Shows
Talking ToddlersWhat Your Toddler Needs to Express Themselves Clearly (Part 2) Ep 114Send us a textExplore how speech develops after the first words — and what to do if your toddler can’t express themselves clearly. Erin explains how to recognize delays in expression and speech sounds and gives practical, empowering strategies to support your child at home. 🎙 Part 2 of 2 in the “Building Blocks” Mini-SeriesIn Part 1, we covered the first two foundational 'pillars' of speech development: 1️⃣ Social Interaction – how connection fuels communication 2️⃣ Understanding Language – why comprehension must come before expressionToday in Part 2, we...2025-07-291h 01Talking ToddlersIs My Baby’s Development Normal? Understanding Milestones & Red Flags: Part 1 Ep 113Send us a textThe 4 Building Blocks of Speech Development – Part 1Long before your toddler says their first real word, two powerful foundations (milestones) must already be in place: interaction and understanding.These aren’t “nice to have” skills — they are non-negotiable building blocks for speech, language, connection, and future learning. Yet so many parents are told to wait and see, when in fact, there’s so much YOU can do now.In this episode, Erin shares:The first two building blocks of...2025-07-2245 minTalking ToddlersWhy Toddlers Ignore "No" -- and What to Do Instead Ep 112Send us a textWhy does your toddler seem to completely ignore you when you say “no”? Are they just testing limits—or is something deeper going on?In this episode of Talking Toddlers, Erin breaks down what “no” actually means to children under three—and why their response is less about defiance and more about development. You’ll learn how to guide your toddler through this critical stage with firm but loving strategies that really work.Inside this episode:What toddlers truly understand about “no”The developmental stages of autonomy a...2025-07-1545 minTalking ToddlersHow to Get Your Toddler to Listen Without Yelling: 7 Everyday Strategies Ep 111Send us a textIs your toddler always pushing back, melting down, or refusing to help? From messy playtime to getting out the door, you’ll learn how to: – Encourage turn-taking, even with babies – Turn cleanup into connection – Use routines and rules to reduce drama – Make transitions smoother – And raise a child who wants to help — without bribes, yelling, or power strugglesIn this episode of Talking Toddlers, Erin Hyer — speech-language pathologist with over 35 years of real-life experience — shares 7 simple, science-backed ways to TEACH cooperation in eve...2025-07-0841 minTalking ToddlersWhat Every Toddler Needs: The Secret to Calmer Days Ep 110Send us a textWhat do toddlers really need?It’s not more toys, more stimulation, or more screen time. It’s something simple, powerful, and often overlooked: a predictable daily routine.In this episode of Talking Toddlers, Erin—SLP, early intervention expert, and prevention-first parent coach—explains why consistent routines are the foundation for calm, cooperation, and healthy brain development.You’ll learn:Why routines reduce tantrums and improve sleepThe brain science behind rhythm and regulationHow predictability helps toddl...2025-07-0156 minTalking ToddlersWhy ‘I’m Bored’ Is a Gift: The Power of Open-Ended Play Ep 109Send us a textIs your toddler bouncing between toys with little focus? Wondering what kind of play actually matters in these early years? In this episode, Erin Hyer, a seasoned speech-language pathologist and early intervention expert, breaks down the importance of open-ended play—and WHY it’s a game-changer for your child's brain, body, and emotional development. You'll learn what types of toys to prioritize, why less is more, and how play sets the foundation for true success.Instead of handing over a screen or buying more to...2025-06-2441 minTalking ToddlersWhat Can I Do Instead of Screens? Is That Even Possible? Part 3 of 3 - Ep 108Send us a textTired of feeling stuck when your toddler reaches for a screen? Erin introduces a list of 10 screen-free activities that are practical, low-cost, and beneficial for cognitive, motor, and emotional development. Additionally, Erin provides 9 interactive games that can be played WITHOUT any tools, such as 'Name That Tune' and 'I Spy.' These are what’s trending among parents online and her go-to games from decades of real-life early intervention. These setups are simple, sensory-rich, and perfect for building language, connection, and calm.Download the fre...2025-06-171h 23Talking ToddlersScreen Time Struggles: Why Boundaries Are a Gift, Not a Punishment - Ep 107Send us a textThe screen time struggle is real—but boundaries aren’t punishment - they’re protection. And they’re a gift your child will grow into. What if one of the hardest choices you make today becomes the one your child thanks you for a decade from now?In Part 2 of our screen time mini-series, we’re talking boundaries—the kind that feel tough in the moment but protect your child’s development for years to come. If you’ve ever wondered, "Am I bei...2025-06-1057 minTalking ToddlersWhen Screens Take Over: Why It Feels So Hard to Say No (and Why It Matters) Ep 106Send us a textWhy is it so hard to set screen time boundaries with toddlers? Is it just modern parenting—or is there something bigger going on?In this powerful first episode of our screen time mini-series, Erin walks you through the cultural shifts, industry influence, and developmental concerns that make screens a bigger issue than most parents realize. Drawing on insights from The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, Erin challenges moms to be bold, clear, and proactive—starting now.