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. May 26

    3 Ways to Use Themes in Speech/Language Therapy (Without Burning Yourself Out)

    Themes are one of the best tools in an SLP's toolkit. They keep kids engaged, tap into what's happening in their world right now, and make sessions feel fresh and fun. But if you've ever spent a Sunday night frantically hunting for a "dinosaur-themed articulation activity" only to find... nothing useful... you know the burnout is real. In this episode, I'm breaking down three practical ways to bring themes into your therapy sessions without adding a ton of extra work to your plate. We're talking about using AI to generate themed materials on the fly, the magic of one themed activity that works for every kid on your caseload, and simple themed props that do the heavy lifting for you. I'll also be kicking off our Summer Reset series: 8 steps to help you finally become an Unstressed Speechie before the new school year sneaks up on you. Whether you want to overhaul your session notes, streamline your IEP process, or just stop dreading Monday mornings, this series is for you. Themes don't have to mean more work. Let me show you how.

    22 min

  2. May 19

    Virtual Field Trip Ideas for your Speech/Language Therapy Sessions

    Have you ever wished you could take your therapy kids on a field trip without the permission slips, the bus rides, or the chaos? In this episode, we're talking about one of the most underrated tools in your therapy toolkit: the virtual field trip. From live zoo webcams to immersive museum tours, these experiences bring the outside world right into your therapy room — and they pack a serious punch when it comes to building background knowledge and creating meaningful opportunities to practice speech and language skills. We'll walk through some favorite virtual destinations, including the San Diego Zoo, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Smithsonian, the Louvre, and even the ruins of Pompeii, and talk about why experiences like these matter so much for language development. Background knowledge is one of the biggest predictors of language and literacy success, and virtual field trips are a surprisingly powerful (and free!) way to build it. But this episode isn't just about clicking around on a webcam — it's about making it therapeutic. We'll cover practical strategies for weaving your students' speech and language goals right into the experience: using targeted prompts, retelling activities, nonfiction read-alouds, and even writing thank-you notes to zookeepers and park rangers. Plus, we'll share how our new printable activity sheets make it easy to keep kids engaged and practicing their skills the whole time. Whether you're a school-based SLP looking for a fresh way to engage your kiddos or a private practitioner wanting to bring more meaning into your sessions, this episode is for you. Pack your bags — we're going on a field trip.

    26 min

  3. May 12

    How to Use Play to Work on Speech/Language Skills

    What if the most powerful therapy tool in your session was already sitting on the floor? In this episode, we're talking about play — not as a reward for "real" practice, but as the practice itself. We'll dig into why kids learn and retain skills so much better through play, and exactly how to make it work: modeling with exaggeration, recasting errors naturally, creating communication temptations, and building in just enough structure to get the repetitions you need. You'll also get practical strategies for older kids and skills that don't come up organically, including turning practice into timed challenges, pairing reps with games, and using sensory tools to keep focus without the fight. This one's a game-changer — pun fully intended.

    25 min

  4. May 4

    Join our Summer Reset! Become an Unstressed Speechie by Next School Year

    What if September didn't wreck you this year? Most SLPs spend summer telling themselves they'll get organized when school starts — and then August hits and there's no time, no bandwidth, and no plan. Sound familiar? In this episode, we're introducing the Unstressed Speechie and flipping the script on how you use your summer. Because here's the truth: June and July are the only time you actually have the mental space to build the systems that will save you all year long. August is already too late for calm. We're breaking down the 8 steps that transform a stressed, reactive SLP into one who walks into September prepared, confident, and actually excited to see her caseload — and we're sharing exactly how we're going to walk through them together this summer, step by step, in a way that's manageable, fun, and dare we say it... a little bit like a game. Because play is the opposite of stress. And you deserve both. If you've ever thought "next year will be different" — this is how you make it different. In this episode: Why summer (not August) is the secret window for SLP systems The false beliefs keeping you stuck in the same cycle every year A preview of all 8 steps of the Unstressed Speechie framework How we're doing this together in June and July — baby step by baby step

