell the tree together." → "Let's smell the tree - it smells fresh and piney!"

Activities to Try

Looking at the Tree ��

Stand together and explore the tree.
Point, label, and describe everything you see.

Decorating or Building the Tree ��

Hang ornaments, put on lights, move presents.
Use self-talk to model language and encourage your child to imitate words and phrases.

Final Thoughts

A Christmas tree isn’t just festive — it’s a built-in language learning tool! With a little modeling, self-talk, and holiday fun, you can help your child:

Grow vocabulary
Learn action words
Understand prepositions
Use descriptive language
Expand sentences

All while enjoying the magic of the season!

4-5 years: Is Your Child Meeting Their Speech and Language Milestones? What You Need to Know

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 09:46:10 GMT

What are the speech and language milestones for a child ages 4 to 5 years old? Below we will review the following: key vocabulary terms when discussing speech and language milestones, milestones expected in the age ranges 4-5 years, and examples or clarification for each milestone.

Key Terms:

Speech & Language Milestones: the speech, language, and hearing skills that most children (90%) will demonstrate by identified ages

Speech: how we say sounds and words - articulation, fluency, or voice

Language: the words we use and how we use them to share ideas and get what we want.

Receptive Language: the ability to understand/comprehend language (following directions, vocabulary, sentence comprehension)
Expressive Language: the ability to express self using language - by gestures, sign language, verbally, or a communication device (vocabulary, grammar)
Pragmatic Language: the use of appropriate communication in social situations

Speech and Language Milestones: 4-5 years old:

Understanding (Receptive Language):

Understands location words, like behind, beside , and between .
Follows simple directions and rules to play games.
Locates the front of a book and its title .
Recognizes 10 or more letters and can usually write their own name.
Imitates reading and writing from left to right.

Talking/Gestures (Expressive Language):

Produces grammatically correct sentences . Sentences are longer and more complex.
Includes main characters , settings , and words like and to connect information and ideas to tell stories .
Uses at least one irregular plural form, like feet or men .
Uses location words, like behind, beside , and between .
Uses more words for time—like yesterday and tomorrow —correctly.
Blends word parts, like cup + cake = cupcake . Identifies some rhyming words, like cat and hat .

Speech Sounds (Articulation):

Produces most consonants correctly.
Can produce /v, s, z, "sh", "ch", "j", l/ .
Speech is understandable in conversation .

Check out our other parent resources and blogs about how to help enhance and grow your child's speech and language skills during these specific age ranges.

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

Resources:

ASHA. (n.d.). Communication milestones: 4 to 5 years. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-4-to-5-years/

3-4 years: Is Your Child Meeting Their Speech and Language Milestones? What You Need to Know

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 09:41:22 GMT

What are the speech and language milestones for a child ages 3 to 4 years old? Below we will review the following: key vocabulary terms when discussing speech and language milestones, milestones expected in the age ranges 3-4 years, and examples or clarification for each milestone.

Key Terms:

Speech & Language Milestones: the speech, language, and hearing skills that most children (90%) will demonstrate by identified ages

Speech: how we say sounds and words - articulation, fluency, or voice

Language: the words we use and how we use them to share ideas and get what we want.

Receptive Language: the ability to understand/comprehend language (following directions, vocabulary, sentence comprehension)
Expressive Language: the ability to express self using language - by gestures, sign language, verbally, or a communication device (vocabulary, grammar)
Pragmatic Language: the use of appropriate communication in social situations

Speech and Language Milestones: 3-4 years old:

Understanding (Receptive Language):

Understands and uses more location words, like inside, on , and under .
Pretends to read alone or with others.
Recognizes signs and logos like STOP.
Pretends to write or spell and can write some letters.

Talking (Expressive Language):

Compares things, with words like bigger or shorter .
Tells you a story from a book or a video.
Uses words like a or the when talking, like a book or the dog.

Speech Sounds (Articulation):

Correctly produces /t, k, g, f/, "y", and "ing" in words.
Says all the syllables in a word.
Says the sounds at the beginning, middle, and end of words.
By age 4 years, your child talks smoothly . Does not repeat sounds, words, or phrases most of the time.
By age 4 years, your child speaks so that people can understand most of what they say . Child may make mistakes on sounds that are later to develop—like l, j, r, sh, ch, s, v, z, and th.
By age 4 years, your child says all sounds in a consonant cluster containing two or more consonants in a row —like the "tw" in tweet or the –nd in sand . May not produce all sounds correctly—for example, spway for “spray.”

