Total Communication Therapy

21/11/2025

If your child has been talking less lately… don’t scroll past this.

We meet so many parents who whisper the same worry:

“Why is my child suddenly so quiet?”
“Is it normal that he’s 3 and barely talking?”
“She used to babble… now nothing.”

Here’s the part most people don’t talk about: talking less doesn’t always mean your child isn’t learning but it can mean they need support.

And no, Google searches and “boys talk late” advice don’t help.

In our latest blog, we break down, clearly and calmly, what “talking less” can actually mean. Including:

🔹 When it is part of normal development
🔹 When it’s a sign of a communication delay
🔹 What parents often miss (motor planning, sensory load, joint attention…)
🔹 The difference between meaningful speech and memorised speech
🔹 What you can do at home that actually works
🔹 When it’s time to seek professional help without panicking

If you’ve been feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or stuck between advice from family, teachers, and the internet… this guide will give you clarity, not guilt.

👉 Read the full blog here: https://www.totalcommunication.com.sg/post/why-your-child-may-be-talking-less-and-what-that-actually-means-a-realistic-guide-for-parents-in-si

And if you want someone to walk you through your child’s communication profile, our team is always open for a chat

When speech doesn’t come as expected, it can feel worrying — but it’s often a sign to observe, not panic. This article breaks down why some children talk less, what early communication delays look like, and how parents in Singapore can support meaningful speech development with evidence-based ...

21/11/2025

If you think your child’s behaviour is the “problem”… read this.

A lot of parents ask us, “How do I fix my child’s behaviour?”
But here’s the honest truth, behaviour isn’t the issue. It’s communication in disguise.

Every meltdown, every silence, every script from YouTube… your child is communicating.
Just not in the way most adults expect.

And once you shift from “Stop this behaviour” to “What is my child trying to tell me?,” everything changes.

Here are 3 insights from our latest blog that every parent of an autistic child should know:

🔹 Speech isn’t the only form of communication; gestures, AAC, pointing, and even behaviour count.
🔹 Echolalia isn’t “copying”; it’s a real communication tool.
🔹 Regulation comes before language. A calm brain communicates; an overwhelmed one shuts down.

If this already flips your perspective a little… wait till you read the full piece.

It breaks down meaningful communication in autistic children in a simple, compassionate way without the jargon, without the pressure.

👉 Read the full blog here: https://www.totalcommunication.com.sg/post/beyond-behaviour-a-communication-first-approach-to-autism-for-parents-in-singapore
(It’s a 3-minute read that could genuinely change how you understand your child.)

If you’d like help understanding your child’s communication profile, our team is always here; gently, and without any pressure.

Many parents worry about behaviour, but autism is fundamentally about communication, not compliance. This guide explains how autistic children express themselves, why speech may look different, and what meaningful communication truly involves. Discover practical ways to support your child at home an...

21/11/2025

Why School Holidays Are Extra Hard for Neurodivergent Children

School holidays sound great… until routine disappears and everything unravels.
For many neurodivergent children (autism, ADHD, GDD, sensory differences), the sudden change isn’t relaxing, it’s dysregulating.

Parents often notice:
• increased irritability
• constant “What’s next?”
• more meltdowns
• restlessness or clinginess
• difficulty staying engaged

This isn’t “bad behaviour.” It’s the brain struggling without predictability, structure, and steady sensory input.

The good news? There are ways to make holidays calmer and more meaningful:

✔ visual schedules
✔ short 20-minute activity cycles
✔ sensory diet breaks (jumping, heavy work, water play)
✔ predictable daily rituals
✔ simple choice boards to reduce overwhelm

And when home support reaches its limit, structured holiday programmes can make a huge difference — offering routine, social engagement, emotional regulation, and targeted skill-building in a safe, guided environment.

At Total Communication, our holiday programmes are designed exactly for this.
Children return calmer, more settled, and more confident — because the structure supports their nervous system, not fights it.

