Using Speech Therapy Handouts to Boost Carryover at Home and in the Classroom
How to Use Preverbal & Speech and Language Skill Handouts
Two sets of speech therapy and communication handouts (28 handouts in all) takes kids from preverbal stages through early speech and language growth, are designed to be practical, clear, and collaborative—for anyone supporting young children on their communication journey. They’re ideal for:
Toddler and preschool teachers
Parents of children birth to 3
Caregivers of nonspeaking or minimally speaking children
Speech-language pathologists in Early Intervention or classroom settings
When you’re an SLP or early childhood educator, you know that the magic of speech therapy doesn’t just happen during the session—it happens all day long, woven into everyday routines at home, in the classroom, and at daycare.
But here’s the honest truth:
When you try to quickly explain a new skill or strategy to a busy teacher or a frazzled parent during pickup time, there’s a good chance your words get lost in the shuffle. Everyone’s juggling so much—diaper bags, permission slips, daily reports—it’s a lot!
That’s exactly why having clear, practical handouts for preverbal and verbal skills makes all the difference.
They give parents and teachers something they can actually take, read, and use—even after the whirlwind of drop-offs, pickups, and daily chaos settles down.
Why Handouts Work So Well
✨ Written descriptions give clarity.
Instead of trying to remember a quick conversation, parents and teachers have a concrete reminder of what skill you’re targeting, why it matters, and how they can support it.
✨ Real-life tasks make carryover easy.
The best handouts connect strategies directly to everyday routines—things like snack time, getting dressed, playing outside, or reading a book—so the child is getting communication practice naturally, without adding extra work to anyone’s plate.
✨ Teachers love sharing them.
I’ve found that teachers appreciate these handouts so much that they often tuck them right into their weekly newsletters, sending great communication tips home for all their students, not just the ones on your caseload.
✨ Parents feel empowered.
Families love having something specific they can work on after the SLP leaves. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, they feel like partners in their child’s progress, with simple ideas they can implement right away.
📘 How to Use Preverbal & Speech and Language Skill Handouts
Two sets of handouts (28 handouts in all) that I have developed to take kids from preverbal stages through early speech and language growth, are designed to be practical, clear, and collaborative—for anyone supporting young children on their communication journey. They’re ideal for:
Toddler and preschool teachers
Parents of children birth to 3
Caregivers of nonspeaking or minimally speaking children
Speech-language pathologists in Early Intervention or classroom settings
💡 Ways to Make the Most of Your Handouts:
Use during parent coaching. Explain the specific preverbal or speech facilitation skill you’re targeting and why it’s a building block for later communication.
Highlight or circle specific activities. After a session, quickly mark a few activities for parents to focus on at home.
Plan therapy with them. Build sessions around the skill handouts so you’re reinforcing foundational abilities every step of the way.
Collaborate with the team. Use the same handouts across teachers, therapists, and families to create a unified, easy-to-understand plan for the child’s growth.
🗂️ Tips for Storing and Organizing Your Handouts
Create a binder. Slip all the handouts into plastic sleeves for easy access during sessions or meetings.
Laminate them. Durable, wipeable handouts are great for heavy use—or for families to keep at home without worrying about spills and rips.
Make a ring-stack. Print half-size versions, laminate, and attach to a ring for quick-reference cards in classrooms or play areas.
This setup also makes an awesome portable tool for parent coaching visits!
❤️ Why These Resources Matter
Prelinguistic and speech facilitation handouts aren’t just extra papers—they are bridges.
They bridge the gap between what happens in your 30-minute session and what happens in the other 23.5 hours of the day.
They help parents and teachers spot the tiny, critical milestones—like when a child looks at them for the first time to share attention, or when a child copies a simple gesture—and celebrate them as real progress.
When you empower adults with real knowledge and easy activities, you’re creating an environment where communication blooms everywhere: at snack tables, playgrounds, diaper changes, story times, and backyard adventures.
Because when adults know what to look for—and how to respond—communication can grow in everyday moments. 🌟
Joint Attention with Toddlers: What It Means (and Why It's a Important for Preverbal Skills)
What is Joint Attention?
Joint attention is one of the most foundational preverbal (prelinguistic) communication skills. In simple terms, it’s when a child and adult are both focused on the same thing—and they both know it. It forms a little triangle between: The child, you and the shared object, event, or experience.
