The Toddler Talk Blog

Learn about toddler speech and language development from expert pediatric speech therapists and moms.

Toddler Talk Blog For At Home Speech Therapy
Understanding Toddler Pronoun Mix-Ups
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

Understanding Toddler Pronoun Mix-Ups

If you're a mom of a toddler who mixes up pronouns or struggles with using them correctly, don't worry, it's completely normal! In this blog post, you'll find easy and fun tips on how to help your toddler learn pronouns through play and everyday activities, as well as why it's important to seek help from a speech therapist if needed.

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Early Intervention Speech Therapy
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

Early Intervention Speech Therapy

Early intervention is designed to identify and address developmental challenges early on, before they become more significant or harder to treat. Early intervention speech therapy helps toddlers with communication delays. Discover what the research says about early intervention speech therapy and early intervention speech therapy activities you can do at home.

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When do babies say “Mama!”?
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

When do babies say “Mama!”?

Discover when babies usually say “Mama!” And how to know when they are babbling mama versus when your baby is saying “Mama” and actually means it. Plus, we’ll share some speech therapy tips for teaching your little one to say “Mama” if they haven’t already!

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What is echolalia?
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

What is echolalia?

Echolalia is a form of verbal repetition that involves copying words or phrases spoken by others and is most commonly known as a characteristic of autism. Discover echolalia examples, reasons why children use echolalia, and how echolalia can transform to flexible language.

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How many words should my child have?
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

How many words should my child have?

Many parents wonder how many words their toddler should actually be saying. With conflicting milestones online, it can be confusing. This post takes the best available research to tell you how many words your child should have at different ages throughout toddlerhood.

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What counts as a word?
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

What counts as a word?

You’re not alone if you’re wondering “What counts as a word?” It’s one of the most common toddler parent questions. This post covers baby signs, animal sounds, sound effects, and mispronounced toddler words.

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Play + Language Developing Together
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

Play + Language Developing Together

Play and language develop simultaneously in toddlers. Discover how understanding play and language stages can help you choose the best toddler toys and help your little one reach the next developmental stage.

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Toddler Stages of Play
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

Toddler Stages of Play

As babies and toddlers get older their play develops and changes. In this post we talk about the stages of play that toddlers progress through. We’ll also cover how toddlers learn to play with one another.

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Laundry Games For Toddlers
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

Laundry Games For Toddlers

Laundry games are an excellent way to turn your everyday chores into learning opportunities for your little one. Learn 3 different ways that you can help your toddler learn to talk while doing laundry together.

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Baby Gestures: Making a big statement without saying a word!
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

Baby Gestures: Making a big statement without saying a word!

Baby gestures, like clapping, waving, and blowing kisses, are exciting ways that your little one is communicating with you. See why gestures are so important, learn 16 gestures you can teach by 16 months, and my speech therapy tips for teaching baby gestures at home.

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Help! My very active toddler is not talking
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

Help! My very active toddler is not talking

You may be wondering, is it “normal” for my very active toddler to not be talking yet? In this post, we’ll cover what is expected in terms of talking skills at different ages throughout toddlerhood and what you can do if your active toddler isn’t talking yet.

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Overextension in Toddler Language
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

Overextension in Toddler Language

Overextension is a typical phenomenon in toddler language development. It happens when a child uses one word for everything in a particular category. For example, all round objects are called balls. See these tips and tricks for helping your child grow past overextension.

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How much does speech therapy cost?
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

How much does speech therapy cost?

Let’s talk about how much speech therapy for toddlers costs. We’ll break down the overall costs of speech therapy through public programs, insurance, and private pay so you can choose the speech therapy option that works best for you.

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To Preschool Speech Therapy & Beyond
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

To Preschool Speech Therapy & Beyond

Preschool speech therapy is available through the US public school system. If your child is 3 years (36 months) or older, you can follow these 8 steps to get started in speech therapy through the public schools.

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Did I cause my child’s speech delay?
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

Did I cause my child’s speech delay?

Many parents are struggling with the question, “Did I cause my child’s speech delay?” This post walks you through the most common causes of speech delay (which have nothing to do with parents!) and give you some actionable steps to take if your toddler does have a speech delay.

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Does speech therapy work?
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

Does speech therapy work?

If you’ve been wondering, “Does speech therapy work?” know that you’re not alone. We’ll talk about some of the most common reasons why speech therapy isn’t working and what you can do to turn things around and help your child progress.

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The 4 Question Quiz!
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

The 4 Question Quiz!

Take this quick 4 question quiz to find the best speech therapy resources and activities for you. Rest assured we have resources to meet your child where they’re at, from the first developing language skills to the late toddlerhood ones.

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Teaching Your Child How To Say Their Name
Stephanie Keffer Stephanie Keffer

Teaching Your Child How To Say Their Name

When your child says their name will be different depending on their name. Learn the guidelines for what makes some toddler names easier or harder to say. Find out when to expect your baby to say their name; plus how you can help.

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