*** WINNER of the 2026 Lifestyle Podcast Award! *** ***Top 1.5% Parenting Podcast Worldwide*** Getting Kids to Listen | Speech Therapy | Child Communication | Parenting Strategies
Are you tired of repeating yourself, dealing with meltdowns, or wondering why your child still isn’t listening? Are you worried about speech delays, language development, behavior challenges, or communication struggles?
Welcome to The Language of Play podcast—where speech therapy meets real-life parenting.
I’m Dinalynn Rosenbush—mom, grandma, Speech-Language Pathologist, parent coach, and host of a top-ranked parenting podcast helping overwhelmed parents build calmer homes, stronger relationships, and better communication with their children.
This podcast helps parents understand behavior as communication so they can support listening, emotional regulation, speech, and connection in everyday life.
In each episode, you’ll learn practical, brain-based strategies to: • Help kids listen without constant power struggles • Support speech and language development naturally • Reduce tantrums, whining, and communication frustration • Build connection, emotional safety, and confidence • Understand speech delays, language processing, and child behavior • Use simple communication tools that work in everyday moments
These strategies support typically developing children, late talkers, dual-language learners, neurodivergent children, and kids with speech or language delays.
Each episode is filled with simple, playful tools you can start using right away—because communication growth happens best through connection, play, and everyday interaction.
If you’re longing for calmer parenting, deeper connection, more listening, and a home filled with confidence, curiosity, and communication, you’re in the right place.
So grab a cup of coffee, bring your real-life parenting questions, and come explore The Language of Play with me.
289 When Your 4-Year-Old is Non-Verbal and Resistant
jeudi 29 octobre 2026 • Durée 25:21
Hey Friends~
You ask your child to do something simple, and you are confident they understand, but everything becomes a struggle. Is it stubbornness? Frustration? Something else?
Calling it “stubbornness” doesn’t tell you what to do next. It sort of puts up a diagnosis with a stop sign!
We have lots of words for stubbornness: resistance, refusal, headstrong, and some not-so-nice expressions as well.
We get frustrated and carry a sense of helplessness because we don’t know how to change it. And the result? We get mad! Mad at our kids and mad at ourselves. I know. I have been there.
When a child is non-verbal and seems to understand, the confusion and frustration can be overwhelming and unsettling. In this episode, we’ll explore: What might be driving that resistant behavior?
Let’s get curious about what may make cooperation difficult for this little four-year-old who isn’t yet speaking - and there is a lot of overlap for kids who are speaking as well.
288 She Screamed, Kicked and was Called a “Little Tyrant.”Now Shraddha Oza Explains What She Needed
jeudi 15 octobre 2026 • Durée 23:02
Hey Friends~
You’ve told your child what comes next, but they’re still not moving. Then the tears start, and a simple morning routine becomes a struggle - again.
What if your child needs more time and support to do what you’re asking?
Today’s guest was once that child, having those big meltdowns. Getting ready for school could become so overwhelming that her parents carried her to the car, and the school director helped her transition into the classroom.
Now, she she shares her story to help families understand what may be happening beneath the tears and resistance. She explains how predictable routines, simpler language, and time to process can help children move from overwhelmed to ready for the next step.
From slowing down the morning rush to adding a silly wiggle between tasks, Shraddha shares practical ways to make everyday routines feel more manageable and connected.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why moving from one activity to another can be difficult for a young child.
How predictability helps children feel secure.
Why fewer words can help when emotions are high.
How staying calm and allowing time for feelings can support your child.
Simple ways to use short scripts, familiar cues, and play during routines.
Why understanding an instruction and being able to follow through are different skills.
If you’re tired of repeating yourself or wondering why everyday tasks feel so hard, this conversation offers a fresh way to understand what your child may need.
287 Forget the Alphabet. Start With What Your Child Cares About | Lindsey Carleton, SLP
vendredi 9 octobre 2026 • Durée 50:27
Hey Friends~
Would you love for your child to learn another language, but wonder how to help when you don’t speak it yourself? You can begin learning together, and everyday moments offer a place to start.
In this episode, fellow speech-language pathologist Lindsey joins me to explore how parents can introduce another language through the things their little ones are already doing, noticing, and caring about.
Where do you begin? You might think of colors, counting, or the alphabet, but Lindsey shares a different starting point, one that follows your child’s interests and fits naturally into the rhythm of your day.
