Ring Therapy Services

Soaking up the sunshine, celebrating freedom, and spending time with the people we love most. ❤️🤍💙

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

As a speech therapist and mom of 4, here are 5 common mistakes that I believe can increase the risk of a speech delay 👇

1️⃣ Limited back-and-forth interaction with adults
Language is learned through interaction, not just exposure. Children need conversations, turn-taking, and responsive communication throughout the day.

2️⃣ Too much passive screen time replacing play and conversation
Screens aren't inherently bad, but they can't replace real-life interactions where children practice communicating with others.

3️⃣ Not following your child's interests during play
Children learn best when they're engaged. Following their lead creates more opportunities for meaningful communication.

4️⃣ Not responding to your baby's babbling
Babbling is your baby's first conversation. When you respond, you're teaching them that their sounds have meaning and power.

5️⃣ Not giving your child opportunities to communicate
It's tempting to anticipate every need, but children need chances to request, comment, ask for help, and express themselves.

💛 A speech delay is rarely caused by one single thing, and many children with speech delays have underlying differences that are not the result of parenting. These are simply five areas that can help support communication development.

Which one surprised you the most?