Check out our other parent resources and blogs about how to help enhance and grow your child's speech and language skills during these specific age ranges.

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

Resources:

ASHA. (n.d.). Communication milestones: 3 to 4 years. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-3-to-4-years/

2-3 Years: Is Your Child Meeting Their Speech and Language Milestones? What You Need to Know.

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 09:26:02 GMT

What are the speech and language milestones for a child ages 2 to 3 years old? Below we will review the following: key vocabulary terms when discussing speech and language milestones, milestones expected in the age ranges 2-3 years, and examples or clarification for each milestone.

Key Terms:

Speech & Language Milestones: the speech, language, and hearing skills that most children (90%) will demonstrate by identified ages

Speech: how we say sounds and words - articulation, fluency, or voice

Language: the words we use and how we use them to share ideas and get what we want.

Receptive Language: the ability to understand/comprehend language (following directions, vocabulary, sentence comprehension)
Expressive Language: the ability to express self using language - by gestures, sign language, verbally, or a communication device (vocabulary, grammar)
Pragmatic Language: the use of appropriate communication in social situations

Speech and Language Milestones: 2-3 years old:

Understanding (Receptive Language):

Says their name when asked.
Answers questions like “What do you do when you are sleepy?” or “Which one can you wear?”

Talking (Expressive Language):

Uses word combinations often but may occasionally repeat some words or phrases, like baby – baby – baby sit down or I want – I want juice.
Tries to get your attention by saying, Look at me!
Uses some plural words like birds or toys .
Uses – ing verbs like eating or running . Adds – ed to the end of words to talk about past actions, like looked or played .
Gives reasons for things and events, like saying that they need a coat when it’s cold outside.
Asks why and how questions.

Speech Sound Development:

Correctly produces /p, b, m, h, w, d/, and /n/ in words.
Correctly produces most vowels in words.
Speech is becoming clearer but may not be understandable to unfamiliar listeners or to people who do not know your child.

Check out our other parent resources and blogs about how to help enhance and grow your child's speech and language skills during these specific age ranges.

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

Resources:

ASHA. (n.d.). Communication milestones: 2 to 3 years. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-2-to-3-years/

7 Creative Ways to Use Songs to Encourage Language Development in Kids

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 09:21:01 GMT

Using music is a fun, interactive way to encourage language! Songs are great for introducing new vocabulary, verbal and motor imitation, and increasing joint attention. Pair an activity with the songs or use toys (like puppets!) to add to the fun.

Here are a few speech therapy favorites:

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

This song can be helpful in labeling body parts and gesturing.

If You’re Happy and You Know It

Great for motor imitation and teaching action verbs.

Old McDonald

Build vocabulary by labeling animals and their sounds.

Ex: On that farm he had a (animal). E I E I O! With a (animal sound) here and an (animal sound) there...)

Play this song then find some animal toys to identify!

The Wheels on the Bus

Build core vocabulary with words like, “Open,” “Shut,” “Down”, and “Up.”

One Little Finger (Super Simple Songs)

Use gestures to label body parts and practice following directions.

Here Comes the Fire Truck (Super Simple Songs)

Learn symbolic sounds such as “Beep Beep,” or “Weo Weo.” Wave to the firetruck to practice greetings/farewells.

Me! (Super Simple Sounds)

Use gestures to label body parts.

Incorporating songs into daily routines is a fun and effective way to boost your child's language skills, from expanding their vocabulary to improving their understanding of rhythm and sentence flow. By choosing songs that are repetitive, engaging, and easy to follow, you create a playful environment where learning feels natural. If you're looking for more personalized strategies or support, speech and language therapy services can offer expert guidance tailored to your child’s unique needs, combining creativity and proven techniques to help them thrive.

Who are Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) and How can they Help my Child?

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 09:17:34 GMT

Does your child work with a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)? Who are SLPAs and what do they do? How are they qualified to help your child with their communication goals? Read our blog post below for more information!

What is a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)?

A Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) provides speech and language therapy services under the supervision of a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). SLPAs may work in a variety of settings including schools, private clinics, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and in-home.