    19 min

  5. Apr 27

    The Simple Fix for End-of-the-Year Behavior Challenges

    If your students are melting down, shutting down, or refusing to cooperate during the last weeks of school, you're not alone — and it's not a reflection of your skills as a speech-language pathologist. End-of-year behavior challenges are one of the most common struggles SLPs face, and in this episode, we're breaking down exactly why it happens and what to do about it. The truth is, kids aren't acting out randomly. As the school year wraps up, many students experience real anxiety about transitions, schedule changes, and saying goodbye to familiar routines and trusted adults. Some push back hard — not because therapy isn't working, but because it is. In this episode, we unpack the attachment and anxiety behind end-of-year behaviors so you can stop taking it personally and start responding in a way that actually helps. We're sharing Survival Tip #2 from the Savvy Speechie's End-of-Year Survival Kit: managing behaviors by doing less. You'll learn how to lower the sensory and emotional "vibe" in your sessions using predictability, visual supports, and simple low-prep materials — without sacrificing structure or consistency. We talk about why paper beats screens for dysregulated kids, how a simple packet can double as a behavior management tool, and why now is the perfect time to lean into calming make-and-take activities, fidgets, and movement breaks. Whether you're a school-based SLP drowning in end-of-year paperwork, an SLP assistant trying to hold it together through the chaos, or a special education teacher wondering why your kids have suddenly lost their minds, this episode gives you practical, immediately usable strategies to survive — and even enjoy — the final stretch of the school year. Topics covered in this episode: Why students show increased challenging behaviors at the end of the school year The attachment and anxiety behind refusals and meltdowns How to use predictability and visual countdowns to reduce dysregulation Simple, low-prep session structures for dysregulated students Why printed materials calm kids down better than screens End-of-year celebration ideas that double as behavior incentives No-prep activity ideas for speech therapy sessions in May and June

    21 min

  6. Apr 20

    What's in Carrie's Therapy Bag?

    Want to see my favorite speech/language therapy materials, games, books, and more?? I'm opening up my therapy bag today to show you what's inside! Take a peek inside on today's episode of the Speech and Language Kids Podcast!

    19 min

  7. Apr 13

    Burned Out on SLP? Try This Simple Swap Before You Run Off to Become a Goat Farmer Burned Out on SLP? Try This Simple Swap Before You Run Off to Become a Goat Farmer

    Before you quit SLP to raise goats and maybe open a yoga studio, listen to this. Your burnout isn't about your career — it's about your routine. And your routine? It's fixable. This episode breaks down the one therapy routine swap that helps overwhelmed SLPs simplify their sessions, clear the clutter, and actually leave work at work. Start here. We're talking about why survival-mode routines keep SLPs stuck, and the one simple therapy routine swap that can change your entire week — no big overhaul required. If you're managing a caseload of 50+ kids and wondering if you chose the right career, this episode might just change your mind. $200 Credit for the Lifetime Access Plan Going on Now through April 15, 2026! Go to Hub.SpeechAndLanguageKids.com and enter this promo code at checkout: SURVIVE

    21 min

  8. Apr 7

    SLP End-of-Year Survival Guide - Live Event Recording!

    Redeem your $200 Credit for the SLK Curriculum -- Promo Code: SURVIVE https://hub.speechandlanguagekids.com/ Offer Ends April 15th!   If you're an SLP or SLPA who works in the schools, you know that this time of year is pure chaos! Behaviors are amping up.  Progress reports are due. And your groups are out of control. There's no time to reheat your coffee, let alone get everything done! So this year, I'm throwing you a lifeline! Listen to this recording of our End-of-Year Survival Event with plans, tools, and shortcuts to help you survive the end of your school year!   We'll be showing you exactly how to…  Make quick and easy plans for the rest of your school year Reduce those "end-of-the-year" behaviors and boost engagement (without spending extra time planning and prepping) Use shortcuts for all of your year-end admin tasks like data collection, progress notes, and homework packets   Don't spend the rest of this year stressed out and overwhelmed.  Grab the tools that thousands of SLPs and SLPAs are already using to find more joy and fulfillment in the work they do:  Hub.SpeechAndLanguageKids.com

    1h 4m
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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.

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