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Receptive vs. Expressive Language: What’s the Difference? When we talk about language development, two key skills come up often — receptive and expressive language. These work together but serve different purposes in communication. Receptive Language: Understanding Receptive language is how we understand what others say. It includes listening, processing, and making sense of words and sentences. For example, a child uses receptive language when they follow directions (e.g., “Get your shoes”), identify objects (e.g., “Where’s your nose?”), or understand a story being read aloud.  Expressive Language: Communicating Expressive language is how we use words, sentences, and gestures to share thoughts and ideas. A child uses expressive language when they ask for help, name things, or tell a story. Why It

  It is important for a child to follow directions because it is how learning takes place. Following directions directly impacts a child’s academic success, social development, as well as performance on daily routines. If a child displays difficulties with following directions, it may not only affect a child’s functioning at home and school, but also affect his/her self-esteem and social life. Why does this happen?  A child may struggle to follow directions due to a hearing impairment, language processing disorder, poor attention span, sequencing difficulties, and/or memory deficit. Milestones for Following Directions  1:0-2;0 Years Following 1-step commands “Get your shoes” 2;0-3;0 Years Following 2-step related commands “Get your shoes and bring to me” 3;0-4;0 Years Following 2-step related and

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) isn’t just about pushing buttons or pointing to pictures, it’s about giving someone the tools and opportunities to communicate effectively. Whether it’s a high-tech speech-generating device or a simple picture board, AAC is most powerful when it’s used in natural, meaningful contexts. 1. Make it part of the moment: AAC use shouldn’t be limited to “therapy time.” Bring it into everyday routines—requesting a snack at the table, commenting during play, or greeting a friend. 2. Model!: Just like spoken language, AAC needs to be seen and heard before it’s used independently. Point to symbols as you talk, narrate what’s happening, and demonstrate how to combine words. 3. Focus on more than requests: AAC isn’t only

  The change from summer to fall is more than just cooler weather and pumpkin spice. It’s a great chance to add fresh, meaningful words to your child’s AAC device. Every season comes with new sights, smells, and activities, and fall is packed with fun ways to help your child use his/her AAC device in a natural environment.  Go outside and explore! Notice the crunchy leaves, the chilly air, the pumpkins on porches. While you’re out, model words like cold, orange, leaf, big, or go on your child’s device. Compare what you see now to summer: Hot in July vs cool in September/October.  Inside, bake something fall-themed together, read a pumpkin or scarecrow story, or pick out a cozy sweater.

Every child has a unique story to tell. That story is shaped by family, culture, language, and daily experiences. In speech therapy, it’s not just about teaching words or sounds, it’s about making sure children can express themselves in a way that feels true to who they are. For many families, English isn’t the only language spoken at home. Some children may grow up switching between two or more languages every day. Others may use a dialect, that has its own rich set of rules. These ways of speaking are not “wrong”, but instead they’re part of a child’s identity. In fact, when a child is experiencing a speech or language delay, one of the most common myths families hear

  A trip to the farmer’s market isn’t just great for fresh produce, but it’s also a fun and functional way to sneak in articulation practice! As you walk through the stands, encourage your child to label items that include their target sound. For example, if they’re working on the /s/ sound, they can look for and say words like “strawberries” or “sunflower.” Try using short carrier phrases like “I see __” or “Let’s get __” to practice speech in real-life conversations. Your child can be your helper by asking them to find items on a list or encourage talking to vendors. You can even turn it into a scavenger hunt: “Can you find 3 things that start with the

Understanding categorical membership (what group something belongs to) and function (what something is used for) is a foundational language skill for young learners. The good news? You don’t need special materials or flashcards. These concepts can be naturally woven into everyday routines.1. Grocery Store Chats At the store, talk about food categories: “Apples go in the fruit section. What else is a fruit?” “A broom is in the cleaning aisle. What do we use a broom for?” 2. Playtime Sorting Whether it’s toy animals, blocks, or dolls: Sort by category: “Let’s put all the animals together. What kind of animal is this?” Talk about function: “What does a fire truck do?” 3. Mealtime Moments Make meals a language-rich time: “A

As a new school year begins, parents play a key role in setting their children up for success—especially when it comes to speech and language development. Whether your child receives speech services or just needs a little extra support with communication, these simple strategies can help ease the transition and keep progress moving forward. 1. Re-establish routines. Consistent routines support language development. Talk through daily activities—like packing lunches or getting ready for school—and model clear language. This not only builds vocabulary, but also prepares your child for the structure of the school day. 2. Communicate with your child’s team.  Stay in touch with your child’s teacher and speech-language pathologist. Share any updates or concerns you noticed over the summer. Open

  Sequencing means putting events in order—an important skill for understanding stories, following directions, and organizing ideas. Easy Ways to Practice: Talk about routines: Describe daily tasks step by step. “First we brush our teeth, then we wash our face.” Retell stories: After reading, ask, “What happened first? What happened next?” Use pictures: Mix up simple picture cards and have your child put them in order. Cook or craft together: Recipes and crafts are great real-life practice. Tips: Start with 2–3 steps. Use words like first, next, and last. Praise their efforts!

Game play can be a way to support expressive language growth in older children. Language games can help keep practice interesting as well as be highly effective in enhancing communication skills. *Scattergories – Vocabulary Building -List related words under a given category, each starting with a specific letter. -Engaging in vocabulary learning and word-finding abilities. *Two Truths and a Lie – Sentence Structure and Grammar Fun -Share three statements, two true and one false. -Targets sentence structure, grammar, and inferencing skills. *Headbanz – Describing and Categorizing Challenge -Wear a picture on your head and ask yes-or-no questions to guess its identity. -Enhances understanding and expression of descriptive terms. *20 Questions/Would You Rather? – Conversational Language Skills -Practice social skills, sentence structure, grammar,