Some early skills that might show you that a child does have joint attention are: smiling back at a caregiver, reaching for a toy that someone has, playing simple interactive games such as tag, bringing objects to show caregivers, responding to the communication of others with eye contact, and following a parent’s gaze.
It’s not just about what a child is looking at—it’s about a shared experience
Joint attention is one of the most foundational preverbal (prelinguistic) communication skills. In simple terms, it’s when a child and adult are both focused on the same thing—and they both know it. It forms a little triangle between:
👶 The child
🧑🦰 You
🎈And the shared object, event, or experience
Some early skills that might show you that a child does have joint attention are: smiling back at a caregiver, reaching for a toy that someone has, playing simple interactive games such as tag, bringing objects to show caregivers, responding to the communication of others with eye contact, and following a parent’s gaze.
Early in my years as an SLP, I remember how much emphasis was placed on joint attention, but it was a more rigid form of attention than I look at now. I looked at eye contact in particular. We prompted. We waited. We even gently sabotaged—moving toys just out of reach or pausing a game—hoping to spark a moment of shared focus. This technique sometimes worked, but it didn’t always feel right. Especially when the child wasn’t enjoying it, and neither was I. Some tears and tantrums later, I found an easier way!
Over time, I’ve come to view joint attention differently. It’s no longer about checking off a skill on a developmental list. It’s about connection (actually EVERYTHING is about connection first!)
The key part? The child shifts their attention between you and the object (with their eyes, their body, or even a gesture) and includes you in that moment. It’s not just about what they’re looking at—it’s about sharing the experience- that connection that I was talking about!
But here’s something I want to say loud and clear:
Joint attention doesn’t have to look the same way for every child. It is important that it happens, but it may look different with a neurotypical child than with neurodivergent child or an Autistic child.
A child doesn’t have to make perfect eye contact or point like we may expect. They might pause when they hear your voice. They might hand you a rock or smile when you start their favorite song. That’s still joint attention. That’s still communication and still connection.
Joint attention is one of the earliest ways children learn to connect, to notice what we’re talking about, and to begin attaching words to
their world.
When a child can’t—or doesn’t—share focus with us, they miss countless chances to absorb language. Think about how much vocabulary is built when a toddler follows your gaze to a dump truck and hears: “Look! That’s a big dump truck! It is dumping the dirt out!” Without joint attention, it’s like that learning moment floats right past them.
Joint attention (along with turn-taking) is one of the key markers we look at when distinguishing a child who may have a speech or language delay from one who may have more developmental differences like autism.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
What Might Joint Attention Challenges Look Like?
Here are a few things I encourage parents and educators to watch for:
A child seems “zoned out ” when you’re trying to show or share something
They don’t look where you’re pointing
They become laser-focused on a toy or screen and do not acknowledge anything else going on around them
Simple social games like “Peek-a-boo” fizzle out quickly or never really get going
You feel like you’re working hard just to get them to engage
If any of those sound familiar, know that you’re not alone—and these are skills we can nurture!
We don’t need fancy programs or high-tech tools. The most powerful thing we can do is meet a child where they are, and join their world.
What Can You Do to Build Joint Attention?
Here are a few ideas to start with:
👉 Join their joy: Are they spinning? Spin with them. Lining up cars? Get your own and join the parade.
👉 Match their comfort zone: Eye contact might feel too intense. Try sitting side-by-side and playing parallel instead.
👉 Pause with purpose: Don’t pause to demand a look or a word—pause to create a natural rhythm. A shared breath. A chance to connect.
👉 Use “Show-Hold-Give” routines: During daily routines like snack or diaper changes, model showing the object, holding it up to share, and then giving it to them. These routines create predictable, interactive exchanges.
👉 Keep turn-taking playful and fast: Early turn-taking games should have quick, silly back-and-forths that match your child’s developmental stage. Think: popping bubbles, rolling balls, or pressing buttons on a toy together.
Connection First. Language Follows.
The biggest shift I’ve made in my practice is moving away from performance-based expectations and toward engagement. When we focus on joint engagement rather than “perfect” joint attention, we open the door for authentic connection—and communication naturally follows.
