Toddler Talk

Toddler Talk is an express speech therapy training for parents. As a parent, you want to know that your child is developing speech and language skills on time.
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Designed by expert pediatric speech therapists and moms, we will help you see if your toddler's communication is developing on track and learn how you can continue to grow their skills. If they’re falling behind, you naturally want to do everything in your power to get them on track. I have worked with hundreds of toddlers in a clinical setting, and I know it’s not a lack of will that’s standing i

n the way of improving your child’s language development, it’s a lack of resources. That’s why I created Toddler Talk, an easy way for you to take your toddler’s speech and language development into your own hands. It’s not a replacement for speech therapy - I’m a licensed speech therapist and I know first hand the value of professional help - Toddler Talk is a tool to help fill the gap during your child’s crucial early development when therapy is unavailable, or just impractical. It starts with a free online quiz. The quiz takes about 5 minutes to complete, and is designed to evaluate your child’s development in communication skills compared to hundreds of same aged peers. Your findings will help you identify which skills are developing on track and which skills you can support. If your child shows any signs of developmental delays in their communication skills, we absolutely recommend you speak to your pediatrician about a referral to a speech therapist. But therapy is not a magic wand that will fix your child’s development in 30-60 minutes per week. Every day is critical at this age, and every day is an opportunity for your child to learn. Toddler Talk provides you and your child with an action plan that allows you to grow their skills within the context of everyday life. These plans were developed by speech language-pathologists with a combined 35+ years of experience working with young children, and they are designed to put you, the parent, in the driver’s seat of your toddler’s language development. Your lesson plans include concise written and video tutorials on how to work on your child’s communication skills during your normal everyday activities. Whether you’re eating dinner, getting dressed, or just playing, you can interact with your child in a way that will set them up for success in future therapy, and in the real world. Toddler Talk also provides tools to monitor and track progress. We know you’re busy. But we also know that your child’s language development is too important for you to wait months to get started with therapy or to hand over their education to an app or automated service. Toddler Talk is simple, practical, and it puts you in control of your toddler’s day to day development. You don’t have to get a Master’s Degree in speech or quit your job to positively impact your child’s future. And you can start right away. Go to https://www.toddlertalk.com to begin your free quiz and get started with your first Toddler Talk lesson!

07/07/2024

Did you know? Every child develops at their own unique pace! 🌟

I’m on a mission to dive deeper into toddler speech and language milestones, and needyour help! By participating in our research study, you'll provide valuable insights intoyour child’s communication journey. It takes about 15 minutes from start to finish tocomplete the online survey!

Ready to join us? Head to 👉 Toddlertalk.com/research 👈 to learn more andparticipate!

Plus, as a thank you, participants will have the chance to win a $100 Amazon gift cardafter completing the survey!

To participate, you must:
❁ Be 19 years or older
❁ Live in the US
❁ Have a child between the ages of 12-36 months
❁ Read and speak English fluently
❁ Have a child who is exposed to English more than any other

language

06/22/2024

Hey there! I’m Stephanie Hatleli, a mom and pediatric speech therapist. I'm currently conducting a research project to explore toddler speech and language milestones from the perspective of parents like you.

I'm eager to learn firsthand from parents about how their toddlers communicate in real-time. Participating is simple – it’s a 15-minute online survey, and at the end, you'll have the chance to enter a raffle for a $100 Amazon gift card.

Ready to share your insights? Head over to toddlertalk.com/research to learn more and participate!

To participate, you must:

❁ Be 19 years or older
❁ Live in the US
❁ Have a child between the ages of 12-36 months
❁ Read and speak English fluently
❁ Have a child who is exposed to English more than any other language

Investigating toddler speech and language milestones from the parent's point of you. Participate today by completing a quick online survey.

08/28/2023

Choosing a handful of relevant words to teach your toddler each week or each month is a great strategy for vocabulary growth.

Focusing on a few words at a time helps us narrow our focus, which is helpful for toddler's learning and us! Plus, each time of year is associated with different holidays and weather, which means there will be new words you can teach your little one all year.

☑️To teach your child new words as kids start going back to school:

1. Pick a few words to focus on each week (1-5 words at a time is best)

2. Repeat the words you are focusing on many times, either in books, during play, or in your everyday activities

3. Repeat, repeat, repeat, and wait! Over time, listen for your child to begin to imitate the new words and maybe even say them on their own!

👉️ For more tips on how to encourage your little one to say new words, see my favorite speech therapy strategy! - the first LINK in my bio!

08/15/2023

Did your toddler ever surprise you by repeating something unexpected? We've all been there!

One way toddlers learn language is by overhearing conversations between adults.

