Play & Thrive Speech

08/21/2026

AAC is a term families often hear for the first time during speech therapy, and it can sound much more complicated than it really is.

At its core, AAC is about communication access.

It can include picture-based systems, communication boards, speech-generating devices, and other tools that give a child another way to express themselves when speech alone isn’t consistently meeting their needs.

And AAC does not have to replace speech. It can be one part of a child’s multimodal communication alongside speech, gestures, signs, reading, writing, and other ways of sharing a message.

We broke down what AAC is, who may benefit, and what it looks like at Play & Thrive in our newest blog post.

Read “What Is AAC?” at the link in our bio.

08/20/2026

🎉 Help us celebrate Maggie’s work anniversary!
Another year of making a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.

Thank you, Maggie, for bringing so much care, dedication, and positivity to Play & Thrive Speech. ✨

08/15/2026

Happy Relaxation Day! 🌿

For children, relaxation can look different from what we might expect. Sometimes it's quiet time, sensory play, movement, reading, or simply connecting with a trusted adult.

Giving children opportunities to slow down and regulate can help create the foundation they need to learn, play, and communicate. 💙

What helps your little one relax?

08/13/2026

Meet Claire, who loves helping children build confidence through communication. 🗣

Claire earned her Bachelor’s in Communicative Disorders with a minor in Psychology from the University of Alabama, then completed her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology at Towson University. Her approach is play-based, naturalistic, and family-centered, with a focus on helping children build meaningful skills through everyday routines and play. Outside of the clinic, Claire enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. 💙

08/07/2026

One of the most common questions families ask when we discuss AAC is:
“Will using a device keep my child from learning to talk?”

Research has not found evidence that AAC delays speech or causes children to lose speech they already use. Some children develop more spoken language after AAC is introduced, while others show little or no change in speech.

What AAC can offer is something children should not have to wait for: a reliable way to communicate.

AAC is not about choosing a device instead of speech. It is about giving children access to speech, gestures, signs, pictures, devices, writing, or any combination that helps them express themselves.

We explore the research and explain what AAC looks like at Play & Thrive in our newest blog post: Will AAC Delay My Child’s Speech?

🔗https://www.playandthrivespeech.com/post/will-aac-delay-my-child-s-speech

08/05/2026

Play & Thrive Speech Therapy is hiring a full-time Speech-Language Pathologist for our Linthicum Heights office.

We are a small, clinician-owned pediatric practice in Anne Arundel County, with offices in Arnold and Linthicum Heights. Our team provides play-based, strengths-based, and neurodiversity-affirming care for children with a wide range of communication needs, including autism, AAC, early language, and speech sound disorders.

We care deeply about building a workplace that is supportive and sustainable for clinicians, because we believe that helps us provide thoughtful, consistent care for families.

This position includes dedicated indirect time, flexible scheduling, benefits for full-time employees, and a collaborative team environment where clinical judgment is valued.

If you are an SLP who may be interested, we’d love to connect. And if you know someone who might be a good fit, we would be so grateful if you shared this with them.

Posted 5:48:50 PM. Speech Language Pathologist – Pediatric (Full-Time, W-2)Play & Thrive Speech Therapy is a small…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.

07/24/2026

Looking for a few new beachy books for your preschooler?

We put together nine favorites with plenty of opportunities for prediction, problem solving, new vocabulary, sensory language, storytelling, and silliness.

You do not need to ask questions on every page or turn story time into a language activity. Follow your child’s interest, notice what catches their attention, and enjoy the book together.

Read the full list here:
https://www.playandthrivespeech.com/post/beachy-reads-for-preschoolers-9-books-to-build-language

What beach book would you add?

07/17/2026

Parents often ask what they can do at home to support speech and language development.

The good news is that you don't need expensive toys or long practice sessions. Everyday interactions are some of the best opportunities to help your child build communication skills.

This weekend, try:
✔️ Reading together
✔️ Following your child's lead during play
✔️ Talking about what you see while you're out and about

Small moments can make a big difference!

💬 Which activity is your child's favorite?

07/15/2026

Every child communicates in their own unique way, and we're honored to be part of their journey. Whether your child is saying their first words, working on articulation, building language skills, or gaining confidence in communication, we're here to help every step of the way.

📍 We currently have additional appointment availability at our Arnold location, and we also have a few spots open in our Linthicum Heights office!

If you've been thinking about scheduling an evaluation or continuing therapy, now is a great time to get started.

💙 Schedule your FREE consultation with a Clinician now!
We can't wait to help your child reach their communication goals!
🔗 https://calendly.com/playandthrive/initialconsultation

Helping children to grow their speech and language skills, and empowering families to support them.

06/12/2026

Now Scheduling New Patients
Limited afternoon and evening appointments available!

The team at Play & Thrive Speech Therapy is growing. We’re excited to welcome a new Speech-Language Pathologist to our Arnold office in early July, and we are now scheduling new patients for her caseload.

Use the link below to schedule a free initial phone consultation. Afternoon and evening times are limited and tend to fill quickly.

https://calendly.com/playandthrive/initialconsultation