RESOURCES FOR HELPING A CHILD LEARN TO TALK and HELPING TODDLERS WITH SPEECH DELAY

Parents and professionals often ask me which teachmetotalk.com product would be most helpful for them to help a child learn to talk. While every child and family situation is unique, the following product descriptions and recommendations should help you make purchasing decisions.

My therapy manuals are written for both parents and professionals. Some manuals are directed more toward one audience; however, my writing style is jargon-free and easy to read by committed moms and dads who are looking for specific “how to” directions for working with their child.

ALL my DVDs are designed for adults to watch to learn techniques to use while working with very young children. None of my DVDs are recommended for viewing by toddlers. (Although parents tell me all the time their child watched with them, that’s a bonus and not my intent for these DVDs!)

The products are described only in terms of “This is best for…” For full descriptions of each product, please click the title links.

Below the individual product listings, you’ll also find a list of recommendations by diagnosis or suspected diagnosis. For this list, scroll down to RECOMMENDATIONS BY DIAGNOSIS. You’ll also find information about ordering sets which are offered at significant discounts over single products.

If after reading these descriptions, you feel you still need extra guidance with product selection, please email me with your specific questions – Laura@teachmetotalk.com. Or you can fill out a contact form here at the site and I will follow up with you via email. I’m always happy to help!

THERAPY MANUALS

Teach Me To Play WITH You is a 188-page therapy manual written for parents working with young children who have difficulty interacting socially and connecting with others. Instructions are included for beginning play with developmentally-appropriate activities using simple games and toys that are readily available in most homes. There are separate chapters with explicit directions, words, and hand motions for many familiar fingerplays and traditional childhood songs. Activities are written so that professionals can copy pages of a specific activity, complete the activity during a session, and share the copy with parents with “homework.” The final chapter explains approximately 20 different common problems related to sensory processing issues that we see interfere with a child’s ability to engage others along with multiple strategies for addressing these challenges during play at home. Parents RAVE about this book both to me via email and to their SLPs who use these activities in therapy and share copies with them! (Regular price is $48.) Click here to order this book.

Teach Me To Talk: The Therapy Manual is 220 pages written specifically for speech-language pathologists and other early intervention professionals who work with young children birth to 4 with receptive and expressive language delays and disorders. Because this project was written for professionals, it may not be as family-friendly as other teachmetotalk.com products, but many committed mothers report that this manual gave them more direction and specific instructions for what to work on at home than any other resource they’ve used. This manual is especially helpful for short-term goal writing and for designing FUN and developmentally-appropriate treatment activities for toddlers and young children functioning from the 6-9 month developmental level up to the 48-month developmental level. It’s the ultimate “how-to” tool for working with infants and toddlers with language delays. SLPs tell me this is their “EI Bible.” What a compliment! (Regular price is $54.) Click here to order this book.

Building Verbal Imitation in Toddlers – Learn the 8 levels of teaching a late talker to learn to imitate. Many times parents and therapists don’t see success with late talking toddlers because the adult isn’t working on the right things. The child actually needs to learn several ‘in-between’ steps before he’s ready to begin to imitate words and learn to talk. Professional treatment plans can also fail when the techniques are too clinical for parents to be able to remember and practice at home with their own child. This simple, straight-forward approach is easy for both parents and therapists to understand and implement during familiar play-based activities and daily routines. The ONE PAGE charts of the levels and the handouts for familiar toys and daily routines have been described as INDISPENSABLE TOOLS for SLPs doing home visits and with programs that emphasize parent training and coaching models. (Regular price is $48.) Click here to order this book.

FUNctional Phonology is a therapy manual designed for therapists and committed parents to use when working with toddlers whose speech is difficult to understand. Working with toddlers to help them correct how they say a word can be tricky. In this manual, I’ll take the “guesswork” out of this whole process by helping you know who’s ready to work on speech intelligibility, who’s not, what to do to get them ready, and then finally, what to work on and how to work on it. Whew! That’s a mouthful, but it’s the summary of the manual. This program is based on teaching (correcting!) early phonological patterns – which is how speech develops in toddlers – but it’s also language-based meaning that your target words are completely relevant and functional for toddlers – not random words that fit the speech sound or pattern but provide no “real life” application for 2 and 3-year-olds! You’ll also notice the word FUN capitalized in the title. I won’t do anything with a little friend that’s not fun! Let’s face it… working on changing how a young child says a word can be t.o.r.t.u.r.e for everyone involved. To combat that problem, I’ll give you play-based therapy activities as well as practical ways (and words!) to use during everyday routines for families at home… It’s SUPER FUNCTIONAL. (Regular price is $48.)  Order here.