Toddlers also learn language through interactions with us; we can talk to them directly to help them learn. Arguably, this is the easiest way for them to learn language.

BUT, they also learn when they listen to what we’re saying when we’re talking to other people. They’ll learn different vocabulary and grammar this way because we talk to adults differently than we talk to children.

Isn’t it amazing how toddlers are like a little sponge!? They’re soaking information up from everything and everyone around them!

Hopefully, this takes some of the pressure off feeling like you always need to narrate or always need to practice with speech and language at home! Just being around your children is helping them learn, even if they’re just eavesdropping on you!

08/11/2023

Did you know there are two important parts of language development?

You're using RECEPTIVE Language (input) when you listen and understand what others are saying. It's your brain's way of understanding when other people are communicating with you!

You're using EXPRESSIVE Language (output) when you use words to share your thoughts and feelings. You're also using expressive language when you point, use gestures, or change your body language when communicating with other!

👂 Receptive: Listening, understanding instructions, and answering questions.

🗣️ Expressive: Talking, sharing ideas, gestures, and telling stories.

Imagine this: When you're learning a new language, you might understand more words than you can say. It's the same for kids! In general, they'll understand what you're saying before they can say it themselves.

But if there's a big difference between understanding and talking, it could be helpful to talk to a speech therapist.

Remember, each talker is special and grows in their own way! Keep the conversations flowing! 💬

08/08/2023

🗣️ Before those first words, there's babbling, clapping, waving, and pointing – These are all ways that babies build their speech and language skills as their gear up for talking.

And even earlier, around 6-8 weeks, you'll catch the sweet cooing sounds, those adorable first vowel-like sounds your baby makes.

All these steps are like building blocks, helping your little one create a strong communication foundation. 🧱💬

Learn more about how you can support your little one at home! - Copy and paste the URLs 👌

Babbling 👇
https://toddlertalk.com/blog/when-do-babies-start-babbling

Waving and clapping 👇
https://toddlertalk.com/blog/when-do-babies-clap

Pointing 👇
https://toddlertalk.com/blog/pointing

First words 👇
https://toddlertalk.com/blog/baby-first-words-list

08/03/2023

Do boys really talk later than girls?! 💬

On average, yes. Research shows that boys and girls may have slight differences in language development timelines, but it's not a blanket rule.

Some boys might start producing words and sentences a bit later on average compared to girls. BUT, it's important to know that boys still develop their speech and language milestones within the expected ranges.

Researchers believe that nature and nurture may play a role in why boys generally talk a little later than girls.

To learn more about why boys might start talking later than girls - check out our blog post! I provide more detailed information and research!

https://toddlertalk.com/blog/do-boys-talk-later-than-girls

08/01/2023

Tomorrow is the first day of August! And the perfect time to teach your toddler a few new summer vocabulary words! ☀️

Choosing a handful of relevant words to teach your toddler each week or each month is a great strategy for vocabulary growth.

Focusing on a few words at a time helps us narrow our focus, which is helpful for toddlers' learning and us! Plus, each time of year is associated with different holidays and weather, which means there will be new words you can teach your little one all year.

☑️To teach your child new words this Summer:

1. Pick a few summer words to focus on each week (1-5 words at a time is best)

2. Repeat the words you are focusing on many times, either when you get out of the house, in books, or during play activities associated with the words

3. Repeat, repeat, repeat, and wait! Over time, listen for your child to begin to imitate the new words and maybe even say them on their own!

What words are you going to practice with? Leave a comment to let me know!! ☀️😎

06/30/2023

Remember the milestone: 2 words, 2 years!

But before toddlers reach the exciting milestone of combining 2 words, it's crucial to listen as they independently say around 50-100ish words. 🗣️ Providing them with a diverse range of words that encompass verbs, nouns, and descriptive words is key for successful combinations! Let's ensure they have a solid foundation of words to work with before working on combinations 😊

Ready for the next step? Here are a few tips to help toddlers put words together: 🌱

1️⃣ Add to what they've already said, giving examples of word combinations. "Daddy!" becomes "Daddy, look!" or "Daddy, stop!" based on their intention. 🗣️ Adding to what your child has already said gives them lots of combination examples to learn from!

2️⃣ Model phrases instead of questions. Use your tone to emphasize phrases like "More water!" rather than falling into the habit of asking questions like "More water?" Toddlers learn best by copying phrases! 🌟 (This may seem like a simple tip, but it can be so effective!)

