The Language of Play - Kids that Listen, Speech Therapy, Language Development, Early Intervention

Hey Friends~  Everybody has advice about your child. But who is helping you trust what YOU notice?  The game another family recommends ends in tears at your house. The strategy that works for another family doesn’t work in yours. What if those moments give you valuable information about your child? Dr. Noreen Russell joins me to talk about becoming a scientist of your own child: watching, getting curious, and discovering what actually helps them.   She explains how she understood what her kids were communicating through their behavior. We also explore how everyday play builds problem-solving skills and why letting your child see you make a mistake can be a wonderful teaching opportunity! Come listen for encouragement to trust your observations and make room for learning in the life you’re already living. Always cheering you on!  Dinalynn CONTACT the Host, Dinalynn:  [email protected] Have a QUESTION or COMMENT? Leave a voice message!  https://castfeedback.com/play TWEBSITE:  https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/   THE LISTENING LAB WAITLIST:  https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/waitlist ABOUT THE GUEST:   Dr. Norrine Russell is an educator, author, and nationally recognized expert in ADHD, autism, and executive functioning. She is the founder and director of Russell Coaching for Students, established in 2009, where she leads a team of coaches supporting students with neurodevelopmental differences and executive functioning challenges. Her doctoral research explored the development of critical thinking in female students, and she has completed advanced study in positive psychology through the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University. Dr. Russell also hosts the podcast ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety: Breaking Out of the Box, where she brings together research, professional expertise, and lived experience to help families better understand and support neurodivergent young people. CONTACT THE GUEST:  www.russellcoaching.com   IF YOU LIKED THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL WANT TO LISTEN TO THESE EPISODES: 287 Forget the Alphabet. Start With What Your Child Cares About | Lindsey Carleton, SLP 288 She Screamed, Kicked and was Called a “Little Tyrant.”Now Shraddha Oza Explains What She Needed 282 Why Are Transitions So Hard for Young Kids? And How To Create A Visual Schedule  That Works! 280 My Child KNOWS How to Do This! " So Why Won't They Listen? 3 Ways to Help Them Follow 279 Do You Want Cooperation or Compliance? What’s the Difference—and Why Does It Matter? with Katherine Sellery   Love this podcast?  Let us know!  https://lovethepodcast.com/play Follow & subscribe in 1-click!  https://followthepodcast.com/play   To SPONSOR The Language Of Play, schedule your call here:  https://calendly.com/hello-play/discovery-session To DONATE to The Language Of Play, Use this secure payment link: https://app.autobooks.co/pay/the-language-of-play  

Hey Friends~  You ask your child to do something simple, and you are confident they understand, but everything becomes a struggle. Is it stubbornness? Frustration? Something else? Calling it “stubbornness” doesn’t tell you what to do next. It sort of puts up a diagnosis with a stop sign! We have lots of words for stubbornness: resistance, refusal, headstrong, and some not-so-nice expressions as well. We get frustrated and carry a sense of helplessness because we don’t know how to change it. And the result? We get mad! Mad at our kids and mad at ourselves. I know. I have been there. When a child is non-verbal and seems to understand, the confusion and frustration can be overwhelming and unsettling.  In this episode, we’ll explore:  What might be driving that resistant behavior? Let’s get curious about what may make cooperation difficult for this little four-year-old who isn’t yet speaking - and there is a lot of overlap for kids who are speaking as well.   Always cheering you on!  Dinalynn CONTACT the Host, Dinalynn:  [email protected] Have a QUESTION or COMMENT? Leave a voice message!  https://castfeedback.com/play Website:  https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/ WAITLIST:  https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/waitlist   IF YOU LIKED THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL WANT TO LISTEN TO THESE EPISODES: 80 Teaching or Telling.  Know The Difference For Better Listening and Compliance! 86 Empowered Choice or Control? Which is it? 279 Do You Want Cooperation or Compliance? What’s the Difference—and Why Does It Matter? with Katherine Sellery 280 My Child KNOWS How to Do This! " So Why Won't They Listen? 3 Ways to Help Them Follow   Finding this podcast helpful?  Let us know!  https://lovethepodcast.com/play Follow & subscribe in 1-click!  https://followthepodcast.com/play   To SPONSOR The Language Of Play, schedule your call here:  https://calendly.com/hello-play/discovery-session To DONATE to The Language Of Play, Use this secure payment link: https://app.autobooks.co/pay/the-language-of-play