How is a SLPA certified to help my child with their speech and language goals?

Speech-Language Pathology Assistants must be licensed by the state of California. In order to be licensed, they must complete one of the following: a 2-year SLPA program degree from an accredited institution, receive a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from an accredited institution, or receive a college degree (associate's or bachelor's) from an accredited institution and completion of a SLPA certificate program.

Once completing their program, a SLPA must complete a minimum of 100 fieldwork experience hours, then they can apply for their license. It is required that SLPAs must complete continuing education requirements biennially and work under the supervision of an SLP.

Treatment Experts

Overall, SLPAs are speech and language therapy experts! They have knowledge of child development by understanding expected developmental milestones and childhood disorders that can impact speech and language development. They are versed in using specialized speech and language therapy techniques that include specific interventions, behavior management, and working with diverse populations of children. Lastly, they are great at collaborating and work effectively with SLPs, teachers, and families.

Our King Speech Therapy Team

Here at King Speech Therapy Services, our team includes two wonderful and knowledgeable SLPAs that are known to establish a strong rapport with their clients and their families, provide the best plan of treatment, and collaborate well with other members of our team. If you decide to move forward with our services, you may be lucky enough to work with one of our amazing SLPAs!

References:

Apply for SLP assistants certification. (n.d.).

https://www.asha.org/certification/apply-for-slp-assistants-certification/

Department of Consumer Affairs, S. of C. (2012, May 2). Continuing education requirements - speech-language pathology and audiology and hearing aid Dispensers Board. Speech. https://www.speechandhearing.ca.gov/licensees/ce_req.shtml

Department of Consumer Affairs, S. of C. (2012b, May 2). Language pathology assistant - speech-language pathology and audiology and hearing aid Dispensers Board. Speech. https://www.speechandhearing.ca.gov/applicants/app_pack_slp_assist.shtml

19-24 months: Speech and Language Milestones - What You Need to Know

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 09:14:29 GMT

What are the speech and language milestones for a child ages 19 to 24 months old? Below we will review the following: key vocabulary terms when discussing speech and language milestones, milestones expected in the age ranges 19 - 24 months, and examples or clarification for each milestone.

Key Terms:

Speech & Language Milestones: the speech, language, and hearing skills that most children (90%) will demonstrate by identified ages

Speech: how we say sounds and words - articulation, fluency, or voice

Language: the words we use and how we use them to share ideas and get what we want.

Receptive Language: the ability to understand/comprehend language (following directions, vocabulary, sentence comprehension)
Expressive Language: the ability to express self using language - by gestures, sign language, verbally, or a communication device (vocabulary, grammar)
Pragmatic Language: the use of appropriate communication in social situations

Speech and Language Milestones: 19- 24 months old:

Understanding (Receptive Language):

Understands at least 50 different words for food, toys, animals, and body parts. Your child is beginning to understand a variety of familiar words. Continue to work on this skill by reading books at home or labeling things that you see during your daily routines (i.e. bedtime routine), errands (i.e. grocery store), community areas (i.e. park), etc.
Follows two-step directions —like “Get the spoon, and put it on the table.” If your child doesn't understand your two-step direction the first time, you can help support them by using gestures/pointing or repeating your directions.

Talking/Gestures (Expressive Language):

Uses at least 50 different words for food, toys, animals, and body parts. You child's speech may not always be clear—like du for “shoe” or dah for “dog.” Caregivers should continue to model words during daily routines and activities. When your child uses a word, work on expanding on their utterance. For example, if they say "dah" for "dog" you can say "big dog!" or "It's a dog!"
Uses words like me, mine, and you . When looking in the mirror with your child, you can practice using these words while pointing at the correct person/item. This is "you" or "me" or this shirt is "mine".
Uses words to ask for help . When your child gestures or shows that they need help with something, model the word "help" or phrase "help me".
Uses possessives, like Daddy’s sock . While washing, folding, or putting away laundry with your child, you can work on possessives "Mommy's shirt" or "(name)'s shorts".

Check out our other parent resources and blogs about how to help enhance and grow your child's speech and language skills during these specific age ranges.

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

Resources:

ASHA. (n.d.). Communication Milestones: 19 to 24 months. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-19-to-24-months/

13-18 months: Is Your Child Meeting Their Speech and Language Milestones? What You Need to Know.