3️⃣ Show them different combinations! Let's explore the countless ways words can be combined. Try pairing two words they already say on their own. It can be helpful to keep a list of words your child knows and plan ahead a few phrases you'll use repeatedly during an activity. The possibilities are endless! 🚀

For more tips and tricks on teaching word combinations - copy and paste this URL in your browser for a comprehensive guide with free activities and downloads!!

https://toddlertalk.com/blog/putting-2-words-together

06/28/2023

Have you ever wondered if it's normal to have a hard time understanding your child?

That's where speech intelligibility milestones come into play - it's a measurement used by speech therapists to assess how easy or hard it is to understand someone's speech. And here's the exciting part: speech intelligibility increases as children grow older, allowing you to gradually understand more and more of what your child is saying. It's a journey of communication and progress!

🔸 At 18 months, it's typical for a child's speech to be around 25% intelligible. That means you might catch only a quarter of what they say.

🔸 By the time they reach 24 months, that percentage jumps to around 50%. Their speech becomes more understandable, but still leaves room for interpretation.

🔸 As they hit the three-year mark, you can expect their speech intelligibility to reach approximately 75%. They're getting clearer and more confident in expressing themselves.

🔸 Finally, by the age of four, children's speech should be 100% intelligible. Their words flow effortlessly, and you'll understand them with ease.

✨ Keep in mind that tiredness, excitement, or feeling under the weather might temporarily impact their clarity. It's normal for children to be harder to understand during those moments.

🔹 If you ever have concerns about your child's speech development, don't hesitate to consult a pediatric speech therapist. They can provide expert guidance and support. 🙌

06/21/2023

Ever wondered what sets speech and language apart? Let's break it down in a simple way. 🧠 Language happens in the brain, while speech happens in the mouth. Language involves choosing words and arranging them correctly, while speech is the actual act of speaking those words aloud.

When Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) talk about speech, they're referring to the sounds produced by the mouth. This includes the way sounds are made and the sounds someone can or cannot produce. Speech issues can range from lisps or difficulty with certain sounds like "R." Stuttering, voice problems, cleft lip and palate, and apraxia of speech are other examples of speech production issues SLPs can address.

It's important to note that not all speech concerns are problems, especially for young children. Toddlers may naturally omit sounds from words, and preschoolers may lisp—both within the typical range. However, these patterns in adults may be atypical and affect communication. If you have concerns about your child's speech, an SLP can provide a thorough evaluation and guide you on what's typical for their age.

Language, on the other hand, encompasses understanding and expression. When your child follows directions, answers questions, or requests a snack, they are using language skills. Difficulties in language development can manifest as late talking, limited comprehension, grammar challenges, or struggles with organizing thoughts. SLPs are skilled in identifying language issues, distinguishing age-appropriate milestones, and helping children improve their language abilities.

If you have questions about your child's speech or language development, a speech-language pathologist can lend a listening ear, provide guidance, and determine if any intervention is needed. Let's empower our little ones to communicate effectively! 💬💕

06/19/2023

Is your little one a late talker? Late talking is pretty common among toddlers, in fact about 13% of toddlers will fall into this category.

If your child is a late talker, 🗣️ you may notice some signs that indicate your little one could benefit from extra support in developing their language skills. If your child is not using words or only using a few words by the age of two, has difficulty following simple instructions, struggles to imitate sounds or words, or shows limited social interactions through language, it might be time to consider an evaluation.

Did you know that more than half of late talkers will catch up on their own? 🗣️ However, some children may require the support of speech therapy to help them along their language journey. It's difficult to predict which category your child falls into, which is why I recommend a proactive speech and language evaluation for late talkers.

📅 Schedule an evaluation to gain insights into your child's strengths and areas that need nurturing. Discover specific techniques to support their language development and boost their confidence. Whether or not speech therapy is recommended, you'll have peace of mind knowing you're taking proactive steps to help your child communicate effectively. 💬💕

06/15/2023

Does your toddler have a lisp? 👅

Lisps are pretty common in toddlers because they are still learning to pronounce the S and Z sound - both of these sounds appear in some words in toddlerhood and in most every word during the preschool years.

🔹 What is a lisp? 🔹

A lisp is a unique speech error where a child (or adult) positions their tongue between their teeth, resulting in a "th" or lisp sound instead of the correct "s" or "z" sound formed by placing the tongue behind the teeth.

🔹 Do all lisps require treatment? 🔹

When people refer to a "lisp," they generally mean the incorrect pronunciation of "S" and "Z" sounds. There are two types of lisps to be aware of:

1️⃣ The first type occurs when a child places their tongue between their front teeth, creating a lisp that resembles a "th" sound. This is a normal developmental pattern in children, and it often resolves on its own. Treatment is typically not recommended until the child reaches at least first grade, or if it is caused by a tongue thrust.

