The Speech Grove Speech Therapy Service

The Speech Grove Speech Therapy Service Carolyn's 'Connection Kickstart' programme for parents of young children aged 2-5 years to support communication development.

DM for details on how to book your free 45 minute Zoom call to see how we can help your child. Ireland: CORU Registration SL 015115

29/07/2026

📌 EVENT: FREE live Online Parent Workshop
📅 Thursday 30 July
🕗 8pm UK & Ireland | 3pm Eastern USA

Does your 2-6 year old use sounds or a few words and...
• lead you by the hand instead of asking?
• move your hand to get what they want?
• not respond consistently to their name?
Or do they...
• echo words or phrases, but not engage in back-and-forth conversations?

If so, I'd love to invite you to my FREE online parent workshop.
I'll share three practical strategies you can start using in everyday life to create more opportunities for communication—through play, routines and the moments you're already spending together.

These are the same principles I've used over more than 30 years as a Speech & Language Therapist, and they're suitable whether your child is autistic, a gestalt language processor, or simply finding communication challenging.

🔗 Register here:
👉 https://diyspeechtherapy.activehosted.com/f/44

After registering, keep an eye on your inbox and Promotions & Junk folders for your joining details.

See you there!

📌 EVENT: FREE live Online Parent Workshop📅 Thursday 30 July🕗 8pm UK & Ireland | 3pm EasternDoes your 2-6 year old use so...
20/07/2026

📌 EVENT: FREE live Online Parent Workshop
📅 Thursday 30 July
🕗 8pm UK & Ireland | 3pm Eastern

Does your 2-6 year old use sounds or a few words and...
• lead you by the hand instead of asking?
• move your hand to get what they want?
• not respond consistently to their name?

Or do they...
• echo words or phrases, but not engage in back-and-forth conversations?

If so, I'd love to invite you to my FREE online parent workshop.
I'll share three practical strategies you can start using in everyday life to create more opportunities for communication—through play, routines and the moments you're already spending together.

These are the same principles I've used over more than 30 years as a Speech & Language Therapist, and they're suitable whether your child is autistic, a gestalt language processor, or simply finding communication difficult.

🔗 Register here:
👉 https://diyspeechtherapy.activehosted.com/f/44
After registering, keep an eye on your inbox and Promotions & Junk folders for your joining details.

See you there!



30/06/2026

📌 Does your child love lists?
Some children can name dozens of dinosaurs, animals, vehicles, colours, letters or numbers. Parents are often amazed by how much information they can remember.
For some children, particularly some Gestalt Language Processors, collecting and organising information in this way can be very appealing. Lists are predictable, structured and make sense.

What’s important to understand is that being able to name something and being able to use language in a conversation are not necessarily the same thing.
A child may be able to recite a long list of animals or identify every dinosaur in a book, but still find it difficult to use language flexibly during everyday interactions.
There’s nothing wrong with collecting words. In fact, it can tell us a lot about how a child learns.

The key is understanding how to build on those strengths and support communication in a way that matches how that child processes language.

👉 If you’d like to learn more about supporting two way communication, check out connectionkickstart.com.




28/06/2026

📌 When a child is learning their first words, it's natural to focus on teaching vocabulary.

Many parents spend a lot of time repeating words over and over, hoping their child will eventually say them back.

Words are important, of course, but communication is about much more than naming things.

Communication is about sharing ideas, experiences, interests, needs and feelings with another person. It's a two-way process.

That's why I encourage parents to think beyond individual words and focus on meaningful interactions. We can model language naturally during everyday activities, following the child's interests and building on what they're already paying attention to.

When language is connected to real experiences and genuine communication, children have more opportunities to understand what words mean and how they can be used.

The goal isn't simply to collect words. The goal is communication.

👉 To learn more about supporting communication in everyday life, check out connectionkickstart.com




26/06/2026

📌 Assessments can be tough.
One of the hardest parts of a multidisciplinary assessment process is that families can spend hours hearing about the things their child isn't yet doing.

I understand why professionals need to gather that information, but hearing it repeatedly can be emotionally exhausting for parents.

When I work with families, I like to start somewhere different.
I want to know what your child is already doing. I want to know what they enjoy, how they connect, what catches their attention, and what communication skills are already emerging.