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 09:09:03 GMT

What are the speech and language milestones for a child ages 13 to 18 months old? Below we will review the following: key vocabulary terms when discussing speech and language milestones, milestones expected in the age ranges 13 - 18 months, and examples or clarification for each milestone.

Key Terms:

Speech & Language Milestones: the speech, language, and hearing skills that most children (90%) will demonstrate by identified ages

Speech: how we say sounds and words - articulation, fluency, or voice

Language: the words we use and how we use them to share ideas and get what we want.

Receptive Language: the ability to understand/comprehend language (following directions, vocabulary, sentence comprehension)
Expressive Language: the ability to express self using language - by gestures, sign language, verbally, or a communication device (vocabulary, grammar)
Pragmatic Language: the use of appropriate communication in social situations

Speech and Language Milestones: 13-18 months old:

Understanding (Receptive Language):

Looks around when asked “where” questions —like “Where’s your blanket?” You can play hide-n-seek with your child and hide toys or different objects and work on answering "where" questions.
Follows directions —like “Give me the ball,” “Hug the teddy bear,” “Come here,” or “Show me your nose.” Give your child simple one-step directions. If they have trouble understanding, you can use gestures or pointing to help them get it. If they still have difficulty understanding, you can show them how to follow the direction by repeating the direction and following it yourself.
Understands words for common objects , some actions , and people in their lives. Caregivers should model the objects, actions, and people that your child is typically around. This will help them learn and eventually use vocabulary that is common to their daily environment.
Identifies one or more body parts . Songs like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" or "If You're Happy and You Know It" are good songs to sing and dance to to teach body parts.

Talking/Gestures (Expressive Language):

Points to make requests, to comment, or to get information. During this stage, children may primarily use pointing rather than using words. When your child pulls you toward a desired object/toy/etc., you can point to the item too and name it to model the word.
Shakes head for “no” and nods head for “yes.” You can work on this skill by asking yes/no questions to your child. For example, "Do you want a banana for snack?" If they reach toward the banana, model by saying "yes" and nodding your head. If they show disinterest or start looking for another snack you can model, "no banana" and shaking your head.
Uses words for common objects , some actions , and people in their lives. Again, caregivers should model the objects, actions, and people that your child is typically around. This will help them learn and eventually use vocabulary that is common to their daily environment.
Uses gestures when excited, like clapping or giving a high-five, or when being silly, like sticking out their tongue or making funny faces. As adults, we use gestures frequently to show our emotion.
Uses a combination of long strings of sounds, syllables, and real words with speech-like inflection . When children start to use speech that sounds like they're having a conversation but it is very difficult to understand, it's referred to as "jargon". "Jargoning" should be remediated around 18 months of age. If your child is continuing to speak in "jargon", this may be a good time to contact a speech-language pathologist for more information.

Check out our other parent resources and blogs about how to help enhance and grow your child's speech and language skills during these specific age ranges.

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

Resources:

ASHA. (n.d.). Communication milestones: 13 to 18 months. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-13-to-18-months/

10-12 months: Is Your Child Meeting Their Speech and Language Milestones? What You Need to Know.

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 09:01:24 GMT

What are the speech and language milestones for a child ages 10 to 12 months old? Below we will review the following: key vocabulary terms when discussing speech and language milestones, milestones expected in the age ranges 10 - 12 months, and examples or clarification for each milestone.

Key Terms:

Speech & Language Milestones: the speech, language, and hearing skills that most children (90%) will demonstrate by identified ages

Speech: how we say sounds and words - articulation, fluency, or voice

Language: the words we use and how we use them to share ideas and get what we want.

Receptive Language: the ability to understand/comprehend language (following directions, vocabulary, sentence comprehension)
Expressive Language: the ability to express self using language - by gestures, sign language, verbally, or a communication device (vocabulary, grammar)
Pragmatic Language: the use of appropriate communication in social situations

Speech and Language Milestones: 10-12 months old:

Hearing & Understanding (Receptive Language):

By age 10 months, your child reaches for objects. Caregivers can work on this skill by putting toys or books a little bit further than your child's reach. When they try to reach for something, you can name the toy or say "let's read!" and continue by reading the book they reached for.
Enjoys dancing . Playing repetitive nursery rhymes are great for language development! You can pair the song with dance moves and/or gestures to engage your child to move and play while learning new vocabulary!
Responds to simple words and phrases like “Go bye-bye” and “Look at Mommy.” It is important to model language in routine situations and provide repetitions of these phrases many times. Children benefit from repetition of books and routine language in order to understand and eventually use those phrases.