2️⃣ The second type, known as a lateral lisp, occurs when the tongue pushes against the side teeth. If you come across an adult with a lisp, it is likely to be a lateral lisp. Unlike the first type, lateral lisps do not correct themselves and always require treatment. In these cases, early intervention is key, as long as the child is emotionally mature enough to participate in therapy.

🔸 Remember, every child is unique, and it's essential to consult with a speech-language pathologist for personalized guidance if you have questions or concerns about your child's speech.

06/09/2023

💡Understanding the difference between early sentences and phrases is essential for tracking your child's language development.

Hi, my name is Stephanie and I’m a pediatric speech therapist in California. I’ve worked with thousands of families to support early language development.

Early sentences consist of a subject and at least a verb. 💭And phrases are shorter language units that lack a subject-verb relationship.

Phrases are an important step in language development and early sentences indicate a significant advancement as they demonstrate a deeper understanding of grammar and communication.

👉 Are you wondering how to encourage your child to use early sentences? Here are 3 effective strategies:

1️⃣ Turn word combinations into sentences: Repeat your child's word combination and expand it into an early sentence. For example, when they say "Mommy up," respond with "Mommy, pick me up." It provides them with examples they can imitate to create their own sentences.

2️⃣ Repeat sentences in various ways: Say the same sentence but with different variations. This helps your child grasp the structure and provides more examples. Repetition is key for toddlers' learning.

3️⃣ Emphasize keywords: Use correct grammar and emphasize the important words when speaking to your child. This helps them understand how sentences should be formed. For example, say "Mommy's eating her dinner" instead of "Mommy eat."

If you want to learn more about teaching early sentences, I've created a comprehensive blog post with valuable tips and a free activity links! Copy & paste this link into your browser!

https://toddlertalk.com/blog/early-sentences

05/12/2023

Toddler pronoun mix-ups are common!

Pronouns are more abstract than other words like "ball" or "dancing" because their meaning changes based on who is talking and who/what is being referred to.

As a pediatric speech therapist, I've developed a different way of looking at pronoun milestones based on my experience. These are some rough guidelines for which pronouns toddlers typically learn at different ages.

What's different between my milestones and others?

Well many other speech therapists will cite research from the 1980's that says 1 year olds learn the pronoun "I" first. This isn't a trend I've observed, and I even polled 500+ of your here on IG and more than 80% said that their little one learned "me" before "I." In my opinion some changes were needed.

I made some adjustments to the milestones that I feel are a little more reflective of how most toddlers learn pronouns. But, as with everything in development, children learn new skills at different paces and times.

If you have any concerns, always reach out to your pediatrician & you can discuss pronoun milestones together 👍️

↓ To learn more, head to our blog! ↓

https://toddlertalk.com/blog/toddler-mixes-up-pronouns

05/10/2023

Did you just say, "flowers"? ⁠
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Words evolve over time as toddlers practice with pronunciation.⁠
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Words will start to sound closer and closer to the way we say it as:⁠
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👉 Your child begins to pronounce more sounds. The er, s, f, and l sounds are often learned later in toddlerhood.
👉 Your child is able to combine more sounds in the same word. The word flowers starts with the F+L sound combination, which children usually become proficient with between the ages of 4-5 years old.
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The best ways to practice with pronunciation are to:⁠
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👍 Repeat back the words your child says - this incognito feedback is a great way to help your child get closer and closer to the correct pronunciation. ⁠
👍 Know which sounds to listen for and which sounds your child will learn to pronounce later on - Download our Free Toddler Pronunciation Guide to learn which sounds to expect!
👍 Try to create opportunities to practice each day - practicing every day will help them learn faster as compared to practicing a few times each week. This could mean playing with trucks once a day or reading a book with pictures of trucks at story time everyday for a week. ⁠
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Don't forget to check out our toddler pronunciation guide! https://toddlertalk.com/blog/what-is-an-articulation-disorder

03/17/2023

Have you ever wondered about the stages your toddler goes through when learning to play with others? ⁠
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As a speech therapist, I'm excited to share some insights on these important milestone. Toddlers first start playing "together" in parallel play. This happens after toddlers turn 2 years old, and sharing can still be challenging for toddlers at this stage (that's to be expected :)⁠
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Associative play and cooperative play are when children really begin to play TOGETHER. These stages occur at around 3 years old and 4 years old, around the time that children may start in a preschool classroom. ⁠
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To learn more about the stages of play, visit our blog 🔗 link in bio. Or copy and paste this URL into your browser ➡️ https://toddlertalk.com/blog/toddler-stages-of-play⁠
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03/16/2023