🎧 In this episode:The real reason screens feel “una...2025-05-2835 minTalking ToddlersBabbling & Beyond: What No One Told You About Noisy Babies Ep 105Send us a textIs babbling just a cute stage—or a sign of something deeper? In this episode of Talking Toddlers, Erin dives into the often-overlooked world of prelinguistic development during your baby’s first year.Drawing on 35+ years of clinical experience, Erin explains how babbling builds the foundation for speech, how movement (yes, even tummy time!) connects to oral motor skills, and why quiet babies need your attention—not just patience.You’ll learn why consonants and vowels matter, how feeding and communication go hand-in-hand, and what those swe...2025-05-061h 08Talking ToddlersCrawling Got Cut—But It’s Still Critical - Here’s Why Ep 104Send us a textPart 2 of the “Is My Baby’s Development Normal?” Mini-SeriesWhat happens when a milestone disappears from the checklist?In this episode, we’re digging into a surprising decision: the CDC no longer considers crawling a core developmental milestone. But does that mean it’s no longer important?Absolutely not.With 35+ years of clinical experience in early childhood development, I’ll walk you through why crawling still plays a crucial role in brain development, sensory integration, coordination, and even future learning. We’ll exp...2025-04-221h 00Talking ToddlersWhat's Normal Anyway? Understanding Developmental Milestones Ep 103Send us a textWhen should my baby be talking? Crawling? Walking?”If you’ve ever typed those words into Google at 2 a.m., you’re not alone.In this episode of Talking Toddlers, Erin tackles one of the most common fears new parents have: Is my baby falling behind? With 35+ years in early intervention, she breaks down what developmental milestones really mean, why PROGRESS matters more than perfection.Research demonstrates that proactive parenting can truly shape your child’s future.You’ll learn:...2025-04-0939 minTalking ToddlersIs My Child on Track? The 10 Essential Skills For Talking Ep 102Send us a textDid you know that talking doesn’t start with words? Before a child ever says “mama” or “dada,” they go through critical developmental stages that pave the way for speech. In this episode of Talking Toddlers, we’re diving into the Top 10 Essential Skills For Talking —the must-know skills that indicate a child is on the right track for language development.We’ll cover everything from sensory awareness and social connection to gestures, turn-taking, and play—all fundamental to helping your baby or toddler communicate...2025-04-0151 minTalking ToddlersWant Your Toddler to Talk More? Start at the Table (Part 3 of 3) Ep 101Send us a textIf you’re wondering how to help your toddler talk more, you might be overlooking one of the most powerful (and simplest) tools you already have—mealtime!In this episode of Talking Toddlers, we’re diving into why shared meals aren’t just about food—they’re about connection, conversation, and building the foundation for strong communication skills.I’ll break down:Why mealtime is a natural opportunity for boosting language development.How eating together fosters attention, listening, and social engagement.The hidden ways di...2025-03-2642 minTalking ToddlersFood Companies Lied to Parents—Here’s How to Take Back Control (Part 2 of 3) Ep 100Send us a textFeeding your family should be simple—but today, food companies have made it confusing on purpose. Nearly 70% of toddlers’ food and 73% of grocery store products are ultra-processed. And it’s not by accident—it’s by design, for profit.In this episode, we’ll pull back the curtain on how we got here, revealing the six ways the baby food industry manipulate parents into thinking convenience equals better nutrition. We’ll review the real impact of ultra-processed foods on your child’s brain, gut health, and long-term eatin...2025-03-191h 13Talking ToddlersFeeding Your Baby Right: The Truth About Real Nutrition (Part 1 of 3) Ep 99Send us a textWhat if everything you thought you had to feed your baby was actually just clever marketing? For decades, parents have been told that rice cereal and packaged baby food are essential first foods. But the truth? Ultra-processed foods do nothing to support your baby’s rapidly growing brain, gut health, or real-time learning.This is Part 1 of a 3-part series where we unpack the real science behind infant nutrition and practical ways to build healthy eating habits from the start. In this episode, we’re...2025-03-041h 11Talking ToddlersPart 2: Gentle Parenting: Why Milestones Matter Ep 98Send us a textThis episode is Part 2 of our deep dive into ‘Gentle Parenting Trends’—and why social media doesn’t always model the best examples for real-life parenting. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I highly recommend starting there first! In that episode, I covered the first two key developmental stages:✅ 12-18 months – The early stages of independence, how cause-and-effect learning is still concrete, and why emotional development starts with attunement from infancy... but it's up to us to shape it.