Talking/Gestures (Expressive Language):

Points , waves , and shows or gives objects. Caregivers can model BOTH words and gestures when communicating with their child. For example, you can name your pet dog AND point to him when saying "Look, it's Buster!"
Imitates and initiates gestures for engaging in social interactions and playing games, like blowing kisses or playing peek-a-boo.
Tries to copy sounds that you make. Caregivers can work on this skill by showing your child your face, bringing attention to your mouth and producing a variety of sounds. Remember to wait 10-15 seconds for your child to respond before modeling the sounds again.
By your child's first birthday, they should be using one or two words —like mama, dada, hi , and/or bye . This milestone is a big indicator if your child communication skills are developing appropriately. When a child is having difficulty with producing words or presents as a potential "late talker", this is a common time/age for referrals to be made to a speech-language pathologist for more support.

Check out our other parent resources and blogs about how to help enhance and grow your child's speech and language skills during these specific age ranges.

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

Resources:

ASHA. (n.d.). Communication milestones: Birth to 1 year. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-birth-to-1-year/

7-9 months: Is Your Child Meeting Their Speech and Language Milestones? What You Need to Know.

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 08:58:30 GMT

What are the speech and language milestones for a child ages 7 to 9 months old? Below we will review the following: key vocabulary terms when discussing speech and language milestones, milestones expected in the age ranges 7 - 9 months, and examples or clarification for each milestone.

Key Terms:

Speech & Language Milestones: the speech, language, and hearing skills that most children (90%) will demonstrate by identified ages

Speech: how we say sounds and words - articulation, fluency, or voice

Language: the words we use and how we use them to share ideas and get what we want.

Receptive Language: the ability to understand/comprehend language (following directions, vocabulary, sentence comprehension)
Expressive Language: the ability to express self using language - by gestures, sign language, verbally, or a communication device (vocabulary, grammar)
Pragmatic Language: the use of appropriate communication in social situations

Speech and Language Milestones: 7-9 months old:

Understanding (Receptive Language):

Looks at you when you call their name . During this age, your child should begin to recognize their own name or nicknames and respond by turning toward you to look and listen.
Stops for a moment when you say, “ No .” This is a very important word to learn and eventually use. When your child is, for example, putting something in their mouth that they shouldn't you can work on saying "no" while shaking your head. At this stage, they may look up and stop what they are doing, but may continue with what they were doing.
Recognizes the names of some people and objects . When naming family members, loved ones, pets, or other familiar objects, your child will begin to understand what is being talked about and may turn toward that person or object.

Talking/Gestures (Expressive Language):

Pushes away unwanted objects. This can be toys or foods - when your child is no longer interested they may push things away or sometimes even throw them. This would be a good time to model "all done" verbally and using the "all done" sign language sign to help them transition to a new activity.
Raises arms to be picked up. Gestures are the beginning to expressive communication. When your child raises their arms to be picked up, this would be a perfect time to model the word "up" as you are about to pick them up.
Looks for loved ones when upset. Right before your child turns 7 months old, they begin to understand the concept of distance or simply that their loved ones can walk away and leave him or her behind. This may result in more crying, clinginess, and crankiness. Children find comfort in knowing that their loved ones are nearby. When this happens, just assure that you are close by saying "I see you" or "hi (name)".
Babbles long strings of sounds, like mamamama, upup, or babababa . When your child starts to babble, you can practice taking turns with words that they might be trying to say. For example, if they say "mamama" you can say "mommy's here" or "bababa" you can say "want bottle".

Check out our other parent resources and blogs about how to help enhance and grow your child's speech and language skills during these specific age ranges.

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

Resources:

ASHA. (n.d.). Communication milestones: Birth to 1 year. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-birth-to-1-year/

4-6 months: Is Your Child Meeting Their Speech and Language Milestones? What You Need to Know.