Did you just say, "rainbow"? ⁠
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Words evolve over time as toddlers practice with pronunciation.⁠
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Words will start to sound closer and closer to the way we say it as:⁠
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👉 Your child begins to pronounce harder to say sounds. The R sound in particular is often developed later, during the preschool years. So if your 2 year old isn't pronouncing the R in rainbow just yet there's no need to worry. ⁠
👉 Your child is able to combine more sounds in the same word. The word rainbow has two distinct parts, and it's normal for toddlers to leave off one part or shorten both parts of the word as they are developing their pronunciation⁠
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The best ways to practice with pronunciation are to:⁠
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👍 Repeat back the words your child says - this incognito feedback is a great way to help your child get closer and closer to the correct pronunciation. ⁠
👍 Know which sounds to listen for and which sounds your child will learn to pronounce later on - Download our Free Toddler Pronunciation Guide to learn which sounds to expect! ⁠
👍 Try to create opportunities to practice each day - practicing every day will help them learn faster as compared to practicing a few times each week. This could mean playing with trucks once a day or reading a book with pictures of trucks at story time everyday for a week. ⁠
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Don't forget to check out our toddler pronunciation guide! 🔗 link in bio⁠
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04/25/2022

Why is it so important to support emerging communication skills in toddlers? ⁠
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I've shared 10 reasons here (and there are so many more!) ⁠
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Babies and toddlers are learning new skills at an unparalleled pace 🏃 Their brains are growing and their unique personalities emerge as they interact with other people and the world around them. ⁠
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If you've been considering speech therapy or at home practice for your child, I recommend you give it a try. There is so much possibility to be gained! ⁠
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Get started with one of my free resources! All links in bio 😁⁠
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04/23/2022

Laying on the ground and looking up at the trees for … it’s always fun to be like a little kid!

04/14/2022

I wanted to show 👀 you the importance of early intervention. ⁠
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Here you see 3 vocabulary growth charts (just like height or weight charts you may see at the doctor's office). ⁠
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The blue line shows a toddler's vocabulary developing "on track."⁠
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The yellow and pink lines show delayed vocabulary development. ⁠
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The difference is that the yellow child started speech therapy at 18 months when their pediatrician noticed their vocabulary size was slightly smaller than other children their own age. ⁠
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The pink lines shows a child who took the 'wait and see' approach. They started speech therapy at 24 months. You can clearly how this child will have to work extra hard to catch up.⁠
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My intention isn't to alarm anyone with this graphic! And this is my reminder that it's never too late to get started!! ⁠
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But I do hope to advocate for starting early to boost toddler's skills when the gap is small, rather than waiting until they have to work extra hard to catch up to their peers. ⁠
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If you are concerned that your child's speech and language skills may be falling behind be sure to speak to your pediatrician or search "CDC Early Intervention" and follow the links on their website to contact your state's early intervention department to get support without a doctor's referral. ⁠

04/07/2022

Has your little one been scheduled for a speech and language evaluation?

Or maybe you're curious about what a family can expect at the appointment.

I'll admit, the idea of an "evaluation" seems intimidating, so I hope this post can make you feel more at ease.

Yes, this is an important appointment! You will get some answers about what skills are on track and which skills may be behind for your child. You'll also come up with a treatment plan to help boost your child's skills if needed.

BUT the environment is friendly and casual! 😃 We want to give your child the best chance of feeling at home so they can show us their best skills!

When you arrive the speech therapist will have toys available for your child to play with as they ask you questions about your child's communication skills and what your concerns are.

Your child will have a chance to play with the speech therapist. Most speech therapists will have tons of toys and activities to choose from, so they can pick something your child really enjoys!

At the end, the speech therapist should work with you to come up with a plan to boost your child's skills that is feasible and meets your family's needs.

If you're wanting to learn even more, we have an extensive description of what to expect at a toddler speech and language evaluation on our blog!

🔗 https://toddlertalk.com/blog/speech-and-language-evaluation

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Toddler Talk. Our Purpose.

Hi, my name is Stephanie. I'm a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in California with a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Columbia University.

For the last three years, I worked at one of the country's leading children's hospitals. I loved helping young children reach breakthroughs in communication and empowering their parents to play an important in the process; however, I identified what I believe are significant gaps in the standard procedures. More specifically, delays in access to care and or delays in identifying the specific help your child needs can compound your child's communication challenges. In my experience, the longer you wait to get started, the more embedded children's speech and language difficulties become.

I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to get a head start for you and your child. By becoming a part of the Toddler Talk community, you not only gain access to the most proven methods for helping your child, you also participate by providing important feedback regarding results that help us all continue to develop class-leading tools and activities to accelerate your child's speech and language development.

Happy Talking,