Ask a Speechie: Questions from Educators

In this episode, Hermione and George put their favourite toys and books to the test, ranking them Bronze, Silver or Gold. They chat about what makes each one useful, how they use them in therapy, and why some have become their absolute go-tos.From tried-and-tested favourites to unexpected winners, find out what makes it onto the Play Podium and why these are the toys and books that keep coming back to the therapy room. 

In this episode, we’re answering your questions! We dive into speech, language and behaviour questions submitted by childcare educators and share practical, neurodiversity-affirming strategies for early childhood settings.

In this episode, we unpack the building blocks that come before articulation and explain why children often need a strong foundation before speech practice can be truly effective. We explore the role of regulation, engagement, imitation, play, language understanding and expressive communication in developing clear speech. You'll hear practical examples of how these skills support speech sound learning, why play is such a powerful therapy tool, and how speech pathologists work alongside other professionals, such as occupational therapists, to help children succeed. Whether you're a parent, carer or educator, this episode will help you understand what "speech readiness" really means and why supporting speech sound development happens long before saying the sound itself.Links:Queensland Government - https://www.goldcoast.health.qld.gov.au/our-services/childrens-services/community-child-health/talk-with-me/early-language-strategies/foundation-skillsFurther reading on this topic: Laura Mize - https://teachmetotalk.com/

In this episode, we’re talking about what the speech pathology journey can look like for your child.We’ll break down the difference between speech or language goals, what this can mean for the type and length of support a child might need, and why every child’s therapy journey looks different.We’ll chat about why some children make quick progress with the right support, while others may need more ongoing, intensive intervention and how parent and community involvement can make such a big difference.We’ll also share real-life case examples from our own clinical experiences, including where children started, what strategies we used, and where they are now. Join us on the couch for a conversation about progress, expectations, and celebrating every step along the way.

In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of the development of Speech Cue Cards and share the journey from initial concept through to the finished product.You'll learn:Why we created Speech Cue CardsThe difference between the Phonetic Cue Cards and Metaphor Cue CardsHow speech sound cueing supports children's learningPractical ways parents, educators and clinicians can use the cardsTips for making speech practice engaging and meaningfulWhether you're a parent, educator, therapy assistant or speech pathologist, this episode will give you practical ideas for using Speech Cue Cards to support children's communication in everyday settings.Join us as we explore the thinking, evidence and real-world experiences that shaped the resource we now use every day to help children communicate with confidence.Want to grab a set? https://www.houseofspeech.com.au/shop/p/speech-cards

This episode explores how educators can confidently identify concerns, gather meaningful observations, and communicate these with families in a supportive and collaborative way.It begins by acknowledging that educators often feel unheard, while also recognising the deep understanding they have of children through daily interactions.The discussion highlights the importance of:Consistent observations across environments and activitiesFocusing on functional impacts (e.g., frustration, participation, social interaction)Tracking observations over time rather than comparing childrenUsing developmental milestones as a guide, not a measuring stickThe episode then unpacks how to approach conversations with parents, including:Starting with open-ended questions to invite collaborationClearly explaining what you’re seeing and how it impacts the child day-to-dayGiving real, specific examples across areas like speech, understanding, and sensory needsFinally, it provides guidance on next steps✨ Overall, the episode focuses on building trust, sharing insights clearly, and supporting families to access the right help early—without overwhelm or judgement.

Ever wondered what actually happens in a play-based speech therapy session? From the outside it can sometimes look like we’re “just playing” but play is far more powerful than it appears.In this episode, we myth-bust the common perception that therapy should look serious, structured, or separate from play. The truth is that in effective speech pathology sessions, therapy and play are often completely intertwined. We explore the key characteristics that make play a powerful learning experience: joyful, meaningful, actively engaging, iterative, and socially interactive. We also talk about the difference between adult-led play and child-led play, and why both have an important place in therapy. If you’ve ever wondered why your child’s therapy session looks like play, or questioned whether “just playing” can really make a difference, this episode will help you understand why play is one of the most powerful tools we have for supporting children’s learning and development.Links:Learning through play: a review of the evidence.https://cms.learningthroughplay.com/media/wmtlmbe0/learning-through-play_web.pdf

In this episode of Talking Together, we’re diving into speech and language development for babies under 12 months. We touch on what’s typical, what to watch for, and how to support your bub’s communication in everyday life.We cover what you can actually do to help: how to talk to your baby, why imitation and repetition matter, simple ways to build turn-taking, and how to make play and book reading powerful for early language.Finally, we chat about using Australian Key Word Sign and discuss when to seek support, including why hearing checks matter, why “wait and see” isn’t always helpful, and where to find trusted milestone checklists and resources.Links:Raising Children Network Baby Development and Developmental Milestones: https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/first-1000-days/development/baby-developmentSpeech Pathology Australia Communication Milestones: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/Comm-swallow/Speech-development/At-12-months.aspx

Welcome back to the first 2026 episode of Talking Together! This episode, Hermione and George chat simple, real-life routines that foster connection between children and the adults in their world. Drawing on ideas shared by parents, educators, and other allied health professionals, we explore how everyday moments like sitting at the dinner table, sharing highs and lows and family rituals can build language, support problem-solving and make connection thrive. Links:Klemfuss JZ, Peplak J. The influence of parent conversation goal and structure on children's event reports. Cogn Dev. 2023 Apr-Jun;66:101333. doi: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2023.101333. Epub 2023 Apr 25. PMID: 39238806; PMCID: PMC11377029.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11377029/#S24

Note: This episode has some blurry video content and the video will cut out about 20 minutes in. This episode wraps up some reflections and learnings from 2025. We chat about mindset shifts, what kids have taught us and what we have changed in our practice over the year