If you’ve ever felt, “Holidays are harder than school days,” this article will make complete sense.

👉 Read the full blog here: https://www.totalcommunication.com.sg/post/school-holidays-don-t-have-to-be-chaos-smart-ways-to-keep-your-child-meaningfully-engaged

A smoother holiday starts with the right structure for your child, and for you.

School holidays sound fun… until the lack of routine sends neurodivergent kids into sensory and emotional overload. This guide breaks down why holidays are harder, practical ways to create structure at home, and how Total Communication’s evidence-based holiday programmes can bring calm, regulati...

21/11/2025

Executive Functions: The Hidden Skillset Most Parents Overlook

Most people think executive functioning is just “being organised.”
If only it were that simple.

Executive functions are the real engine behind how a child plans, starts tasks, regulates emotions, adapts to changes, and actually gets things done. And when these skills lag especially for children with ADHD, autism, or developmental delays, it shows up everywhere: at home, in school, and socially.

You might see:
• difficulty starting or completing tasks
• emotional outbursts when routines shift
• constant forgetfulness
• losing items daily
• struggling to organise thoughts
• appearing “distracted” despite trying hard

These aren’t character flaws or misbehaviour. They’re signs that the brain’s self-management systems need support.

The good news? Executive function skills can be strengthened, through structured games, emotional regulation strategies, and real-life routines that build independence.

If you’re a parent or educator trying to make sense of a child who’s bright but constantly overwhelmed, this one will help you understand what’s really going on.

👉 Read the full article here: https://www.totalcommunication.com.sg/post/why-executive-functions-matter-more-than-you-think

Sometimes the breakthrough isn’t more discipline, it’s understanding how their brain works.

Executive functions are more than just “being organised.” They shape how children plan, regulate emotions, stay flexible, and manage everyday tasks. Many neurodivergent children struggle quietly with these skills but the good news is, EF can be strengthened. Here’s what parents in Singapore ne...

20/11/2025

Behaviour isn’t random. It’s communication in disguise.

So many children with autism aren’t “acting out” - they’re signalling overwhelm, sensory stress, or a need they can’t yet put into words.

When we stop trying to correct the behaviour and start trying to understand the message, everything gets easier… for them and for us.

📞 Need guidance? Speak to our team anytime: +65 9115 8895

💬 Or drop us a WhatsApp

Read more: https://www.totalcommunication.com.sg/post/beyond-behaviour-a-communication-first-approach-to-autism-for-parents-in-singapore

19/11/2025

School holidays hit… now what?
If you’re worried about your child losing momentum, these 3 programmes can help:

✅ Struggles with focus or planning? Executive Functioning Camp
✅ Limited speech or slow language growth? Language Stimulation Programme
✅ Weak reading, spelling, or visual memory? Seeing Stars®

Want the right one for your child?
Tap the link: https://www.totalcommunication.com.sg/holidays-progammes-for-kids-in-singapore

or call/WhatsApp us - +65 9115 8895 - we’ll guide you.

18/11/2025

Executive Functioning isn’t Just, “Being Organised”

Here’s What Parents Need to Know.

Need help? Call/WhatsApp: +65 9115 8895

16/11/2025

Some young people look “fine” on paper… until life starts happening.

Great grades. Good vocabulary. Zero clue how to manage friendships, interviews, conflict, or even daily stress.

We’re seeing a whole generation of undiagnosed, neurodivergent youth who cruise through school… then crash hard in adulthood. Not because they’re incapable but because no one ever taught them the skills beneath behaviour, communication, and emotional regulation.

Many don’t even know they’re neurodivergent.

They just feel exhausted, confused, and secretly convinced that something is wrong with them.

Here’s the truth:
Awareness isn’t enough. Accommodation isn’t enough.
They need both remediation (building inner skills) and adaptation (helping environments understand them).

At Total Communication, we don’t push people to “act neurotypical.”

We build real-world capacities: dynamic thinking, emotional regulation, perspective-taking, resilience, and communication that actually works outside the classroom.

