The words “up” and “down” are both functional words for babies to learn, because it gives them the ability to communicate specific wants and needs, such as to be picked up or to get down from somewhere. Learn the steps to teach your baby to say, “up” and “down.”

The word “go” is a functional and motivating word for babies to learn, because it gives them the ability to request something they want, usually within a play routine.  Learn the steps to teach your baby to say “go.”

The word “done” or phrase “all done” is functional for babies to learn, because it helps reduce frustration by giving them the ability to tell you they do not want something anymore, whether it’s food or an activity. Learn how to teach your baby to communicate, “all done.”

The word “help” is an extremely functional and helpful word for babies to learn, because it gives them the ability to ask for help and reduce frustration. Learn the steps to teach your baby how to use the word, “help.”

The word “more” is an extremely functional and motivating word for babies to learn, because it gives them the ability to request more of something they want, whether it’s food, a toy, or an action. Learn the steps to teach your baby to say “more.”

Here are my 2023 recommendations, as a speech-language pathologist, of my favorite toys that are great gifts for the holidays, and tips on how to use the toys to help develop different areas of your child’s language skills.

Parents may start to wonder if they should already be teaching their babies letters and numbers when they first start learning to talk. Learn why speech-language pathologists recommend focusing on functional language first.

Figuring out your baby’s wants and needs before they are able to talk can be frustrating for you and your child. Teaching your baby sign language can bridge the communication gap while your baby’s verbal language is still developing.

Two crucial aspects that develop during early childhood are speech and language skills. While often used interchangeably, speech and language are distinct yet interrelated skills that make up a child's ability to express themselves. Learn about the differences here.

Parents are often told “read to your baby,” but aren’t told how to do this to best benefit their language development. There are several easy strategies you can use to ensure that your baby is getting the most out of story time.

Learn how to narrate your daily activities to your baby with self-talk and parallel-talk to enhance their language development.

Learn these 5 quick tips to help your baby learn to say "dada." Happy Father’s Day!

Here are my top tips and strategies, as a speech-language pathologist, for parents to use to help their baby work towards saying their first words.

Discover the power of parentese, the research-backed technique for early language development. Learn how infant-directed speech can help your baby say their first words.

Before children are able to use words expressively, children must first understand those words receptively. The receptive task of identifying is a building block for expressive tasks like labeling. Learn how to encourage both of these skills.

Pre-linguistic, or pre-language, skills are non-verbal skills that babies learn, which are the building blocks for learning language. These skills help babies interact with those around them before they are able to use words. Learn what they are and how to encourage their development.

Potato Head is a staple in any speech-language therapist’s toy arsenal, and creates opportunities to work on several different functions of language, as well as early imaginative skills.

Now that your toddler is saying single words, two great strategies to help your toddler start to say phrases include expansions and the plus one strategy.

When we’re trying to get our toddlers to talk more, we may find ourselves constantly quizzing them. Learn why you should use the three statements to one question ratio rule instead to boost your toddler’s early language development.

When we look at how many words your child should be saying, there are two different numbers to be aware of: the milestone, and the average. Learn how many words children are expected to say at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months, according to developmental milestones, and averages, and what to do if your child has not met this language milestone.