I also want to know what you're already doing as a parent, because the truth is that you're already helping your child every day.

My role is not to point out everything that's missing. It's to build on what's already there and help families make the most of the opportunities they already have.
Sometimes a small shift in perspective can make a big difference.

👉 If you'd like to see how to build on your child’s strengths, check out connectionkickstart.com, I'd love to tell you more.




23/06/2026

📌 Parents often tell me when I first meet them that they feel their child isn’t making progress.

Sometimes that’s true. More often, though, progress is happening but it’s easy to miss because we’re looking for words and overlooking everything that comes before them.

Communication doesn’t begin with words. Before a child starts using words, there are lots of smaller skills developing behind the scenes. Things like paying attention to people, noticing what’s happening around them, sharing enjoyment, taking turns, understanding language, and finding reasons to communicate.

Those small steps really do matter. In fact, they’re often the foundations that make spoken language possible later on.

When we start noticing those early signs of progress, it can completely change how we see our child’s communication journey.

👉 To learn more about the building blocks of communication and how to support them, look up Connection Kickstart™ at connectionkickstart.com.




21/06/2026

📌 Pausing is one of the most underrated communication strategies I know.
It's something I work on with families all the time because it can make such a difference, yet it's surprisingly easy to overlook.

When we pause, we give our children time to process what we've said. We also give ourselves a chance to notice what they might be thinking about, interested in, or trying to communicate.

Many of us are used to filling every silence. We ask a question, then another question, then offer a suggestion, then another one. Before long, there's a constant stream of language coming at the child.

Sometimes what a child needs most is a little space.

A pause gives them time to take things in and work out what they want to do next.
👉 If you'd like to learn more practical strategies that fit naturally into everyday life, search for Connection Kickstart™.



19/06/2026

📌 Small Steps
This week I was working with a family and we spent time breaking things right down into the smallest details.

We looked at videos of their child, talked about the things their child enjoys, and explored how they respond in different situations. We weren't working from a generic checklist. We were looking at one child, one family, and one unique set of circumstances.

That's one of the reasons I enjoy parent coaching so much.

When support is tailored in this way, parents know exactly what they're aiming for. They have a clear plan, they understand why they're doing it, and they feel more confident putting it into practice at home.

Every child is different. What works beautifully for one child may not be the right fit for another.

That's why I believe it's important to start with the child in front of us, rather than a list of strategies.

👉 If you'd like to explore what might help your child, you can find out more by visiting connectionkickstart.com and book your free coaching session.



16/06/2026

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a magic wand? 🪄

A quick appointment, a simple answer, and somebody who could make everything fall into place while we sat back with a coffee. ☕️

Most of us know it doesn't work like that.

A speech therapist might spend an hour a week with your child. You're there for everything else. You're there while they're getting dressed, choosing a snack, playing their favourite games, going for walks, splashing in the bath, or winding down at bedtime.

Those ordinary moments are where so much communication happens.

This is especially true for children who learn best through movement, play, interests, and everyday experiences. Many children aren't sitting at a table waiting to be taught. They are learning through real interactions with the people they trust most.

Everything you're already doing matters.❤️

At the same time, learning more about communication can help you make even more of those everyday opportunities. Research shows that when parents receive support, coaching, and practical strategies, it can have a meaningful impact on their child's communication development.

That's why I spend so much time working with parents.

If you'd like to learn more about Connection Kickstart™, head over to The Speech Grove.



16/06/2026

What I love about working with parents is that we can often create meaningful change quite quickly.

Speech therapy absolutely is importnat, but children spend far more time at home than they do in any clinic or therapy room. That means the opportunities for communication are already there, woven into everyday life.

What excites me is that supporting communication doesn't usually mean adding more to an already busy day. Most parents already have enough on their plates.

Instead, it's often about making small adjustments to the things you're already doing. A different way of responding. A longer pause. Following your child's lead a little more closely. Noticing opportunities that were already there but easy to miss.

When those small changes happen consistently throughout the week, they can add up surprisingly quickly.

That's why parent coaching can be so powerful. You're not creating extra work. You're making the most of the moments that already exist.

If you'd like to learn more, search for Connection Kickstart™



Address

Sandyford
D18

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 1pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+353894034184

Website

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