Let’s Talk About Talking is a HUGE therapy manual primarily for therapists and parents working with nonverbal or minimally verbal toddlers. In this book, I’ll teach you how to target pre-linguistic skills that establish the foundation for communicating. Before any kid begins to talk, he’s mastering 11 distinct communication skills. When anyone skill is disrupted, there’s likely a language delay. When several are missing, a stall in language development is inevitable. When a child struggles to attain many of these skills, a long-term communication disorder is likely. If you’ve been wondering, “What’s missing?” this book will help you figure it out! Learn what to do to get these all-important areas moving along. (Regular price $84.) Order here.

The Autism Workbook is your guide to developing treatment plans for toddlers with markers for autism. In it I share what YOU need to know in order to develop speech therapy treatment plans for toddlers and preschoolers with autism. This includes those formally diagnosed, as well as toddlers and preschoolers who have red flags for autism but are not yet diagnosed with anything beyond language delay. These ideas may also help children who are not talking and have a few “quirks” or characteristics of autism that need to be addressed. Parents are telling me it’s helping them stay on track with working with their child at home. With checklists and workbook questions, it can help you prioritize your goals and select activities that WORK to move kids along. Check it out here.

DVDs

Teach Me To Talk: This DVD is where I ALWAYS recommend parents begin! The best-selling DVD was my first DVD and explains the basic beginning strategies appropriate for any toddler or preschooler who is not yet talking. You’ll see therapy clips with young children ranging from 9 months old to 3 years old. The DVD highlights the six easiest and most successful ways to elicit first word attempts with young children during play-based activities. This DVD is an excellent training tool for both families and professionals. Many practices require that new families view this DVD between the evaluation and first therapy session so that parents understand what therapy looks like and are equipped to target language at home. Therapists also use clips from this DVD to introduce a strategy by watching together with parents during a session and then implementing the strategy with the child. University graduate programs and practicum sites throughout the USA use this DVD during clinical training for speech-language pathologists and early childhood education majors. This DVD is also helpful for clinicians who may be new to early intervention and working with toddlers and their families – not only because of the “how to” therapy examples but also for providing a “family-friendly script” to use in discussions with parents. Parents email me every day to tell me how this DVD turned things around for their families because it taught them HOW to interact with their child in a way to facilitate language. (Regular price is $39.99) Click here to order Teach Me To Talk the DVD. WATCH FOR FREE ON YOUTUBE… 

Teach Me To Listen and Obey 1 discusses receptive language delays or language comprehension deficits in very young children and demonstrates strategies for teaching toddlers to understand what words mean and to follow simple directions using an easy to understand cueing system. This DVD is most appropriate for parents and professionals working with toddlers who are functioning below the 24-month developmental level and older preschoolers with significant receptive language delays. (Regular price – $29.99) Click here to order this DVD.

Teach Me To Listen and Obey 2 discusses receptive language delays or language comprehension deficits in very young children and demonstrates strategies for teaching toddlers to understand more complex words such as verbs, prepositions, and descriptive words and to understand those words to follow more complicated two-step directions. This DVD is most appropriate for parents and professionals working with toddlers who are functioning at and above the 24 months developmental level to the 3 1/2 to 4-year-old developmental level. This DVD also includes a special section on disciplinary strategies appropriate for toddlers with language delays and highlights the importance of considering a child’s developmental age in determining behavioral expectations. Many parents tell me that their child did not make progress with expressive language in therapy sessions until they implemented the receptive language strategies they learned from this DVD at home.  (Regular price is $39.99) Click here to order this DVD.

Order BOTH Receptive Language DVDs and SAVE! The Set price is $54.99 for Teach Me To Listen and Obey 1 & 2. Click here to order the set.