✅ 18-24 mon...2025-02-2635 minTalking Toddlers"Gentle Parenting" vs. Reality: What Actually Works for Toddlers (Part 1 of 2) Ep 97Send us a textAre social media’s parenting trends helping—or hurting—new moms? Over the last few years, parenting trends like ‘Gentle Parenting’ have exploded on social media. While some aspects—like respecting your child and guiding them with empathy—are rooted in good intentions, the reality is that many influencers distort these concepts, leaving parents confused, overwhelmed, and even paralyzed by indecision.Many moms today are questioning:🌀 “Should I never say no?”🌀 “If my toddler melts down, am I supposed to just sit with...2025-02-201h 18Talking ToddlersHealthy Habits, Happy Families: 5 Simple Steps for a Thriving 2025 Ep 96Send us a textIt’s a brand-new year, and there’s no better time to hit the reset button and build habits that support your family’s growth, well-being, and connection. In today’s episode, we’re diving into Healthy Habits for 2025—practical routines and intentional choices that can transform your home life into one that feels balanced, productive, and happy.We’ll explore five key areas... you don't want to miss them!Building healthy habits isn’t about being perfect; it’s about making small, intentional changes that bring more flow and ease...2025-01-0855 minTalking ToddlersWinning Together: 7 Proven Strategies to Teach Toddlers Cooperation Ep 95Send us a textIs your toddler resisting every little request? From cleaning up toys to putting on a hat, cooperation can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. In today’s episode of Talking Toddlers, we’re tackling this common parenting challenge with 7 simple strategies to build cooperation—starting with small, everyday interactions.You’ll learn how to:Use turn-taking to encourage teamwork, even with babies as young as 6 months.Make chores fun and rewarding for little hands.Offer choices that empower your toddler while maintaining family rules.Problem-solve together to preve...2024-12-1752 minTalking ToddlersThe Secret to Helping Your Toddler Cooperate: Part 1 Ep 94Send us a textWhat does cooperate mean?Oxford Dictionary states: - work jointly toward the same end.- assist someone or comply with their requests.Today, we’re diving into a fascinating topic that connects two powerful pillars of early development: language and play. These two skills grow hand-in-hand, forming the foundation for your child’s communication, problem-solving, and social-emotional abilities.This episode kicks off a 3-part series where we’ll explore how PLAY skills and LANGUAGE development not only enhance learning but also improve cooper...2024-12-1251 minTalking ToddlersA Surprising Key to Fewer Tantrums and Better Growth Ep 93Send us a textDid you know teaching your baby or toddler how to bite and chew is a cornerstone of their healthy development? It’s more than just mealtime manners—it impacts eating habits, speech and language skills, and even their ability to self-regulate (yes, that means fewer tantrums and meltdowns!).In this episode of Talking Toddlers, we’re uncovering the fascinating ways biting and chewing shape your child’s overall wellbeing. From building essential oral motor skills to supporting emotional balance, this topic is packed with surprising insights you need to know....2024-11-271h 00Talking ToddlersEmbracing Our Gifts: A Personal Journey to Serve New Mamas Ep 92Send us a textIn this week’s episode of Talking Toddlers, I open up about a deeply personal belief: that each of us has been blessed with unique gifts to share with the world, and those gifts are part of a greater plan. I share how I discovered mine—and how it has become my life’s mission to support and empower new mamas on their journey to nurture the next generation.Parenting is the most important learning-on-the-job role we’ll ever have. Yet it’s also the most rewarding when we show...2024-11-0532 minTalking ToddlersUnlocking the Language EXPLOSION: Why Two-Word Phrases Matter Now Ep 90Send us a textTwo-word phrases are a significant milestone in language development, typically emerging around 18 to 24 months. This period, often referred to as the "language explosion," is crucial as it marks a child’s ability to combine words to express more complex ideas, demonstrating an understanding of syntax and the beginnings of grammar.Many new parents are indeed concerned about their toddler's speech and language milestones, especially as they approach the critical period for developing two-word phrases. This concern is often driven by a combination of factors, including increased awareness of...2024-10-091h 02Talking ToddlersEveryday Trick to Make Words STAND OUT for Your Toddler Ep 89Send us a textIn this episode of Talking Toddlers, we dive into a powerful strategy developed by the Hanen Centre, known as the 4 S’s, that can effortlessly support your child’s early language development. Designed with new parents in mind, this episode explores how you can make words stand out during everyday activities, turning simple moments into rich learning opportunities.The 4 S’s—Say Less, Stress, Go Slow, and Show—provide an easy-to-implement approach to help your toddler grasp new words and concepts with ease. Whether you're playing, reading, or just goin...2024-09-0347 min