Early Language Development

If your toddler isn’t talking, or they talk less than other kids their age, you may wonder if they need speech therapy. At Expressable, we’ve worked with thousands of families to support toddlers with speech delays and early language development needs. Our personalized, family-centered approach is built on evidence-based strategies that help toddlers and preschoolers use more words, build sentences, and express themselves more clearly. We give you the tools you need to support your child at home—where learning and communication happen every day.

A speech delay occurs when a child isn’t meeting typical milestones for speech and language development. For example, most toddlers begin saying their first words around 12 months and speak in two-word phrases by age 2. By age 3, many children can say up to 1,000 words and speak in short sentences. But every child develops on their own timeline, and delays in speech and language can be easy to overlook, especially if a child is doing well in other areas.

Speech delays are one of the most common developmental issues in early childhood, affecting up to 10% of preschoolers. While a speech delay doesn’t always mean there’s a long-term concern, early evaluation by a licensed speech-language pathologist is key. With the right support, most children with speech delays make meaningful progress in their ability to talk, connect, and be understood.

This guide explains Expressable’s clinical approach to supporting early language skills in toddlers. You’ll learn how early intervention speech therapy works and how our therapists partner with families to support each child’s unique journey toward confident communication. You can also view our complete guide to early language development to learn more about developmental milestones, the causes and signs of a speech or language delay, and how to help your child learn to talk at home.

1Why is speech therapy important for early language development? 2How Expressable treats early language development and speech delays 3Practice speech therapy exercises at home with the Expressable portal 4The benefits of online speech therapy for early language development 5See what families with toddlers and preschoolers are saying about our speech therapists 6Get matched with a speech therapist today

Why is speech therapy important for early language development?

Speech and language skills are the foundation for how we learn, express themselves, and connect with others. But when a child isn’t meeting expected communication milestones, it can be hard to know what to do or when to act.

It’s common for parents and caregivers to take a “wait and see” approach, hoping a child will catch up on their own. While every child does develop at their own pace, research shows that early intervention makes a big difference. The earlier speech delays are addressed, the better the outcomes, both now and in the future.

Early intervention speech therapy focuses on:

• Empowering parents and caregivers: Children learn best from the people they’re with every day. That’s why we coach families in practical, research-backed strategies they can use during daily routines and play.

• Using evidence-based techniques: Our speech therapists use the latest research to target your child’s specific needs, whether that’s using more words, speaking in longer sentences, or improving their understanding.

• Jumpstarting school success: Early communication skills are linked to literacy development. When children can recognize sounds, understand directions, and express their thoughts, they’re better prepared for reading, writing, and learning in school.

• Supporting social-emotional growth: Communication is key to making friends, sharing feelings, and managing frustration. When children can express themselves clearly, their confidence grows, and so does their ability to connect with other people.

Speech therapy doesn’t just help a child talk. It gives them the tools to thrive in every part of life. By identifying speech or language delays early, families can set their child up for long-term success in school, with friends, and beyond.

How Expressable treats early language development and speech delays

Expressable matches families with a licensed speech therapist trained to evaluate and treat early language delays in toddlers and children. All therapy is delivered online through face-to-face video sessions, making it easier to fit speech therapy into your family's daily routine.

Research shows that online speech therapy works just as well as in-person therapy. It’s also more convenient for busy families, and it allows caregivers to be directly involved in their child’s care.

At Expressable, we believe that caregiver participation is one of the most powerful tools in early speech and language therapy. That’s why caregiver coaching is at the heart of our treatment approach. Your speech therapist will guide you during sessions and teach you how to help your child communicate during everyday routines, like playtime, mealtime, and story time. This makes it easier to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities–and your child will make more progress as a result.

Expressable’s clinical approach to evaluating language and speech delays

Early intervention speech therapy starts with a comprehensive evaluation. Your Expressable therapist will gather a full picture of your child’s development and communication needs. This may include:

• Reviewing developmental milestones and medical history

• Observing how your child plays, speaks, and interacts

• Assessing receptive language (what your child understands)

• Assessing expressive language (what your child can say)

• Looking at sound development and speech clarity

• Checking oral-motor skills for speech and feeding

Standardized assessments may be used, such as the Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Test (REEL-4) or the Preschool Language Scale (PLS-5), to evaluate how your child understands and uses language. The evaluation results will help create a customized therapy plan focused on meaningful, achievable goals.

Play-based, personalized therapy that includes the whole family

Speech therapy for toddlers and preschoolers should feel fun and natural. That’s why Expressable therapists use toys, games, books, songs, and routines that match your child’s interests and stage of development. Whether it's blowing bubbles or pretending a banana is a phone, the goal is to spark communication in ways that feel joyful and motivating. Take a peek at this real-life speech therapy session with a toddler to see what we mean!

Because frequency and consistency matter, most children benefit from two speech therapy sessions per week. These sessions are tailored to your child’s needs and are designed to be interactive and engaging—even through a screen! However, we don’t expect busy toddlers to sit still and watch a screen for 30 minutes. That’s where your involvement comes in.

For toddlers ages 0 to 3, parents and caregivers participate in every session. Your speech therapist will coach you in real time, teaching you how to model language, create communication opportunities, and respond to your child’s cues. For example, you might play with your toddler while the therapist offers guidance and tips for prompting your child to use words.

