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

Hey Friends~ 

“My child understands everything but doesn’t talk much.” 

“My child talks, but I can’t always tell what they mean.”

If those worries sound familiar, this episode is for you! 

This is Episode 4 in the series When Communication Is Hard, and today we’re exploring expressive and receptive language delays. We’ll untangle what these differences look like so you can better understand what’s happening in your child’s communic...

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It's national reading month - or "I love to read" month! So we are taking a quick stop in our series to focus on reading, but not only reading, but how reading can support speech sound development!

Is your child learning how to read? Are you a bit puzzled knowing HOW to help them read?  

If that is you you will love today’s episode as we talk with a reading specialist on the very beginning of reading!  You will learn ...

Hey Friends~ 

If your child’s speech is hard to understand, uses unusual patterns, or sounds younger than their age, you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re looking at speech sound disorders, phonological delays, and articulation challenges. I’ll help you sort out what’s developmental, what might need support, and how everyday play can support clearer speech—without correcting every word.

Always cheering you on! 

Dinalynn

CONTACT ...

Hey Friends~ 

This episode is part 2 of the series “When Communication is Hard.”   

Today we’re talking about childhood apraxia of speech and other motor speech disorders—what they are, and why speech can be so effort-filled for some kids. If your child knows what they want to say but can’t consistently get the words out, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface. 

We’ll also talk about why “j...

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If you’ve ever wondered why communication feels hard for your child—and confusing for you—this series is for you. In this opening conversation, I’m laying the groundwork for the entire series titled, “When Communication Is Hard”.  We’ll talk about the many reasons communication can break down PLUS  strategies that will help you identify what is happening and something to try!  This podcast is to help those who want t...

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This week is Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week! And on TLOP,  we’re celebrating an imaginative storyteller who helps kids grow brave, curious, and confident. So it felt like the perfect time to discuss: what shapes an author who writes stories that help children feel brave and confident?

In this episode, I talk with children’s author Rella B. about imagination, courage, and the heart behind stories that invite ...

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Have you ever thought, “I understand my child just fine… so maybe their speech isn’t really a problem” ? Or wondered, “Maybe they’ll just grow out of their listening struggles as they grow,”  but the waiting is really hard! 

You’re not alone. And you’re not wrong for wondering!

Some of the most common beliefs—ones that make complete sense to caring parents—can quietly delay the support kids need for speech, listening...

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This episode is about the journey of podcasting and coaching and what I have learned after 250 episodes.  

I invite you to email “congratulations” to me to share in this milestone celebration.  And, when you do, I will email you back with a fun pdf that will bring a smile to your face as well as offer support and encouragement. 

I think you may be surprised and get a laugh along the way today! 

Always cheering you on!...

Hey Friends~ 

Today’s conversation is unusual for this podcast, but an important one. Over half of marriages end in divorce, and about 30% of those become high-conflict - deeply impacting children.

This week, I’m joined by Lisa Johnson, a high-conflict divorce coach, to unpack the often-misunderstood topic of coercive control. We talk about what it is, the red flags within relationships, how it shows up during divorce and custody b...

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What’s really happening when kids struggle in school?  

“Trying harder” just doesn’t work!  Many kids benefit from a multi-sensory approach to learn reading.  It works because this actually matches how the young  brain works. 

If your child is bright but frustrated, resistant, or falling behind despite everyone’s best efforts, this episode with Dr. Emily Levy, will help you see those struggles through a new lens.  You...

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The kitchen isn’t just about food. It’s about connection. 

Some of the most meaningful conversations happen while hands are busy - pulling grapes off stems, chopping, stirring. That’s often when kids open up about friendships, worries, or their day. The kitchen becomes the heart of the home.  

In this episode,  Misa,  helps families navigate the kitchen in a way that builds skills and relationships, especially when pi...

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Are you a soothing presence for your kids?  According to today’s guest, a soothing presence is someone who is okay when you are not okay.   Usually these are specific people. You can probably know who your person  is.  Who will be okay when you are not?  

As parents we want to be a soothing presence for our children.  Fortunately, it is simply a skill to learn.  So, if you did not have that from your parents growing u...

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The holidays can be exciting, but for many kids they are overwhelming. Travel, loud gatherings, new routines, and unfamiliar people can push children into meltdown mode, especially when language shuts down under stress. In this episode, we talk about how to use simple toys to prepare kids for upcoming changes, help them calm during holiday chaos, and create a sense of safety when words don’t work. If your child strug...

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 If you’ve been leaning on screens to help your little one talk, you’re not alone. It often feels like the easiest option — and with all the advertising, it can even seem like the smartest choice when you’re worried.   But real language grows through real play.  

With Christmas coming up, I’m sharing ten toys and games that you can suggest to gift-giving friends and family - so you get gifts that provide powerful, com...

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When your children start telling you stories, have you ever wondered how to keep that creativity going?  How about when what they tell is outlandish, imaginative, and there is no logic at all, have you been concerned you should stop it?  It’s easy to shut them down in our fast-paced analytical, task-oriented mind.  

 How do you engage your children in a way that expands their ideas and expression when you can’t really...

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 What if mouth breathing isn’t just a habit… but a symptom? In today’s episode, I’m joined by a guest who revealed something I hadn’t fully understood in all my years in this field: crooked teeth, small jaws, restless behavior, trouble with focus, even lingering speech sound errors can ALL be connected to how well a child is BREATHING.

You’ll hear how an under-developed airway affects far more than speech and behavio...

Hey Friends~ 

Recently, I got a written message from a listener who wrote, ‘My husband is Serbian and speaks Serbian to our son. I speak English, but I don’t speak Serbian well. Our little one is just 17 months and very vocal — but in my expat group, parents worry their bilingual kids might be confused. How young is too young for two languages? And how old is too old for 2 languages?” 

It’s such a good question — and one that so ma...

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Today is the next in the SERIES: Speech & Language Delays, and  we’re diving into therapy and intervention options for parents - and looking closely at two main groups of kids. 1) The first group includes children who have been tested and qualify for speech therapy, but the help available just doesn’t feel like enough. and

2) The second group is often the largest - and sometimes the most frustrated. Maybe your ch...

Hey Friends~ Have you ever wondered what Montessori is and how it is different from traditional education? In this episode, we dive deep into a description of what Montessori is, where this educational model came from,  how language and communication is naturally promoted within the structure, and the benefits of Montessori with  Marsha Familaro Enright, a Montessori expert. So if you have ever been curious about Montessori, thi...