Speech and Language Kids Podcast

Carrie Clark, CCC-SLP

This podcast is for SLPs, Caregivers, and Educators supporting neurodiverse children and teens who want practical, respectful, and effective ways to build communication skills. Our approach supports children with all neuro-differences, including speech/language differences, learning differences, ADHD, Autism, developmental disorders, and more! Each episode blends neurodiversity-affirming approaches with evidence-based speech and language therapy strategies, covering topics like speech sound disorders, language development, AAC, gestalt language processing, executive functioning, social communication, and more. You'll hear actionable ideas you can use right away—whether you're planning therapy sessions, supporting a child at home, or navigating the school system. We believe children aren't broken—they need better supports. This show focuses on strength-based, child-centered practices that honor individuality while helping kids communicate more confidently and independently. If you're looking for speech therapy tips, language development strategies, support for neurodivergent learners, and realistic ways to make therapy simpler and more effective, you're in the right place.

  1. 2d ago

    Stuck to Unstuck: Teaching Growth Mindset in Speech & Language Therapy

    Ever have a client shove their materials away and say "I can't do this"? This episode of Speech and Language Kids dives into growth mindset for speech therapy: what it actually means (beyond the buzzword), why it's especially critical for kids with communication differences, and exactly how to teach it in session tomorrow. We cover why so many SLP caseloads carry a fixed mindset around communication: years of correction, comparison, and struggle can leave kids believing "I'll never get this sound" or "I'm just not a good talker." You'll learn the neuroscience-friendly way to explain brain plasticity to kids, the language shifts that move a child from "I can't" to "I can't do this yet," and how to keep growth mindset work fully neurodiversity-affirming — focused on strategy and effort, never on masking or "fixing" who a child is. The heart of the episode is Stuck Sticks: a simple, hands-on tool using labeled popsicle sticks that give kids a physical toolkit of coping and problem-solving strategies to pull out the moment they feel stuck. We walk through how to build a set, how to introduce them collaboratively so they feel kid-owned, and how to fade the prop over time so the strategies become internalized. Whether you're a speech-language pathologist, SLP assistant, teacher, or parent of a child who shuts down when things get hard, this episode gives you a concrete, easy-to-implement framework. No extra prep required!

  2. Jun 15

    Meet Buttercup the Speech Gnome! (And Hear her Story)

    This episode is a little different — it's one you can play directly for your clients! Today I'm introducing a new friend to the podcast: Buttercup the Speech Gnome. My sons James and Oliver join me as helpers, and together we read Buttercup's origin story out loud — the tale of how she traveled from the land of Gnomewood, where a creeping darkness called "the Silence" was swallowing every sound, to find humans brave enough to speak their "Words of Power" (aka their speech and language skills) and help push the Silence back for good. If you've never heard of Buttercup before, here's the quick version: inside the Speech and Language Kids Hub, Buttercup goes on daily speech quests with kids working on their communication goals. After practicing their target skill with their SLP, kids get to roll the Resonance Stone — a d20 that triggers something fun, silly, or magical depending on the number rolled, anything from a tiny chime to Buttercup literally crying happy tears. James and Oliver try it out live in this episode so you can hear exactly how it plays out. This episode works great as a fun listen for SLPs curious about the Speech Gnomie world, or as a read-aloud/play-along for clients who are just discovering Buttercup for the first time. After listening, visit http://Hub.SpeechAndLanguageKids.com to grab Buttercup's Welcome Kit — including a coloring page and an Official Speech Gnomie Membership Certificate — and join the Speech Gnomie Crew.

About

This podcast is for SLPs, Caregivers, and Educators supporting neurodiverse children and teens who want practical, respectful, and effective ways to build communication skills. Our approach supports children with all neuro-differences, including speech/language differences, learning differences, ADHD, Autism, developmental disorders, and more! Each episode blends neurodiversity-affirming approaches with evidence-based speech and language therapy strategies, covering topics like speech sound disorders, language development, AAC, gestalt language processing, executive functioning, social communication, and more. You'll hear actionable ideas you can use right away—whether you're planning therapy sessions, supporting a child at home, or navigating the school system. We believe children aren't broken—they need better supports. This show focuses on strength-based, child-centered practices that honor individuality while helping kids communicate more confidently and independently. If you're looking for speech therapy tips, language development strategies, support for neurodivergent learners, and realistic ways to make therapy simpler and more effective, you're in the right place.