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:55:43 GMT

What are the speech and language milestones for a child ages 4 to 6 months old? Below we will review the following: key vocabulary terms when discussing speech and language milestones, milestones expected in the age ranges 4 - 6 months, and examples or clarification for each milestone.

Key Terms:

Speech & Language Milestones: the speech, language, and hearing skills that most children (90%) will demonstrate by identified ages

Speech: how we say sounds and words - articulation, fluency, or voice

Language: the words we use and how we use them to share ideas and get what we want.

Receptive Language: the ability to understand/comprehend language (following directions, vocabulary, sentence comprehension)
Expressive Language: the ability to express self using language - by gestures, sign language, verbally, or a communication device (vocabulary, grammar)
Pragmatic Language: the use of appropriate communication in social situations

Speech and Language Milestones: 4- 6 months old:

Hearing & Understanding (Receptive Language):

Responds to facial expressions . Your child should begin to recognize and respond to facial expressions (ex: when you look at them and smile, they might respond by smiling back). You can work on this skill by going back and forth making new facial expressions (i.e. happy, surprised, confused, etc.).
Looks at objects of interest and follows objects with their eyes. Your child should be able to track different objects or toys that they are interested. You can move a ball or book and practice them turning their head and/or following with their eyes.
Reacts to toys that make sounds , like those with bells or music . Your child may show signs of excitement (ex: kicking their legs and moving their arms) when they hear a toy such as a rattle or a battery-operated toy that makes noise (ex: keyboard). It is important to note that if your child does not respondto sounds, you should contact your pediatrician to see if they are hearing correctly.

Talking (Expressive Language):

Giggles and laughs . During this age range, babies should start to laugh and giggle. You can play fun anticipatory games (i.e. tickling activities, peek-a-boo, etc.) with your child to encourage them to laugh. During the activity, it may also help to change to pitch of your voice to make it more exciting and engaging for your child.
Vocalizes during play or with objects in mouth. Your child should be vocalizing or making noises that sound like stretched out vowel sounds or humming. (i.e. "mmmm" or "aaaaa").
Vocalizes different vowel sounds —sometimes combined with a consonant—like uuuuuummm, aaaaaaagoo, or daaaaaaaaaa. By 6 months of age, your child should be producing a variety of vowel sounds.
Blows “ raspberries " or blows air between their lips. You can encourage your child to blow "raspberries" by modeling it while they are looking in a mirror or looking at you. Pause for 10-20 seconds to allow your child to respond and try to blow "raspberries" themselves.

Check out our other parent resources and blogs about how to help enhance and grow your child's speech and language skills during these specific age ranges.

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

Resources:

ASHA. (n.d.). Communication milestones: Birth to 1 year. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-birth-to-1-year/

Birth-3 months: Speech and Language Milestones: Is your child meeting them?

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 08:52:29 GMT

What are the speech and language milestones for a child ages birth to 3 months old? Below we will review the following: key vocabulary terms when discussing speech and language milestones, milestones expected in the age ranges birth - 3 months, and examples or clarification for each milestone.

Key Terms:

Speech & Language Milestones: the speech, language, and hearing skills that most children (90%) will demonstrate by identified ages

Speech: how we say sounds and words - articulation, fluency, or voice

Language: the words we use and how we use them to share ideas and get what we want.

Receptive Language: the ability to understand/comprehend language (following directions, vocabulary, sentence comprehension)
Expressive Language: the ability to express self using language - by gestures, sign language, verbally, or a communication device (vocabulary, grammar)
Pragmatic Language: the use of appropriate communication in social situations

Speech and Language Milestones: Birth - 3 months old:

Hearing & Understanding (Receptive Language):

Startles at loud sounds - this lets you know that your child is able to hear correctly. When a child is able to hear correctly, they are able to receive the verbal information around them. If they are having difficulty hearing, they could eventually have difficulty distinguishing different sounds, miss what others are saying, and/or have deficits in both speech and language skills.
Quiets and smiles when you talk - this is a prelinguistic skill. Practicing this skill is the beginning of learning how to turn-take during conversation. Make sure to pause (10+ seconds) after speaking to give your child an opportunity to respond. A response may look like smiling, cooing, punching their arms, or kicking their legs).
Appears to recognize loved one's voices and quiets if crying. During this time, your child will also begin to turn towards voices or people talking. They are learning to locate sounds and starting to become interested in listening to conversation/talking.
Recognizes loved ones and some common objects . Your child might change their facial expression or appear excited when seeing a loved one (parent, caregiver, etc.) or familiar object (bottle, book, pet, etc.).

