Speech Pathology By Design

01/02/2026

If you have a child with ADHD and you can get to Oran Park - this might be a great opportunity for you.

Supporting parents to better understand ADHD 💙
Join our Thriving Together with ADHD workshop series.
Register here 👉 https://forms.office.com/r/K249wR8APJ

12/12/2025

Language Boost Tip #6 Model

12/12/2025

Such a great post about the dangers of excess technology for kids and the benefits of a tech reduction for our kids. As speech Pathologists we know that face to face and people time is the best way to develop language skills. Children are also experiencing increased technology use in school hours which makes home time even more important to be an 'engaging with people' time. Great timing with the u16 ban.

It’s that time of year when kids start asking for phones for Christmas—and plenty of parents feel torn between keeping them happy and losing control. Both my kids know they’re not getting smartphones til they are at least 16- my daughter thought maybe she could get around us by appealing directly to the big lad at the North Pole in a letter we *ahem* accidentally intercepted- nice try, kid!
After everything we’ve read and seen, the harm social media and constant connectivity are doing to kids is undeniable. Smartphones pull children out of the real world, kill outside time, warp their behaviour, speed them into problems they’re not ready for, and expose them to risks they don’t need. So many parents feel this, but we need to keep saying it out loud.
I recently became an ambassador for the UK’s , alongside and , because-although the tide is turning—we need to normalize the conversation about rethinking the role of phones in our kids’ lives.
The best parts of childhood don’t glow, vibrate, or need charging. And the more families who join the smartphone-free bubble, the stronger it gets.
Click the link in my bio to learn more about Smartphone Free Childhood, the damage they cause, alternative suggestions, and how to help your kids grow up slower, safer, and healthier.
This Christmas, let’s protect what’s left of childhood.

11/12/2025

I'm so excited to share Hanen's free handout focused on how we can make words stand out and repeat them in fun, natural ways. It’s at the heart of what Hanen is all about: giving families practical tools to make the most of everyday interactions.

Link:

11/12/2025

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from Speech Pathology By Design! ✨🎄

As we wrap up another huge year of learning, language, laughter, and connection, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to all the incredible adults, children, families, teachers, and teams I’ve had the privilege of working with in 2025.

This year has been filled with big feelings, big progress, and so many beautiful moments—first words, confident sentences, brave communication attempts, new sounds mastered, friendships strengthened, confidence gained and lots of joyful play and discussion along the way. ❤️

Thank you for welcoming me into your homes, schools, preschools, and lives, and for trusting me with your and/or your child’s communication journey. Your support, teamwork, and kindness mean the world.

Wishing you all a restful Christmas and a peaceful New Year filled with connection and calm. My motto this year (once work is finished) is to 'let it slow, let it slow, let it slow...'

Stay safe, have fun, and I cannot wait to see everyone again in 2026!

We will be closed between December 22nd and January 29th.

08/12/2025

Language Boost Tip #5 Storytelling

02/12/2025

Vocabulary - I love learning and reading the latest research. ('nerd alert' as my children would say). This one came across my desk and here is a summary! I've been deep diving into vocabulary instruction to make sure I'm working on words that matter to my clients needs and learning, and teaching them in the most effective way possible.

What Makes Vocabulary Teaching Truly Effective?

New research by Green & Coxhead (2025) outlines the Vocabulary Teachers’ Competencies (VTC) Framework — a clear guide to what teachers need to know and do to help children build strong, meaningful vocabulary.

Here are the 5 essential areas that make vocabulary teaching powerful:

1️⃣ Core Knowledge of Words

To teach vocabulary well, we first need to understand how words work.
This includes:
• Word meanings
• Multiple meanings
• Word parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots)
• How words connect to other words
When teachers deeply understand words, they can explain them clearly and meaningfully.

2️⃣ How Vocabulary Is Learnt

Children don’t learn new words from definitions alone — they learn through:
• Repeated exposure
• Rich contexts
• Hearing words used in meaningful sentences
• Using the words themselves
Understanding how children store, retrieve, and use new words helps teachers choose the right strategies.

