How Parents Can Help Children Communicate—Jessie Kensey | Ep 161

On this episode, we’re celebrating World Children’s Day by talking about one of the most important milestones in a child’s life: learning to communicate. I sat down with pediatric speech-language pathologist Jessie Kensey, who works daily with parents and toddlers to help them find their voices, even before the first word. If you’ve ever wondered about early intervention, how parents can tell the difference between “late talkers” and bigger concerns, or how something as everyday as a diaper change can actually spark your child’s language skills, this episode is for you. We also dig into some of the biggest myths parents hear about speech and language development, and how baby sign language can reduce frustration and strengthen your bond. Tune in to learn easy, actionable ways to turn everyday routines into powerful communication moments—and how to keep learning fun instead of feeling like pressure.A few takeaways for creators or parents:Which small changes at home can lead to big communication breakthroughs in kidsWhy “wait and see” isn’t always the best advice for language developmentSimple strategies to spark language, even before your child speaksConnect With Jessie KenseyWebsite: https://www.simplyspeechtherapy.org/Instagram: https://instagram.com/simplyspeechIf Observeday inspires you, subscribe so you never miss an episode. Your review and support help more people discover these stories.Get more than what you hear—join the Observeday newsletter for thoughtful takeaways, extras, and personal notes that don’t make it into the show.Sign up here: https://observeday.com/joinChapters00:00 Welcome and Introduction00:28 Why Jessie Focuses on Early Voice01:40 Meaningful Progress Starts at Home03:00 The Power of Early Intervention04:04 Jessie's Aha Moment With a Family05:28 Myths About Speech Development07:08 “Wait and See” vs. Taking Action08:59 Understanding Late Talking10:05 Support Before Speech — What It Looks Like11:32 Practical Tips: Signs and Language Modeling12:37 Tantrums, Frustration, and Language Delay14:12 Baby Sign Language and Connection16:00 Everyday Routines as Language Moments17:21 Feeding Transitions and Communication19:22 Easing Parental Anxiety About “Behind”21:00 Making Communication Fun, Not Pressure23:29 One Thing To Start Today24:09 Lightning Round: Family and Favorites26:32 Where to Find Jessie Online27:34 Wrap-up and Farewell