Speech Therapy for Toddlers & Preschoolers
Play-based speech therapy & parent coaching to get your child talking
Not sure if your child is on track? Let’s talk. Book a free 20 minute consult call.
Speech Therapy for Toddlers & Preschoolers
Play-based speech therapy & parent coaching to get your child talking
Not sure if your child is on track? Let’s talk. Book a free 20 minute consult call.
When your child is struggling to communicate, it’s hard not to worry.
You know that every child develops at her own pace — and that there’s a wide range of what can be typical.
But when speech doesn’t seem to be coming easily, it’s natural to start wondering…
Maybe your baby seems very quiet and doesn’t babble much, or isn’t pointing or responding to his name yet.
Maybe your toddler isn’t saying many words, or your preschooler is hard to understand and gets frustrated trying to communicate.
You might also find yourself:
- Comparing your child to milestone charts and wondering what really matters
- Worrying about what skills should be emerging now — and which ones to watch closely
- Getting mixed advice about whether to wait or take action
- Quietly worrying about school readiness, social skills, or being understood
That constant uncertainty can feel overwhelming.
But the good news is that there is a gentle, effective way to support your child’s communication. It starts by understanding how young children really learn, focusing on what your child can do and building from there.
A Play-Based Approach to Helping Your Child Communicate
Hi, I’m Kelly, a speech therapist and the founder of Play Say Learn.
I know exactly how heavy that “wait and see” feeling can be. For more than 20 years, I’ve helped families move past the worry and into the joy of hearing their child finally begin to communicate.
I believe that for young children, play is their work. When we lean into how their brains naturally learn, the “work” of speech therapy becomes engaging, meaningful — and something your child actually looks forward to.
Instead of starting with what your child isn’t doing yet, I focus on what they can do and use those strengths to build new communication skills.
How To Get Started
A simple, supportive path forward
Getting started with speech therapy doesn’t have to feel confusing or overwhelming. I’ve designed a process that’s clear, personal, and centered around your child and your family.
Here’s what working together looks like:
Why Families Choose To Work With Me
- Clinical Expertise
I have over 20 years of experience specializing in infants, toddlers and preschoolers. - Family‑Centered Care
I don’t just work with your child — I coach you with simple strategies so you feel confident supporting communication every day. - Meaningful, Functional Progress
Therapy is focused on real‑life communication that helps daily routines feel calmer, more connected, and more joyful.
Boutique, Individualized Speech Therapy
At Play Say Learn, therapy is never one-size-fits-all.
Your child works directly with me in a small, boutique practice focused on highly individualized care — not high-volume scheduling. Each therapy plan is carefully designed around your child’s interests, strengths and developmental needs.
I believe children make the best progress when therapy is personal, consistent, and centered on the whole family. That’s why I intentionally keep my practice small and focus on building strong relationships with every child and parent I serve.
Who I Help
I provide speech-language therapy and parent coaching for:
Infants (9 months &. older) with early communication concerns
Late-talking toddlers
Preschoolers with speech or language disorders
Children who are hard to understand
Children with limited play or interaction skills
Services
Why Play-Based Speech Therapy Works
At Play Say Learn, therapy is built around natural, play‑based interactions that follow your child’s interests and developmental level. We focus on helping your child use gestures, sounds and words in ways that actually matter in everyday life.
The result?
- Less frustration at home
- More connection between you and your child
- Communication skills that truly stick
The Sequence of Language Development
What I Help Parents Understand About Speech, Language & Play Development
The different stages of play and how they relate to speech development
What play skills your child should be working on
activities, toys and games for each stage of play
Typical speech & language milestones by age
the skills your child needs to master before starting to talk
Have Questions About Your Child's Speech or Language Development?
Let’s talk about what you’re noticing and whether your child’s development is on track.
Book Free ConsultPopular Blog Posts
Featured articles
Books For Speech Therapy
Best books for babies and toddlers and how to use them to foster speech and language development
Prelinguistic Skills
Important preverbal skills your child needs to master before learning to talk
16 Gestures By 16 Months
Why early gestures are important for language development and tips for teaching your baby gestures
Milestone Checklists
What are the typical speech and language milestones by age? Click on each age range below to download your free checklist!
Three Important Cognitive Milestones That Are Linked To Language Development
Object Permanence
A child understands an object still exists when hidden
how to address object permanence in play, coming soon!
Cause & Effect
A child learns that her actions can cause something to happen
how to address cause & effect in play, coming soon!
Simple Problem Solving
A child learns to manipulate objects and use them as tools
how to address simple problem solving in play, coming soon!
Meet The Expert
Kelly Cahill, M.S., CCC Speech-Language Pathologist
I’ve spent over 20 years helping young children learn to communicate. In therapy, I don’t just work with your child — I also coach you as the parent so you can confidently use the same strategies at home. My goal is to lay a strong foundation for your child’s speech and language development, while giving you the tools to support progress between sessions and beyond.
Recent Posts
11 Prelinguistic Skills Toddlers Must Master Before Talking: What Every Parent Needs to Know About Early Speech Development In the first year of life, one of the most exciting and transformative milestones that a baby achieves is the ability to communicate. Through experience and interaction with the world, a baby …
Best Books for Speech Therapy: Ultimate Guide to Using Books to Develop Speech and Language Skills in Babies and Toddlers Using books in therapy is probably my favorite way to work on speech and language with young children. I must admit, I have a serious addiction to children’s books! I …
What Should My 16 Month Old Be Saying? Why 16 Gestures By 16 Months Is An Important Communication Milestone As parents, we eagerly await those magical first words from our little ones. But did you know that gestures play a crucial role in a baby’s language development? In this post, …