In this conversation, we explore:
How to get started without being fluent yourself.
What to focus on BEFORE colors, numbers, and letters.
How everyday interactions create opportunities for language learning.
Why these ideas are also useful for children still learning their first language.
Whether you’re introducing Spanish or supporting your toddler’s first words, this episode will help you recognize opportunities to connect, practice, and learn together.
ABOUT THE GUEST: Lindsey Carleton, MA, CCC-SLP, is a bilingual, licensed speech-language pathologist with over 11 years of clinical experience and the founder of Palabra Garden, a Montessori-inspired bilingual curriculum for kids ages 2–5. Not a native or heritage Spanish speaker, Lindsey learned it in college and through clinical work with bilingual families — and now helps parents raise bilingual kids without being fluent themselves.
286 How Many Words Should My 2-Year-Old Say?
vendredi 2 octobre 2026 • Durée 25:03
Hey Friends~
How many words should your 2-year-old be saying? There are developmental norms - and those numbers matter. But words don’t come out of nowhere. There are foundational communication skills developing underneath spoken language that help those words grow.
In this episode, we’ll talk about what’s typical at age two, what actually builds vocabulary, and where to focus when words are slow to come. You’ll leave knowing what to pay attention to and some simple ways to encourage more meaningful language in everyday life.
In this episode:
How many words we expect from a 2-year-old
What builds language before and alongside spoken words
The most useful kinds of first words to focus on
Why colors, shapes, and numbers aren’t the best place to start
How pictures and books can help build spoken language
What to watch for when words are slow to come
The number matters. But so does what builds the number.
285 Why Your Child Falls Apart After School: When “Not Listening” Is Actually Overload
vendredi 25 septembre 2026 • Durée 32:35
Hey Friends~
Does your child come home from school and suddenly seem like a different kid?
They're whining. Fighting with siblings. Ignoring directions. Melting down over something tiny. And you're thinking, “You know how to do this. Why is everything so hard?”
What if that behavior isn't just something you need to stop?
What if it's giving you information about what your child needs in order to do the next thing?
In this episode, we're going beyond “What is my child's behavior communicating?” We're talking about what you do with that information, how you decide what really needs to happen tonight, and how you can actually make tomorrow go better.
Because knowing how to do something doesn't always mean your child can access that skill right now. And sometimes, changing what happens next begins with understanding what's happening underneath.
284 Homeschooling: What Does It Really Take to Do It Well? Amanda Schenkenberger shares her experience
vendredi 18 septembre 2026 • Durée 45:27
Hey Friends~
Homeschooling is a choice more families are considering, and it opens up some interesting conversations about how children learn best. In this episode of The Language of Play, we explore freedom and flexibility in learning, following a child's curiosity, and paying attention to the individual child rather than assuming one approach works for everyone.
My guest, Amanda Schenkenberger, is a homeschooling coach whose own experiences shaped how she chose to educate her children and why she believes so strongly in homeschooling. Whether your children are homeschooled, attend public or private school, or you're wondering what might work best for your family, this conversation gives you plenty to think about. Ultimately, we're asking: Is my child learning, growing, building relationships, and getting the support they need? You don't have to agree with every idea to come away with something valuable for your own family.
ABOUT THE GUEST: Amanda Schenkenberger helps busy homeschool moms calm the chaos, find their flow, and build a homeschool life they love. A second-generation homeschooler and mom of four boys, she coaches moms to create sustainable routines, strong academics, and joyful connection through her resources at ConfidentHomeschoolMoms.com
283 Your Child is a Reluctant Writer? Why MORE Ridiculous Ideas Might Help: Night Zookeeper with Josh Davidson
vendredi 11 septembre 2026 • Durée 36:00
Hey Friends~
What if your child’s wildest, most ridiculous ideas are actually a doorway into learning? In this episode, I talk with Josh Davidson, co-founder of Night Zookeeper, about using imagination, creativity, and play to help children develop reading and writing skills. We explore how drawing, talking, and writing about their ideas gives children multiple ways to express themselves, expand their language, organize their thoughts, and build confidence. Writing isn’t separate from verbal expression. It can actually help strengthen it.
We also look at technology through a different lens: After your child has been on a screen, what did that screen cause them to create? Could they tell you about it, draw it, write about it, or turn it into a conversation with you? The best technology doesn’t just keep children occupied. It gives them something they can’t wait to tell you about, even if that something happens to be a ridiculous farting dinosaur.