Teach Me To Talk with Apraxia and Phonological Disorders is a 2 DVD set and discusses both motor and linguistic-based problems related to expressive communication disorders with a section on the diagnostic characteristics for both apraxia and phonological disorders. Examples of oral groping and other speech characteristics of apraxia are shown and discussed. Beginning therapy strategies are modeled with a variety of children between 2 and 4 years old. This DVD is by nature more technical than other DVDs but is still appropriate for both parents and professionals. Sections are organized in sequential steps with easy-to-follow instructions to address first words and beginning speech intelligibility strategies both in sessions and at home. (Regular price is $69.99 for the set.) Click here to order this DVD.

RECOMMENDATIONS BY DIAGNOSIS or SUSPICION

Autism or Suspected Autism

For most parents, ordering the 3 DVD Set (Teach Me To Talk: The DVD and Teach Me To Listen and Obey 1 & 2) will be the best choice so that parents can SEE play-based therapy strategies with a variety of toddlers with both receptive and expressive language delays. The 3 DVD Set is specially priced at $84.99. Order that set here.

For parents who are looking for more specific instructions for how to engage a toddler who is difficult to connect with and teach during play, Teach Me To Play WITH You, is also recommended in addition to the 3 DVD set. This is bundled as the Helping Toddlers with Autism Set. Order this set.

For very committed parents who want a detailed step-by-step explanation of “how-to” and “what to” work on for at-home therapy, order Teach Me To Talk: The Therapy Manual, Teach Me To Play WITH You and the 3 DVD Set. This combination is also recommended for professionals who need additional resources and teaching tools to help families of toddlers who have been (or will be) newly diagnosed with autism. This set is bundled as the Helping Toddlers with Autism Comprehensive Set. Order that set with this link.

Speech Delay for Parents of Younger Toddlers (under 2)

If your child isn’t talking but seems to be understanding basic directions, but still isn’t using gestures like waving or clapping, the BEST resources for you will be Teach Me To Talk the DVD and the book Teach Me To Play WITH You. The DVD will show you how to interact and the book will outline what to do during your home play sessions. This set is called The Play Package and can be ordered here.

Mixed Receptive – Expressive Language Delay or Global Developmental Delay (such as Down syndrome, prematurity, cerebral palsy, etc…)

For most parents ordering the 3 DVD Set (Teach Me To Talk The DVD and Teach Me To Listen and Obey 1 & 2) will be most appropriate so that parents can SEE the therapy strategies with a variety of toddlers with both receptive and expressive language delays. The 3 DVD set is $84.99 and can be ordered here.

If the child is already following basic directions consistently, order Teach Me To Talk The DVD and Teach Me To Listen and Obey 2.

Very committed parents who love to read and who want a detailed step-by-step explanation of “how-to” and “what to” work on for at-home therapy should consider ordering Teach Me To Talk: The Therapy Manual and the 3 DVD Set.   Click here to choose your products.

Late Talker or Expressive Language Delay Only

If your child understands language at an age-appropriate level (meaning that he consistently follows directions well for his age and is routinely interactive with you and a variety of other people,) but is experiencing a lag in saying words he already demonstrates that he understands, order Teach Me To Talk The DVD to get started.

The BEST combination for parents of late talkers who are committed to tackling the child’s problem with lots of follow-through at home is the Late Talker Set which includes Teach Me To Talk the DVD and the book Building Verbal Imitation in Toddlers. You’ll SEE strategies in the DVD and the book will walk you through a detailed step by step approach to determine where you should begin working with your toddler at home. Sometimes single words are too difficult for a nonverbal toddler. This book will teach you where to start. Order The Late Talker Set here.

For parents who want more guidance or are ready to implement a more comprehensive therapy plan at home including teaching different kinds of words, detailed instructions for moving a child to phrases, and other very, very specific goals, order Teach Me To Talk: The Therapy Manual. Teach Me To Talk the DVD and Teach Me To Talk: The Therapy Manual is sold with special pricing as a set. Click here to order that set –  Teach Me To Talk DVD and Manual SET.

(***If your child regularly ignores people, tunes out your directions to him, and doesn’t respond to his name, then he does not fit into the diagnostic category of ‘late talker.’ In this case, not talking is usually a part of a bigger developmental problem. Please see the other descriptions of products above that may help you address the underlying issues for WHY your child isn’t talking yet. Start with the suggestions listed above in the Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Delay or Suspected Autism category.)