3️⃣ Effective Teaching Practices

Great vocabulary teaching is explicit, intentional, and interactive.
This means:
• Teaching Tier 2 vocabulary
• Using real examples, visuals, and stories
• Encouraging children to talk, explore, and apply new words
• Revisiting words through routines and play
Effective practices turn words from “heard once” into “stored for life.”

4️⃣ Professional and Curriculum Knowledge

Teachers need to connect vocabulary instruction to:
• Curriculum outcomes
• Classroom goals
• Learner diversity and cultural backgrounds
• Assessment and planning
This ensures vocabulary teaching is purposeful, inclusive, and relevant.

5️⃣ The Big Ideas

At the heart of vocabulary teaching is one simple goal:

'Help children build deep, flexible, meaningful word knowledge that supports comprehension and communication.'

Strong vocabulary grows confidence, literacy, and learning across every subject.

Reference: Green, C. and Coxhead, A. (2025) The vocabulary Teachers' competencies (VTC) framework: The core knowledge, skills and professional capabilities that support effective vocabulary instruction. Literacy. https://doi.org/10.1111/lit.70016

02/12/2025

Language Boost Tip #4 Let's Listen!

02/12/2025

I was very blessed to share a dinner and professional development evening recently with some local speech pathologists at our network meeting. The paper shared with us was on the link between Language and Executive functioning so I thought I'd share a summary with you.

How Thinking Skills and Language Grow Together in Young Children
(And why this matters for your child!)

As speech pathologists, we often talk about language development—vocabulary, sentences, storytelling—but there’s another important part of the puzzle: your child’s executive functioning skills.

A recent research review by Shokrkon & Nicoladis (2022) looked at the two-way relationship between language and executive functioning. In simple terms, they wanted to know:

👉 Does strong thinking/self-control help children learn language?
👉 Or does strong language help children think, plan, and focus?
👉 Or… do they actually build on each other over time?

Their conclusion?
Language and executive functioning are deeply connected, especially in the early years when children are learning so rapidly.

So what exactly is Executive Functioning?

🧠 The 3 Core Executive Functioning Skills

1️⃣ Working Memory
This is your child’s ability to hold information in their mind and use it.
Examples in everyday life:

Remembering the steps in a routine ("Get your shoes, then your hat").

Following multi-step instructions.

Learning new words and remembering their meaning.

2️⃣ Inhibitory Control
This is your child’s ability to pause, think, and choose, instead of acting on impulse.
Examples include:

Waiting their turn.

Not shouting out when excited.

Stopping themselves from grabbing a toy.

3️⃣ Cognitive Flexibility
This is your child's ability to switch between tasks, or see things from different perspectives.
Examples include:

Coping with a change in routine.

Trying a new strategy when something isn’t working.

Understanding that words can have more than one meaning.

🌱 Why These Skills Matter

These three areas help children:

✨ Learn and use language
✨ Problem-solve and think creatively
✨ Play successfully with others
✨ Manage emotions and transitions
✨ Thrive in classroom learning

Importantly, the research suggests that as children strengthen their EF skills, their language improves — and as their language grows, so does their ability to think, plan, and self-regulate. They build each other up!

💬 What Can Parents Do?

The best part?
🎉 Executive functioning develops through play, language-rich interactions, and everyday routines.

Talking through steps aloud, playing turn-taking games, narrating feelings (“You really wanted that toy, and waiting is hard”), storytelling, and offering gentle choices all help boost both language and thinking skills.

Reference: Shokrkon, A., & Nicoladis, E. (2022). The directionality of the relationship between executive functions and language skills: A literature review. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 848696.

It has been demonstrated that executive functions play a significant role in different aspects ofthe development of children. Development of language is also...

20/11/2025

Language Boost Tip #3 Let's Play!

12/11/2025

Language Boost Top Tip #1 Read

17/10/2025

Something exciting is coming! Our short videos will share simple, everyday ways to help your child’s language grow — all while you’re doing the things you already do at home.

Let’s make getting ready for school fun, natural, and full of learning moments.

It's never too late to give your child’s language a boost!