For children ages 3 to 6, speech therapy continues to be play-based and collaborative. Caregivers attend sessions alongside their child, learning strategies they can reinforce between sessions.

The more you practice outside of therapy in your everyday routines, the faster your child will grow their communication skills. That’s why your involvement is so important.

Practice speech therapy exercises at home with the Expressable portal

At Expressable, speech therapy doesn’t stop when your session ends. We know that toddlers and preschoolers learn best through everyday interactions. So, our goal is to make it easier for you to keep the learning going at home.

You can text your therapist anytime for questions, reminders, or encouragement between sessions. Plus, through our client portal, you’ll get personalized support and guided practice to help your child keep building their communication skills.

In the portal, you’ll find Learning Paths that walk you through strategies like waiting expectantly, offering choices to help your child talk, and modeling language during play. These are simple techniques that work, and you can easily use them throughout your day:

The portal also includes a variety of videos. You can watch speech therapists demonstrate real-life strategies like recasting your child’s words, expanding their phrases, or using gestures to boost early language skills:

Your speech therapist will assign fun, easy practice activities that fit naturally into your daily routines, like labeling different types of clothes while getting dressed for the day:

The benefits of online speech therapy for early language development

Research has shown that online speech therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy. That includes for the youngest toddlers. Here are just a few examples:

• De Leon et al. (2022) looked at toddlers ages 1-2 years old receiving early intervention speech therapy. They achieved comparable 6-month progress on their goals whether therapy was delivered online or in-person.

• Several studies comparing in-person and telepractice speech therapy among toddlers (ages 18 to 30 months) have found that telepractice led to equivalent or higher scores on standardized language assessments (Behl et al. 2017; Blaiser et al. 2013; Constantinescu et al. 2014).

• Research also shows the impact of parent involvement. When parents are coached during online speech therapy, their toddlers increase their expressive language and social communication skills (Ingersoll et al. 2024, Mettler et al. 2023).

Here are a few more reasons that online therapy can be a great fit for your family:

1 Access to experienced pediatric speech therapists

With online speech therapy, you’re not limited by where you live. That means it’s easier to find a speech-language pathologist with specialized experience in early language development. Whether your toddler is a late talker or has a diagnosed speech delay, you’ll have access to therapists licensed in your state who know how to work with young children and their families.

This is especially helpful if you live in a rural area or your local clinics have long waitlists.

2 Speech therapy that fits your routine

Busy parents know how hard it can be to juggle school, work, doctor visits, errands, and everything else life throws at you. Add a commute to a therapy clinic, and it can feel overwhelming.

Online speech therapy takes the pressure off. At Expressable, you can schedule sessions at times that work for your family, even in the evenings or on weekends. No drive time, no rushing. Just support when you need it.

3 Therapy in your child’s natural environment

Children learn language best through meaningful routines, like during play, mealtime, or getting ready for bed. That’s why online therapy can work especially well for toddlers and young children with speech delays.

Your speech therapist can coach you in real time as your child plays with their favorite toys or engages in everyday activities. They’ll tailor strategies to your child’s interests and environment, helping you practice language skills in ways that actually stick.

4 Lower cost, same high-quality care

Online speech therapy often costs less than in-person therapy. That’s because therapists don’t have to pay for rent or overhead at a physical clinic, meaning those savings can be passed along to you. And even with the lower cost, you still get top-tier care from licensed professionals who specialize in helping young children communicate.

See what families with toddlers and preschoolers are saying about our speech therapists

We’ve treated thousands of toddlers and children with speech delay around the country. Our speech therapists consistently earn ratings of 4.9 out of 5 stars from their clients. Here’s just a sampling:

“Noticed improvement in such a short period of time” “Fabine is a wonderful speech therapist. She immediately knew how to make the sessions interesting and fun which keeps my son engaged and excited to learn. He shares with us what he learned and tries to incorporate it in his day to day. We are so happy with the services thus far and have noticed improvement in such a short period of time.”

“So helpful!” “We love our therapist and how patient she is with my daughter and I. My baby is very delayed in her speech, but the tips I’m being given to help my daughter practice daily have been so helpful! Thank you!”

“Ensures my son is on point with his goals” “Ms. Courtney gives us productive tools each week to improve our communication with our sweet boy. She is always making micro adjustments to our care plan to ensure my son is on point with his goals. Each session is a little different because she is mindful of his attention level being 3 years old. She gives my son the ability to make his own choices so he feels in control of his appointment.”

“My daughter went from only saying words to saying sentences” “Our therapist Loren has helped my daughter immensely!!! Her advice has helped us make better decisions for our daughter and her future. Her sessions help me understand how I can help my daughter outside of therapy. We practice our homework all week every week and we constantly see improvement. My daughter went from only saying words to saying sentences, wants, and needs, and every week she says a little more.” 

“Gave me simple tips to increase my daughter’s communication and comprehension skills!” “Ms. Katheryn was professional, very informative, friendly, honest, and really took the time out to help me, the parent, understand my daughter’s speech delay. She even gave me simple and daily tips to use with her that will help increase her communication and comprehension skills. Thank you for being a great support person!”

Get matched with a speech therapist today

If you’re concerned about your toddler’s speech and language development, contact Expressable today. Get matched with an early intervention speech therapist who's experienced in your child's area of need and available when you are. Find the right speech therapist for your child here.