Because the real goal?

A life they can participate in - friendships, work, joy, contribution.

Read the full piece on our website (this one hits home for so many parents and young adults): https://www.totalcommunication.com.sg/post/remediation-and-adaptation-in-a-neurodivergent-world

👉 For neurodivergent coaching or teen/young adult support, WhatsApp us at +65 9115 8895

A growing number of undiagnosed neurodivergent young people excel academically yet struggle deeply with real-life demands. At Total Communication, we support them by building dynamic thinking, emotional regulation, and communication readiness, not to change who they are, but to help them participate...

16/11/2025

My child’s speech isn’t clear. Can you just fix that?

We hear this every week, and here’s the truth most people never get told:

Speech issues are rarely just about speech.

A child who won’t talk in school may not have an articulation problem, they may be overwhelmed, shut down, anxious, or simply not feeling safe enough to use their voice.

Speech is a nervous system event, not a mechanical one.

In our therapy rooms, we don’t just drill sounds.

We work on regulation, emotional security, co-regulation, dynamic thinking, the real foundations that unlock speech.

Because what’s the point of clear words if a child is too scared or dysregulated to use them?

This is why we use pretend play, storytelling, real-world scenarios, and connection-based work. It’s not fluff, it’s the brain’s fastest route to communication and confidence.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your child’s “speech problem” is actually something deeper… you’re not imagining it.

There’s a whole world under the surface and that’s where real progress starts.

Read the full article here (so worth it if you’re feeling stuck or unsure): https://www.totalcommunication.com.sg/post/when-parents-just-want-speech-but-it-s-not-just-speech

👉 Got questions or want guidance? WhatsApp us at +65 9115 8895

Many speech challenges aren’t really “speech problems.” They’re regulation problems, emotional-safety problems, and connection problems. At Total Communication, we work beneath the surface, helping children find their voice by first helping their nervous system feel safe. Our approach blends...

16/11/2025

Ever seen your child turn a spoon into a spaceship?

That’s not “just play” - that’s language exploding in real time.

This holiday, we’re taking that magic and turning it into a full-blown growth spurt with our Language Stimulation Through Pretend Play sessions.

Think supermarket missions, mini restaurants, zoo rescues, and tiny community heroes, all carefully crafted by therapists to boost vocabulary, social thinking, problem-solving, and imagination.

Zero worksheets. Zero pressure. Just pure, purposeful play.

If the long Nov–Dec break is starting to look like a screen-time marathon… you might want to jump on this.

Small group. Big learning. Even bigger confidence.

Read the full story behind the programme here (and trust me, it’s worth the read): https://www.totalcommunication.com.sg/post/let-s-make-the-holidays-count-building-language-through-pretend-play

👉 Want your child in? WhatsApp us at +65 9115 8895

This holiday season, turn playtime into a powerful language-learning experience. Designed by therapists, our Language Stimulation Through Pretend Play Programme helps children aged 4-7 build communication, imagination, and thinking skills through purposeful fun.

14/11/2025

Holidays shouldn’t disappear in a blur of TV, tablets, and “I’m bored.”
Give your child a break that builds them, not drains them.

Our Holiday Enrichment Programmes blend play, language, thinking skills, and confidence… all wrapped in fun your child will actually enjoy.

If you want this holiday to count, this is the easiest yes you’ll make.

📱 WhatsApp +65 9115 8895 to save a spot

🔗 Learn more on our website: https://www.totalcommunication.com.sg/holidays-progammes-for-kids-in-singapore

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

11/11/2025

Holiday fun that actually teaches something? Yup. 😎

Pretend play that boosts confidence, builds sentences, and strengthens little minds, all while your child thinks they’re just having fun.

Call/WhatsApp: +65 9115 8895 to join our November–December camp!

View Holiday Programmes here: https://www.totalcommunication.com.sg/holidays-progammes-for-kids-in-singapore