ABOUT THE GUEST: Joshua Davidson is the creator and co‑founder of Night Zookeeper, an award-winning online learning program that helps children aged 6–12 fall in love with reading, writing, and creativity through games and storytelling. He’s also the author of the Night Zookeeper Adventure book series, which follows Night Zookeeper Will into the magical Night Zoo filled with fantastical creatures dreamed up by children. Josh is passionate about giving kids the confidence to see themselves as writers and creators, and he speaks regularly about the power of play, stories, and co-created worlds in education.
282 Why Are Transitions So Hard for Young Kids? And How To Create A Visual Schedule That Works!
jeudi 3 septembre 2026 • Durée 30:10
Hey Friends~
Why does your child fall apart over transitions they know how to do - or do every day?
Getting out the door, leaving the playground, turning off the tablet, or getting ready for bed can be a battle.
In this episode, you’ll discover why transitions can be so difficult, seven reasons your checklist or visual schedule may not be helping yet, and simple shifts that can make routines easier to understand and follow. Because a visual schedule isn’t just about showing your child what to do. It helps their brain understand what’s happening now and what’s coming next. And knowing what’s coming next can make transitions feel much safer.
IF YOU LIKED THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL WANT TO LISTEN TO THESE EPISODES:
281 Could a Song Calm Your Child Like a Pacifier? The Surprising Power of Music & Emotional Regulation with Vered
jeudi 27 août 2026 • Durée 48:42
Hey Friends~
Have you ever thought about what your baby is actually experiencing when you sing to them?
Because it turns out, your baby doesn’t care whether you think you can sing. Your baby wants to hear you sing. And those little moments of singing, playing, smiling, and simply enjoying each other can do far more than fill the time. They can help build secure connection, support emotional regulation, and even lay foundations for language.
Today’s guest, musician, music therapist, and psychotherapist: Vered, calls some of these experiences “Bubble Moments”: those beautiful moments when you and your child are genuinely happy together. And what I love is that she says we don’t have to just wait for those moments to happen. We can actually create them, especially in the ordinary, repeatable moments of our day. And then Vered said something that absolutely fascinated me: a song can become an emotional transitional object for a child, much like a favorite blanket or pacifier, because the music itself holds feeling.
Today, we’re talking about music, play, connection, regulation, sound and silence, and the surprising ways all of it can support your child’s communication and language.
And yes, even if you’re convinced you cannot sing, this episode is for you!
ABOUT THE GUEST: Vered Benhorin, LCAT, is a music therapist, psychotherapist, parenting author, recording artist, mother of three, and family connection expert whose work brings together attachment theory, music, mindfulness, and play. Her approach began with her own experience as a new mother, when she discovered how singing, movement, and playful interaction deepened the connection she felt with her infant son, Peleg. That experience grew into Baby in Tune, through which she has helped thousands of parents build stronger relationships with their babies, as well as her book, What Do I Do With My Baby All Day?!: Simple Ways to Have the Best First Year Together. Her award-winning music has received Parents’ Choice and NAPPA Gold Awards, and her newest album, Adorable You, brings her story full circle: nearly two decades after inspiring her work, Peleg helped write and produce the album and added his own vocals and harmonies.
280 My Child KNOWS How to Do This!” So Why Won’t They Listen? 3 Ways to Help Them Follow Directions
jeudi 20 août 2026 • Durée 20:54
Hey Friends~
Back-to-school season brings a lot of change—and sometimes, a lot more meltdowns, “NOs,” and moments when your child suddenly seems unable to do something you know they can do. - and it seems like they are REFUSING TO DO.
But what if the problem isn’t ACTUALLY refusal?
In this episode, we’ll explore why transitions can be so challenging for kids—and how all that change can make it harder for them to listen, understand, and respond.
You’ll learn three simple ways to make transitions easier, reduce frustration, and help your child understand what’s coming next.
ABOUT THE GUEST: Shraddha is a speech-language pathologist with 16 years of clinical experience spanning the US, UK, and India. A two-time ASHA ACE Award recipient, she currently leads in a supervisory role at a Los Angeles-based telehealth practice. She’s also the founder of Wonder Words, a platform dedicated to play-based language and executive function development for young children and their families. Shraddha is passionate about translating clinical expertise into practical, everyday tools parents can use, helping families see play not just as fun, but as the foundation for how kids learn to think, communicate, and problem-solve.
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