If you’re curious about how joint attention fits into a bigger picture of early communication, I created a resource just for you. My Preverbal Skills Handout breaks down the 11 foundational skills that come before words—like joint attention, turn-taking, and gestures—and shows you:
✔️ What each skill looks like in real life
✔️ Why it matters
✔️ How to support it in simple, playful ways
It’s perfect for teachers, therapists, and families who want to feel confident helping pre-talking children move toward connection and communication. Click for a preview of the Handout kit, or to snag a copy for yourself!
Kids, Screen Time and Recommendations
The Real Scoop on Screen Time for Young Children: How Much is Too Much?
Let’s talk about something that’s become a big part of our daily lives: screen time. Whether it’s a quick YouTube video during breakfast, a tablet app to keep kids entertained on a car ride, or a cozy movie night, screens are everywhere. But how much is too much? Does too much viewing lead to language delays? And how can we make sure screen time is a positive experience for our children’s development?
Quantity Matters: Setting Limits on Screen Time
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests that children under 18 months should only have screen time for video chatting with an adult. For kids aged 2 to 5 years, the recommendation is to limit non-educational screen time to about one hour per weekday and up to three hours on weekend days. These guidelines help ensure that children have enough time for other important activities, like playing, reading, and interacting with others, which are essential for their development.
The American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) collaborated with the Children's Screen Time Action Network at Fairplay to develop the Be TechWise series. These printable handouts—available in English and Spanish—focus on screen guidance for families with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
The main concern isn't that watching TV directly leads to language delays. It's that kids benefit the most when they're actively engaging in conversations with others. Problems can arise if screen time replaces those important real-life interactions and activities that support their development. Our best strategy? Let's give our kids plenty of opportunities to talk, explore, ask questions, and have meaningful interactions.
Quality Over Quantity: What Kind of Content is Best?
It’s not just about how much screen time children have—it’s also about what they’re watching. Research shows that fast-paced, highly stimulating shows like CoComelon and Little Baby Bum can negatively impact a child’s development. These types of shows often have rapid scene changes, flashy visuals, and non-stop action, which can overwhelm young brains. This overstimulation might lead to shorter attention spans, difficulty concentrating, and potential issues with speech and language development.
On the flip side, slower-paced, educational shows can have a positive impact. Shows like Bluey (Disney+), Sesame Street (PBS), Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (PBS), and Mister Clay (YouTube) are excellent options. These programs are designed with young children's developmental needs in mind. They promote learning through storytelling, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence, all while engaging kids in a fun and age-appropriate way.
The Importance of Co-Viewing: Watch Together and Talk About It
One of the best ways to make screen time beneficial is to watch together and engage in conversations about what’s on the screen. This co-viewing experience turns passive screen time into an interactive activity. For example, you can pause a show to ask questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why is the character feeling sad?” This not only boosts comprehension and critical thinking but also enhances language development. Talking about and/or acting out a show after viewing is a great way to facilitate pretend play and language skills.
But when it comes to learning to talk, the most important takeaway concerns the effects of live conversations between children and adults.
Balancing Screen Time with Real-World Interactions
While screens can be educational and entertaining, they should not replace real-world interactions. Research has shown that children learn language best through direct interaction with adults and peers. Conversations, reading together, playing, and exploring the world around them are crucial for building strong communication skills. If screen time begins to replace these real-world activities, it may hinder a child’s ability to develop essential social and language skills.
Gestalt Language Learners can really benefit from using phrasing from songs or TV shows as their initial communication. When parents watch with their GLP (gestalt language processors), they are more easily able to identify the context of the phrase. One of the cons of lots of screen time for GLPS is that, “If a child only views media as their source of language, they might be inclined to continue amassing hundreds of gestalts from media, and potentially struggle to connect with natural language in their environment.” (Meaningful Speech, May 2024). To learn more about Gestalt Language processors click here)
High-Quality Shows to Consider for young children:
Here are some great shows that balance entertainment with educational value:
Bluey (Disney+): This show features a lovable Australian Blue Heeler puppy named Bluey and her adventures with family and friends. It promotes creativity, problem-solving, and social-emotional learning.
Ms. Rachel (YouTube): Focused on early language development, Ms. Rachel engages children with songs, stories, and interactive activities that encourage speech and communication skills.