Talking (Expressive Language):

Makes cooing sounds - cooing sounds are vowel sounds (ex: "oooo", "ahh", or "mmm"). When practicing these sounds with your baby, it helps them to learn which sounds are important to learn to talk.
Makes sounds back and forth with you. Practicing sounds back and forth helps work on imitation of sounds and turn-taking skills. Copy what your child says and try to go back and forth. Remember to pause and give them ample time to respond.
Smiles at people - this is a great prelinguistic and social skill. Practicing this skill also allows babies to learn different emotions (i.e. happy, sad, angry, etc.). This also helps with imitation. Being able to imitate is an important skill a child needs in order to learn language.
Has different cries for different needs (ex: hunger, discomfort, tired, etc.). You may begin to recognize that your child's cries sound different whether they are hungry vs. tired. As you learn to distinguish these new cries yourself, look at your feeding and sleeping schedule to help give clues regarding what your child may need.

Check out our other parent resources and blogs about how to help enhance and grow your child's speech and language skills during these specific age ranges.

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development - some of the next steps you can take include:

contacting your child's pediatrician (ask for a referral for a speech and language evaluation)
contacting your local regional center to see if your child could be assessed
contacting a local speech therapy private practice that specializes in early language development

Resources:

ASHA. (n.d.). Communication milestones: Birth to 1 year. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-birth-to-1-year/

Exploring the Career Opportunities for Speech Therapists: Where Can They Work?

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 08:49:57 GMT

After graduating with a Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Sciences and Disorders, a speech therapist can choose a variety of settings to start their career. Some settings including:

Education (e.g. early intervention, preschools, K-12 public schools, private/charter schools)
Colleges/Universities (e.g. teaching, research, clinical supervision)
Health Care (e.g. hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health, outpatient services)
Private Practices (e.g. general or specialty practices)
Corporate (e.g. provide services for a company - assessments, training, etc.)
Government Agencies (e.g. local/state/federal, public health departments, uniformed services)

The top 3 most common settings speech therapists work are:

Schools - 53%
Health Care - 39%
Private practice - 19%

Many speech therapists work in multiple settings at a time. For example, in the beginning of my career I worked at an elementary public school during the day and was per diem at a skilled nursing facility in the afternoons. Other speech therapists might see private clients on the weekends after working at an inpatient hospital setting during the week.

Being a speech therapist allows them to make a difference in their community, specialize in a variety of areas, integrate their passions, grow in understanding, and teach others.

Resources:

ASHA. (2023). Employment settings for SLPS. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/students/employment-settings-for-slps/

When is the Right Time to Begin Speech Therapy Services?

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 08:20:01 GMT

Speech therapists are frequently asked, how old does my child have to be to start speech therapy services?

The answer is... it depends .

It depends on what your concerns are for your child and if those concerns are developmentally appropriate for your child's age.

Are they 12+ months old and still haven't said said their first word yet? Are they 3 years old and speak A LOT but, you can't understand anything they are trying to say? First, our recommendation would be to become familiar with speech and language milestones for children birth to 5 years of age (this is typically the age range when children start speech and language therapy services).

Furthermore, professionals and parents can use speech and language milestones to gauge if their child is developing on track or if they might benefit some extra support. In addition, speech and language milestones help parents ADVOCATE for their child to their child's pediatrician and request for a speech and language evaluation instead of hearing, "Let's just wait and see." By knowing speech and language milestones , parents can help explain to their child's pediatrician to why they need would benefit from an communication skills evaluation completed by a specialist, or speech-language pathologist.

In conclusion, if you see that your child is not yet meeting milestones that are expected to be mastered at their age, this would be the right time to look into speech therapy services. We recommend starting this process as soon as possible because many private speech therapy practices have long waiting lists... some 6-12 months long! These long waiting lists are due to a country-wide shortage of speech therapists.

Here at King Speech Therapy Services, we provide free consultation calls to determine if a full speech and language evaluation is necessary for your child. We are happy to support our community and help parents understand their different options moving forward.