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Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Play is an important part of children’s learning, communication and development.

Play in speech therapy is purposeful. Speech Pathologists can use play-based activities to help children practise language, communication and social interaction skills in engaging and meaningful ways.

If you have ever wondered, “All my child does in speech therapy is play,” there is often much more happening during the activity than it may first appear.

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Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The first then strategy is a simple way to help children understand instructions, routines and transitions. By presenting two steps clearly, what happens first and what happens next, parents and therapists can reduce the amount of language a child needs to process.

Some children find it difficult to follow instructions, complete routines or understand the sequence of everyday activities. Using “first” and “then” can make expectations clearer and easier to understand.

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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Does your child find it difficult to tell you what happened at school, describe an experience or share a story with someone else?

They might respond with “I don’t know,” “I can’t remember,” or provide information that is difficult for the listener to follow.

Storytelling skills, also known as narrative skills, help children organise their thoughts, sequence events and communicate experiences clearly to other people. 

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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Does your child sometimes repeat sounds or words, stretch out sounds, or appear to get stuck when trying to speak?

Stuttering in children can affect the smooth flow of speech. It may involve repeating sounds, syllables or words, prolonging sounds, or experiencing moments where speech feels blocked.

Stuttering often begins during the preschool years. If you notice your child stuttering, a Speech Pathologist can assess their speech and help determine whether support is recommended.

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Medicare M10 provides Medicare-supported allied health assessment and treatment services for eligible people under 25 with complex neurodevelopmental conditions or specified eligible disabilities. Occupational Therapy is one of the allied health professions that can provide services under this pathway.

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From 1 March 2026, Medicare expanded eligibility under the existing M10 item group. This change may give some children and young people greater access to Medicare rebates for speech pathology assessment and treatment.

Eligible people under 25 may be able to access Medicare rebates for specific speech conditions, including stuttering, speech sound disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, dysarthria and cleft lip and/or palate.

For families, this provides another possible Medicare pathway to help with the cost of speech pathology services.

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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes.

Screen time and language development is a common concern for parents, particularly as screens have become part of everyday life for many families.

Research suggests that the relationship between screen time and children’s language development is not simply about how many minutes a child spends using a device. The type of content, the child’s age and whether an adult watches and interacts with them can also make a difference.

Young children develop language most effectively through responsive, back-and-forth interactions with other people. Talking, playing, reading and sharing everyday experiences give children opportunities to hear language, practise communication and connect words with the world around them.

This does not mean that all screen use is harmful. Instead, families can focus on balancing screen time with plenty of opportunities for face-to-face communication, play, movement and shared activities.

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Play is an important part of children’s learning, communication and development. Through play, children can explore ideas, practise new skills, interact with other people and learn how language relates to everyday experiences.

Play can take many forms, but it is often enjoyable, engaging, meaningful and interactive. Children may explore, experiment, imitate others and repeat experiences as they learn.

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Starting a conversation can be difficult for many children, teenagers and adults, particularly when they experience social communication difficulties.

Conversation initiation involves knowing how to approach another person, introduce a topic and create an opportunity for back-and-forth interaction.

These skills can be explicitly taught and practised using strategies such as open-ended questions, comments and familiar conversation starters.

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Pets and child development are often discussed in relation to communication, social interaction and emotional development. While having a pet does not automatically improve these skills, everyday interactions with pets can create enjoyable opportunities for shared attention and communication.

Activities such as feeding, brushing, playing with or talking about a pet can create natural opportunities for children and adults to communicate, take turns and talk about emotions and experiences.

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