Ep. 102: Everyday Activities That Help Build Language Skills with Stefanie Trenholme, MS, CCC-SLP

There are countless opportunities built into a child’s everyday life that could be used for support in language development. The best parts are that they won’t even know they’re working on these skills and they’re fun! Today’s guest is Stefanie Trenholme, a Speech and Language Pathologist and children’s book author. In our conversation today, Stefanie explains some common misconceptions about speech and language development and disabilities. She describes the different areas of language development and the red flags that are often overlooked or misinterpreted. Did you know your daily routines could be used to help your child’s language development? In this episode, Stefanie really digs into the topic. Be sure to listen to the end to also hear about Stefanie’s fun book that can be used to enhance any child’s language skills and boost their motivation to read.   Show Notes: [2:18] - There is a misconception about what Speech and Language Pathologists do. [4:27] - Red flags for language development can look different for different kids at different ages, but Stefanie shares some common ones. [5:52] - There are different areas of language development and for some children, they could be impacted in one area or all. [7:00] - Some red flags are overlooked by parents. [8:47] - Although there are different areas of language development, they are connected and often one area’s deficit impacts other areas. [10:18] - Unaddressed language difficulties in young children can lead to behavior concerns as they are easily frustrated. [12:12] - Kids may have a difficult time sharing about their day. [13:27] - Language variation is another area of difficulty that is often overlooked. [14:51] - By the time a student is in high school, social language becomes more complex. [17:01] - Parents may not always see language difficulties when they happen most often at school. [18:45] - Executive functioning also plays a role. [20:50] - For all children, routines are great for language development. [22:46] - Kids won’t know they are working on language skills because they are focused on their routine. [25:00] - There are so many opportunities in a week to hone in on skills in daily routines. [26:23] - Make the child an active participant in learning. [27:42] - Stefanie has written a children’s book that parents can use to help with vocabulary and routines. [29:36] - It is a picture book typically for “little” kids, but picture books can easily be adapted to work with any age. [31:31] - Lola is a real dog and with her help, Stefanie demonstrates different language skills in a fun and motivational way. [33:17] - One more thing! Cooking together is great for language skills and executive functioning.   About Our Guest: Stefanie Trenholme is the owner of Trenholme Speech Therapy, a private pediatric practice in West Los Angeles. She has been practicing both in Canada and the United States for twenty years.  She has also been a guest speaker at various private schools in both Los Angeles and New York City discussing how speech-language pathologists can help support educators in the classroom. She also goes into schools to teach students how to treat animals. In addition to being voted one of Los Angeles’s top Speech Pathologists by Expertise.com 5 years in a row, she recently was featured as one of the “Top 30 Inspiring Women To Look Out for in 2022.” Stefanie also recently published her first children’s book, “Little Lola Frenchie Loves Bathtime” which stars her therapy dog Lola. The Little Lola Frenchie™️ book series was created not only because Lola is an amazing therapy dog and loved by all who meet and work with her, but also to help children learn language - especially language through daily routines. Stefanie is currently working on her second book which should be out at the beginning of 2023.    Connect with Stefanie Trenholme: Website ChildNEXUS Provider Profile   Links and Related Resources: Little Lola Frenchie Top 5 Signs Your Need a Speech and Language Pathologist Episode 20: How Speech and Language Difficulties Affect a Child’s Life with Carol Karp Helping Your Child with Language Based Learning Disabilities with Dr. Daniel Franklin Join our email list so that you can receive information about upcoming webinars - ChildNEXUS.com The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.