Super Simple Songs: (You Tube) These songs have a variety of themes and the animations are, well…. simple. I often slow them down so children can sign along.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Disney+): A classic choice for young kids, this show combines problem-solving with fun adventures led by Mickey and his friends.
Sesame Street (PBS): A long-time favorite that mixes fun with valuable lessons on literacy, numeracy, and social skills. It’s perfect for co-viewing and discussing topics like kindness, sharing, and understanding emotions.
Mister Clay (You Tube): Mister Clay is a fellow SLP who incorporates picture symbols into his songs. His songs are repetitive, catchy and teach real life concepts in a really fun and humorous way.
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (PBS): Based on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, this show helps young children learn about emotions, routines, and life skills in a gentle, relatable way.
Boom Learning: These are digital, educational activities developed by educators that parents and children can use together as a shared activity. I use Boom Cards in speech therapy to target speech and language skills. Take a look at my Boom store for interactive activities such as “Who is Knocking on my Door?” and “Vet Clinc for Preschool Children” which are a HUGE hit with young children!
Making Screen Time Work for You
Remember, screen time isn’t inherently bad—it’s all about how we use it. By being mindful of the quantity and quality of the content, and by actively engaging with our children during screen time, we can turn it into a valuable tool for learning and growth.
Think of screen time as one of many tools in your parenting toolkit. When used thoughtfully and balanced with other activities, it can be a positive part of your child’s development. So, let’s make the most of it! Watch together, talk about what you see, and don’t forget to turn off the screens and enjoy some unplugged playtime, too. Your child’s brain—and future self—will thank you!
Understanding Communication Milestones: A Guide to Speech and Language Development for Young Children
When it comes to young children's communication milestones, understanding typical speech and language development is key. As parents, caregivers, or educators, it's essential to know what to expect as children grow and develop. Monitoring these milestones can help you recognize if your child is on track or might benefit from the support of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
“NOT ALL CHILDREN MASTER SKILLS AT THE SAME AGE”
When it comes to young children's communication milestones, understanding typical speech and language development is key. As parents, caregivers, or educators, it's essential to know what to expect as children grow and develop. Monitoring these milestones can help you recognize if your child is on track or might benefit from the support of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) provides valuable developmental milestones handouts that outline what most children achieve at specific ages. These handouts cover both communication and feeding/swallowing skills, giving a comprehensive view of a child's development. However, it's important to remember that these milestones are general guidelines. Not all children will master these skills at the exact same age, and that’s perfectly normal! The goal is to observe continuous progress in speech and language skills over time.
Key Points to Remember:
General Guidelines, Not Strict Rules: Milestones are not a diagnostic tool. They're a helpful reference to guide you in understanding typical development. Each child is unique, and variations are common.
Look for Continuous Development: Rather than focusing solely on specific ages, consider the broader range of development that may happen before and after the expected age. This holistic approach allows you to see a clearer picture of your child's progress.
Know When to Seek Guidance: If you're ever concerned about your child's communication or feeding skills, don't hesitate to reach out to a professional. Early intervention can make a significant difference in helping children reach their full potential.
“GET TEXTS ABOUT MILESTONES, SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES AND WARNING SIGNS OF A SPEECH OR LANGUAGE DELAY”
Resources for Parents and Caregivers:
ASHA has partnered with Bright by Text to provide free, expert-backed resources and tips directly to parents and caregivers of children ages 2-6. By subscribing, you'll receive text messages with practical activities and advice tailored to your child’s age. Content is sourced from trusted organizations like PBS and Sesame Street, covering topics from language and early literacy to health, safety, and behavioral tips. You can get texts about speech and language milestones, suggested activities and warning signs of a speech or language disorder or delay. Text TALK to 274-448
For more detailed information on communication milestones and to access ASHA's developmental handouts, visit ASHA's developmental milestones page. These resources are designed to empower you with the knowledge you need to support your child’s speech and language development effectively.
How much of my child’s speech should I be able to understand? Click here for guidelines.
Remember, every child’s journey is different. Celebrate the progress your child makes, and don't hesitate to seek support if you have concerns. Together, we can ensure our children grow into strong communicators, ready to engage with the world around them.