Hey Friends~  You’ve told your child what comes next, but they’re still not moving. Then the tears start, and a simple morning routine becomes a struggle - again.   What if your child needs more time and support to do what you’re asking? Today’s guest was once that child, having those big meltdowns. Getting ready for school could become so overwhelming that her parents carried her to the car, and the school director helped her transition into the classroom. Now, she she shares her story to help families understand what may be happening beneath the tears and resistance. She explains how predictable routines, simpler language, and time to process can help children move from overwhelmed to ready for the next step. From slowing down the morning rush to adding a silly wiggle between tasks, Shraddha shares practical ways to make everyday routines feel more manageable and connected. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why moving from one activity to another can be difficult for a young child. How predictability helps children feel secure. Why fewer words can help when emotions are high. How staying calm and allowing time for feelings can support your child. Simple ways to use short scripts, familiar cues, and play during routines. Why understanding an instruction and being able to follow through are different skills. If you’re tired of repeating yourself or wondering why everyday tasks feel so hard, this conversation offers a fresh way to understand what your child may need. Always cheering you on!  Dinalynn CONTACT the Host, Dinalynn:  [email protected] Have a QUESTION or COMMENT? Leave a voice message!  https://castfeedback.com/play WEBSITE:  https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/ WAITLIST:  https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/waitlist ABOUT THE GUEST:   Shraddha is a speech-language pathologist with 16 years of clinical experience spanning the US, UK, and India. A two-time ASHA ACE Award recipient, she currently leads in a supervisory role at a Los Angeles-based telehealth practice. She’s also the founder of Wonder Words, a platform dedicated to play-based language and executive function development for young children and their families. Shraddha is passionate about translating clinical expertise into practical, everyday tools parents can use, helping families see play not just as fun, but as the foundation for how kids learn to think, communicate, and problem-solve.  CONTACT THE GUEST: [email protected] IG: wonderwords503   IF YOU LIKED THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL WANT TO LISTEN TO THESE EPISODES: 285 Why Your Child Falls Apart After School: When “Not Listening” Is Actually Overload 282 Why Are Transitions So Hard for Young Kids? And How To Create A Visual Schedule  That Works! 280 My Child KNOWS How to Do This! " So Why Won't They Listen? 3 Ways to Help Them Follow 279 Do You Want Cooperation or Compliance? What’s the Difference—and Why Does It Matter? with Katherine Sellery   Love this podcast?  Let us know!  https://lovethepodcast.com/play Follow & subscribe in 1-click!  https://followthepodcast.com/play   To SPONSOR The Language Of Play, schedule your call here:  https://calendly.com/hello-play/discovery-session To DONATE to The Language Of Play, Use this secure payment link: https://app.autobooks.co/pay/the-language-of-play

Hey Friends~  Would you love for your child to learn another language, but wonder how to help when you don’t speak it yourself?  You can begin learning together, and everyday moments offer a place to start. In this episode, fellow speech-language pathologist Lindsey joins me to explore how parents can introduce another language through the things their little ones are already doing, noticing, and caring about. Where do you begin? You might think of colors, counting, or the alphabet, but Lindsey shares a different starting point, one that follows your child’s interests and fits naturally into the rhythm of your day. In this conversation, we explore: How to get started without being fluent yourself. What to focus on BEFORE colors, numbers, and letters. How everyday interactions create opportunities for language learning. Why these ideas are also useful for children still learning their first language. Whether you’re introducing Spanish or supporting your toddler’s first words, this episode will help you recognize opportunities to connect, practice, and learn together. Always cheering you on!  Dinalynn CONTACT the Host, Dinalynn:  [email protected] Have a QUESTION or COMMENT? Leave a voice message!  https://castfeedback.com/play WEBSITE:  https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/ WAITLIST:  https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/waitlist ABOUT THE GUEST:   Lindsey Carleton, MA, CCC-SLP, is a bilingual, licensed speech-language pathologist with over 11 years of clinical experience and the founder of Palabra Garden, a Montessori-inspired bilingual curriculum for kids ages 2–5. Not a native or heritage Spanish speaker, Lindsey learned it in college and through clinical work with bilingual families — and now helps parents raise bilingual kids without being fluent themselves.    CONTACT THE GUEST:   Company Name: Palabra Garden Website: palabragarden.com Email: [email protected] Socials: @PalabraGarden on Facebook and Instagram We offer freebies/printables to get families started at palabragarden.com/freebie I'd like to offer listeners a discount on our 12 month curriculum so please enter the discount code: LANGUAGEOFPLAY at checkout for 15% off    IF YOU LIKED THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL WANT TO LISTEN TO THESE EPISODES: 07 How Language is Learned in a Dual Language Home 08 Bilingual Kids and Speaking Delays in Multi-Language Households 220 What Does “A Language Rich Environment” Really Mean?   Love this podcast?  Let us know!  https://lovethepodcast.com/play Follow & subscribe in 1-click!  https://followthepodcast.com/play   To SPONSOR The Language Of Play, schedule your call here:  https://calendly.com/hello-play/discovery-session To DONATE to The Language Of Play, Use this secure payment link: https://app.autobooks.co/pay/the-language-of-play

Hey Friends~  How many words should your 2-year-old be saying? There are developmental norms - and those numbers matter. But words don’t come out of nowhere. There are foundational communication skills developing underneath spoken language that help those words grow. In this episode, we’ll talk about what’s typical at age two, what actually builds vocabulary, and where to focus when words are slow to come. You’ll leave knowing what to pay attention to and some simple ways to encourage more meaningful language in everyday life. In this episode: How many words we expect from a 2-year-old What builds language before and alongside spoken words The most useful kinds of first words to focus on Why colors, shapes, and numbers aren’t the best place to start How pictures and books can help build spoken language What to watch for when words are slow to come The number matters. But so does what builds the number. Always cheering you on!  Dinalynn CONTACT the Host, Dinalynn:  [email protected] Have a QUESTION or COMMENT? Leave a voice message!  https://castfeedback.com/play Website:  https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/   *Parent Group WAITLIST:  https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/waitlist BRINGING BACK OLD EPISODES ON THESE TOPICS!  04 One-Year-Old Language Learning with a Book 05 Building and Understanding Language Through Our Senses 11 Building Deeper connection Through Communication using SIGNS with your Babies 144 Your 1-Year-Old Not Speaking? 3 Steps To Help Your Little Speak   Love this podcast?  Let us know!  https://lovethepodcast.com/play Follow & subscribe in 1-click!  https://followthepodcast.com/play   To SPONSOR The Language Of Play, schedule your call here:  https://calendly.com/hello-play/discovery-session To DONATE to The Language Of Play, Use this secure payment link: https://app.autobooks.co/pay/the-language-of-play