Speech and Language Kids Podcast

Free CV, VC, CVC Flashcards now available at https://www.SpeechAndLanguageKids.com/CVC
Children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) or other motor speech disorders have trouble stringing sounds together to say words. For these children, we can start by teaching shorter words in speech therapy sessions.
In today's episode of the Speech and Language Kids podcast, I'll show you how to use our free CV, VC, and CVC word flashcards to help a child with CAS or motor speech disorder to speak short words and gradually increase their ability to speak longer utterances as well.

What Does an AAC Session Actually Look Like? (1:1, Group, Classroom, Home & More)
Ever wonder how an AAC lesson changes when you move from the therapy room to the grocery store? In this episode, I take one AAC lesson, targeting the core word "help," and walk you through it in six real-world settings: 1:1 therapy, small groups, self-contained classrooms, at home, out in public, and push-in to a general ed classroom.
You'll hear a quick recap of my 8-step AAC lesson framework, then practical ideas for each setting, like:
Setting up communication temptations (tight jars, wind-up toys, and flipped batteries!)

Using one shared core board in groups so peers become models and helpers

Building "help" into classroom routines and giving every staff member a role

Coaching parents to pick just 2–3 daily moments, without turning it into a battle

Going portable in the community with keychain cards and low-tech boards

Embedding AAC into a gen ed lesson so your student participates with classmates, not apart from them

The big takeaway: you don't need a brand-new lesson plan for every setting. Same word, same steps, different setup.
🎁 Grab the free "help" lesson and AAC board: www.SpeechAndLanguageKids.com/help Already a member? It's waiting for you inside The Full Hub!

"How do I teach problem solving?" is one of the questions I get asked most, and it's a tricky one, because problem solving isn't just one skill. Kids have to work through disagreements with friends, figure out puzzles, advocate for themselves when they need help, and break big tasks into manageable pieces. So instead of teaching each type separately, this episode gives you one simple framework that works across all of them.
In this episode, you'll learn the 5 steps:
Name it

Brainstorm ideas

Think through the ideas and choose one (pros, cons, and what might happen)

Try it

Did it work? If not, go back to step 2

I'll also walk you through how to teach the framework, including introducing the steps, posting a visual, practicing with pretend scenarios, and bringing it up naturally when real problems pop up. You'll hear how social stories can help the skill stick, plus practical activity ideas like building a LEGO bridge over a drawn river, pausing a storybook to brainstorm solutions for the characters, and working through social scenarios together.
Inside Speech and Language Kids, members can grab our Navigating Disagreements social story and use our AI tools to create custom social stories and social scenarios for their students.
Perfect for SLPs, educators, and parents who want a simple, flexible way to help kids become more independent problem solvers.

Ever given a child a two-step direction and watched the second step vanish before they got started? That's working memory at work, the brain's mental sticky note that holds information just long enough to use it. In this episode, Carrie explains what working memory is and why so many kids struggle with it. She covers the slow development of the prefrontal cortex, how ADHD, dyslexia, and language disorders can overload that mental scratchpad, and how stress, fatigue, and a noisy room can crowd out instructions.
The good news is that you don't need a separate goal to address it. Carrie shows how to weave working memory support into the therapy you're already doing: point out strategies as they come up, and help kids understand that everyone's brain sometimes needs extra tools. You'll hear practical, kid-friendly strategies from Buttercup's Working Memory poster, including writing it down, making it a song, using your body, picturing it, and linking it to something familiar. She also shares additional techniques like chunking, mental rehearsal, mnemonics, consistent routines, and teach-back. These work well for SLPs, teachers, and parents.

Why does a child who knows the rule still grab the toy, blurt out the answer, or melt down when things get hard? In this episode, we break down self-control and inhibition: what they are, why they take years to develop, and how we can support them in therapy sessions and at home.
We talk about the brain's "brake system" (the prefrontal cortex) and why executive function skills grow gradually, with big leaps around fourth and fifth grade. We also look at what can make self-regulation harder, including ADHD, autism, sensory overload, temperament, limited language to express big feelings, chronic stress, and lack of sleep. Understanding the "why" helps us respond with support instead of frustration.
Then we get practical. You'll walk away with ideas you can use in your very next session:
How to introduce, name, and revisit inhibition so it becomes part of your therapy language

Fun inhibition games that build skills through play, like Red Light Green Light, Simon Says, Freeze Dance, Jenga, Fruit Ninja, Don't Laugh, and Don't Pop the Bubbles

The "Pause and Plan" method: noticing body cues, taking a beat, and using self-talk to stop, think, then do

How to give specific, curious feedback, like "I saw you pause there. What were you thinking about?"

Ways to set up the environment with clear expectations, visual cues, and adults who model their own pauses out loud

Whether you're an SLP, educator, or parent, this episode will help you see self-control as a skill we can grow together, with connection and play.