Suspected Apraxia and Other Speech Intelligibility Issues

Parents should order both Teach Me To Talk The DVD and Teach Me To Talk with Apraxia and Phonological Disorders. Teach Me To Talk The DVD outlines the basic play-based approach and Teach Me To Talk with Apraxia shows more specific strategies to implement after the basics are in place. Both DVDs are sold together at our store and offered for a significantly reduced price vs. buying each DVD separately. Click here to order Both Teach Me To Talk and Teach Me To Talk with Apraxia and PD  set.

Very committed parents who want a detailed step-by-step explanation of “how-to” and “what to” work on for at-home therapy should also order Building Verbal Imitation in Toddlers. This is sold as the Apraxia Resource Set. Order that set here.

Toddlers with More Significant Delays

Teach Me To Listen and Obey 1 includes toddlers with more pronounced delays and has a small section on beginning activities to implement AAC.

Teach Me To Play WITH You is the BEST resource recommended for all parents of toddlers who do not consistently interact with and respond to others, regardless of the specific diagnosis.

Teach Me To Talk: The Therapy Manual is very helpful for addressing delays over time with a comprehensive set of goals and strategies including a chapter on targeting very early cognitive goals.

This grouping of therapy materials is also offered for a significant discount in our store vs. buying the individual products. Please click here for that set called Helping Toddlers with Significant Delays.

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FOR PROFESSIONALS

5 DVD Set -All teachmetotalk.com DVDs including Teach Me To Talk, Teach Me To Listen and Obey 1 & 2 and Teach Me To Talk With Apraxia and Phonological Disorders – $125. Click here to order that set of DVDs. All DVDs are approved for ASHA CEUs and IL Early Intervention. The fee payment process and required paperwork for CEU credit are housed on my other site at www.myei2.com. Forms are available for instant download when the CEU fee is paid. Print the forms. Complete and either scan or mail the forms back to me to complete CEUs. EASY and CHEAP!!

Therapy Manual Combo Special – This set includes Teach Me To Play WITH You, Teach Me To Talk: The Therapy Manual, Building Verbal Imitation Skills in Toddlers, and FUNctional Phonology. Many sets are sold to therapists around the world every day and we always sell out of our inventory at my live courses. The set is a great bargain!! Order Therapy Pack Combo Special. (Let’s Talk About Talking is NOT included in this set.)

ENTIRE COLLECTION – All 5 DVDs and All 3 Therapy Manuals – $260 – GREAT VALUE for the entire set of materials to build your professional library with resources designed specifically for treating TODDLERS! If this is your niche population, you’ll use these materials again and again. Order the set!

For ordering more than one of each individual product or combination that you do not see listed here, please see this link to our speech-language products store.

ASHA APPROVED FULL-LENGTH COURSES ON DVD – click the links for details

Early Speech-Language Development: Taking Theory to the Floor – 12-hour course on DVDs – Perfect for SLPs who want a comprehensive course designed specifically for treating toddlers. SLPs tell me time and time again this should be required for all SLPs in birth to 3 and special ed preschool as well as any EI therapist who treats toddlers with communication delays! Includes 30 pages of copy-ready handouts for parents/caregivers! Order as a group or buddy up with a friend and save! Order Here.

Steps to Building Verbal Imitation in Toddlers – 6-hour course on DVD – a GREAT approach for looking at expressive disorders in a new way for our youngest clients – EASY strategies to explain to parents and implement during sessions at home or in the clinic. The ONE PAGE chart outlines the entire approach and therapists say it alone is worth the course purchase price. Order here.

Is It Autism? Two-part series that can be purchased together or separately – Part 1 is 4.5 hours and focuses on walking you through the official diagnostic criteria for ASD with a thorough discussion of each indicator and video examples. Part 2 is 6.5 hours and focuses on intervention. If you’re ever confused (or frustrated!) when you’re working with a little one you’re not sure is on the spectrum, this course is for you! Order here.

If you are still need help deciding which products are right for you, please email me at Laura@teachmetotalk.com. I’m happy to help you!