This week, I’m keeping Communication Starts Today Tip #6 short and practical.

Today we’re talking about EXPAND—taking what your child already communicates and modeling one small step beyond it.

Your child says:

“Ball.”

You might respond:

“Big ball!”

And as you continue playing:

“Bounce the ball!”
“Roll ball!”

Expansion is not about making your child repeat a longer phrase.

It’s about giving them a simple, useful language model that connects directly to what they’re already interested in and communicating about.

Remember:

Hear it. Add one. Keep it going.

This is just the quick version. I want to give this strategy the time and attention it deserves, so the extended Tip #6 episode will be out next Tuesday with a deeper explanation, more everyday examples, and practical ways to use expansion naturally during routines and play.

🎁 Download my FREE 13-page Communication Starts Today guide:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/A5sts7p

Follow The Practical Therapist so the extended episode is waiting for you next Tuesday.

What happens when we stop anticipating every need and create a small, natural opportunity for our children to communicate?

In this episode of The Practical Therapist, LaShonya S. Lacount explores Tip #4 from the Communication Starts Today series: Create a Reason to Communicate.

You’ll learn why small changes to everyday routines can create meaningful opportunities for interaction—without pressuring your child to talk.

We’ll use two simple examples:

🫧 Bubbles: What happens when you hand your child a closed bubble container instead of automatically opening it?

🍪 Crackers or cookies: How can giving a small amount and briefly pausing create an opportunity for your child to request more?

The goal is not to frustrate your child or require a spoken word before responding.

Communication may look like a word, sound, gesture, point, reach, look, sign, or AAC response.

Remember Tip #4:

Create the opportunity.
Pause.
Notice.
Respond.

🎁 Worried Your Toddler Isn't Talking as Much as You Expected?Start with 7 practical ways to encourage communication during the routines you're already doing every day.

Get the FREE 13-page Communication Starts Today guide, created by a speech-language pathologist for parents and caregivers.

Inside the guide, you'll discover practical ways to:

✓ Follow your child's lead
✓ Model simple language without pressuring your child to repeat
✓ Use waiting to create opportunities for communication
✓ Create natural reasons for your child to communicate
✓ Build communication into play and everyday routines

No special toys. No complicated therapy activities. Just practical strategies you can begin using at home.

👉 GET YOUR FREE 13-PAGE GUIDE:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/A5sts7p

Communication practice doesn't have to happen at a table.

Meals. Playtime. Getting dressed. Bath time. Leaving the house.

These everyday moments can become opportunities for your child to communicate.

Follow The Practical Therapist for more practical communication strategies.

🎙️ New episodes every Tuesday!

Follow Their Lead • Model More • Wait

Learn how these strategies work together during play and everyday routines to create natural opportunities for your child to communicate—without turning every interaction into a lesson or test.

🎁 GET THE FREE 13-PAGE GUIDE
Communication Starts Today: 7 Practical Ways to Support Your Little Communicator

👉 https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/A5sts7p

Inside the guide, you’ll get seven practical strategies you can begin using during playtime, meals, getting dressed, bath time, and other everyday routines.

Does your child struggle with transitions, daily routines, or understanding what happens next?

In this episode of The Practical Therapist, Speech-Language Pathologist LaShonya S. Lacount shares practical ways parents and caregivers can use everyday routines to support communication, independence, and smoother transitions.

You’ll learn how simple strategies like first-then language, visual schedules, timers, repetition, functional vocabulary, and short directions can make daily activities easier for young children to understand and follow.

From getting dressed and eating breakfast to leaving the house and getting ready for bed, everyday routines can become powerful opportunities for communication development.

Before you go, if you’d like more practical strategies you can start using with your child today, I created a free 13-page guide called Communication Starts Today. It includes seven simple strategies you can use during everyday routines to encourage communication. You’ll find the free download link right here in the episode description. And be sure to follow The Practical Therapist so you can join me for the next episode.👉 Get your free guide here:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/A5sts7p

The Practical Therapist is back.

In this relaunch episode, LaShonya S. Lacount, M.S., CCC-SLP reintroduces herself, shares what she’s been building, and explains what parents, SLPs, and educators can expect from the podcast in 2026 and beyond.

This episode highlights the next chapter of The Practical Therapist Podcast, along with connected projects including Practical Therapy Solutions, Ask a Speech Therapist, Play, Say, and Sing with Boo Bear and Friends, and practical early communication resources.

Get the free Communication Starts Today guide here:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/A5sts7p

As part of this relaunch, bonus and older episodes will also be coming available, so be sure to browse the current catalog and check back for newly released archive content.

Make it personal. Keep it practical.

Hello my practical people. Welcome to another episode of the Practical Therapist. Today, we’re going to wrap up the emergent language series, by discussing how to promote language skills in a child in foster care.