Hearing your child say their first words is one of the most exciting moments of parenthood. For many children, that first “mama” or “dada” marks the beginning of speech development, followed by steady growth in communication skills. However, it’s important to remember that every child develops on their own timeline, especially when it comes to talking. If you’ve noticed that your child’s speech progress has slowed, or they’re struggling to be understood, you may wonder whether extra support could help.

That’s where pediatric speech therapy can make a difference. Working with a speech therapist gives your child the extra help they need to communicate more clearly, connect with others more easily, and build confident speech skills.

What Is Pediatric Speech Therapy? 

A pediatric speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help your child strengthen the skills they need to share their ideas, understand others, and connect more easily in everyday life. They can also help if your child is a picky eater, or if they struggle with chewing and swallowing. SLPs generally focus on the following skills:

  • Speech clarity: helping your child say sounds and words more clearly so others can understand them
  • Social communication: practicing how to take turns, ask questions, and understand non-verbal cues like gestures and facial expressions
  • Expressive language: teaching your child how to put words together to share their thoughts, needs, and feelings
  • Receptive language: focusing on understanding questions, following directions, and joining conversations
  • Feeding skills: strengthening the muscles used for eating and drinking so mealtimes are safer and less stressful

Typical Milestones Used by Speech Therapists 

SLPs use milestones to help assess your child’s speech and communication skills. They are not deadlines. Instead they’re used as helpful guideposts to determine whether speech therapy may be beneficial for your child, and provide direction when progress feels uncertain. Some of the common milestones for speech and communication development are listed below. 

By around 12 months, many children:

  • Go quiet or smile when someone talks to them
  • Respond to their name
  • Wave or point to get attention
  • Say a few simple words like “mama” or “dada”

By around 18 months, many children:

  • Use 10 to 20 words
  • Try to copy words you say
  • Use words to ask for what they want

By around 2 years, many children:

  • Use about 50 words or more
  • Put two words together, like “more juice”
  • Follow simple two-step directions

By around 3 years, many children:

  • Speak in short sentences of three or four words
  • Are understood most of the time by people they know
  • Ask and answer simple questions

By around 4 years, many children:

  • Tell short stories about daily events or favorite books
  • Are understood by most people, even outside the family
  • Take turns in conversation

By around 5 years, many children:

  • Speak in full sentences with mostly correct grammar
  • Use a growing vocabulary to share ideas and feelings
  • Follow multistep directions 
  • Recognize letters and may be able to write their own name

At Home Strategies For Speech Development 

There are plenty of simple activities you can do at home to develop your child’s speech and strengthen the muscles they use for eating and swallowing: 

  • Read together every day. Point to pictures, pause to let your child chime in, and ask simple questions about the story.
  • Sing songs and rhymes. Help your child remember new words and sounds using rhythm and melody.
  • Offer choices. Ask questions like “Do you want milk or juice?” to encourage your child to use words to respond.
  • Play turn-taking games. Roll a ball back and forth and take turns speaking to teach your child the give and take of conversation.
  • Practice with straws and open cups. Drink from fun straws or cups to strengthen the mouth muscles used for both feeding and speech.
  • Use snack time for language practice. Encourage your child to name foods, request “more,” or describe what they are tasting.

When to Reach out to a Speech Therapist 

If your child’s speech or feeding progress slows despite practice, or they begin avoiding communication out of frustration, it may be time to schedule an evaluation with an SLP. You may want to reach out if your child:

  • Is often hard to understand or leaves out sounds when speaking
  • Struggles following directions or answering simple questions
  • Uses only a small number of words or speaks in short sentences
  • Avoids playing with other children because communication feels too difficult
  • Avoids eye contact or misreads non-verbal cues
  • Has a persistently hoarse or strained voice
  • Chokes or gags on food, or avoids eating altogether

An evaluation can lead to therapy that helps your child develop clear, confident speech, while also giving you peace of mind and practical strategies.

What Does Pediatric Speech Therapy Look Like? 

Speech therapy is professional, individualized treatment. Sessions are designed to feel fun and engaging for your child, while every activity has a clear purpose. Depending on your child’s needs, sessions may include:

  • Practicing clearer speech with guided games, picture cards, and mouth exercises to improve pronunciation
  • Building vocabulary through storytelling, songs, and pretend play
  • Strengthening understanding by following directions during play
  • Developing social skills by practicing conversation skills and non-verbal cues
  • Improving feeding skills by strengthening mouth muscles with eating and drinking exercises
  • Strengthening pre-reading skills through sound awareness and letter play
  • Partnering with parents by providing strategies for home practice

The ultimate goal of speech therapy is to help your child feel confident and capable in expressing themselves, whether they’re talking with family, learning in school, or playing with friends.

Schedule a Speech Evaluation with Tender Ones 

If you’re wondering whether speech therapy could help your child, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Call Tender Ones Therapy Services at (770) 904-6009 to speak with an SLP and schedule an evaluation. We’re here to support your child’s speech and feeding development so they can communicate and eat with confidence and ease.