Talk it Out with Wee Talkers

Latest Episodes:

Episode #14: Simple Shifts That Make a Big Difference with The Conscious Mom Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

Today we're joined by Erin Morrison—also known as The Conscious Mom on Instagram—for a conversation that feels like a deep breath. Erin is a Certified Conscious Parenting Coach with two master's degrees in psychological counseling from Columbia University. She's also a mom of two, and brings a grounded, compassionate, and non-judgmental approach to her work with parents.

In this episode, we talk about how to stay regulated during toddler meltdowns, how to bring more mindfulness into your day (even when life feels full), and why small, simple shifts can make a big difference in how you feel as a parent.

Erin also shares the heart behind her new book, why she chose a bite-sized format, and a few of her favorite things she's loving right now.

In this episode, we cover:

Erin's go-to strategy for when you're feeling overwhelmed
Easy ways to add mindfulness to your daily routines
Trusting yourself in motherhood
The writing process behind Erin's new book—and why she kept it simple
What she wished she knew when she was a new mom
A few fun things Erin's loving right now

Freebie for this episode: Get a 10-day free trial of our Songs+Stories membership—screen time that actually supports your toddler's language and literacy development. Try it free here → www.weetalkers.com/storyvideo

Connect with Erin: Follow her on Instagram → @the.conscious.mom

Learn more → theconsciousmom.com

Episode #13: Screen Time – Setting Boundaries Without the Battles Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Screen time—it's one of the most debated parenting topics out there. But instead of an all-or-nothing approach, what if there was a way to make it work for your family without constant battles or guilt?

In this episode, we're breaking it down:

The 3 Cs framework to help guide your screen time decisions
The 4 screen time rules we started when our kids were young (and still rely on today!)
Why not all screen time is created equal—and how to choose better options
The screen time setup that reduces meltdowns and keeps it from taking over your day

Whether you're struggling with screen time limits, wondering how much is too much, or just looking for a simple plan that works for your family, this episode will give you practical, realistic strategies you can start using right away.

Resources Mentioned:

Songs+Stories Membership – A library of slow-paced, language-rich videos designed by speech therapists: weetalkers.com/songsandstories
Baby & Toddler Milestone Checklists – Track your child's development and know what comes next: weetalkers.com/baby (for babies) | weetalkers.com/toddler (for toddlers)
Wee Talkers Blog – More screen time tips and language development insights: weetalkers.com/blog

At the end of the day, screens are just one small piece of your parenting journey—and you're doing an incredible job navigating it all. There's no perfect formula, just the choices that feel right for your family. So take a deep breath, trust yourself, and know that your little one is lucky to have you.

If this episode gave you some helpful ideas, we'd love for you to subscribe and share it with a friend who might need to hear this today. Thanks for spending this time with us—we're so grateful to have you here! 💛

Thank You to Our Sponsor:

Glo Pals: Use the code weetalkers15 to save 15% off your order.

Episode #12: Imitation: How to encourage your child to copy words Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

Is your child not copying your words yet? Wondering if that's normal—or what you can do to help? Imitation is one of the first building blocks of communication, and in this episode, we're diving into:

How imitation develops step by step—from actions and gestures to sounds and words
Why some kids pick up movements before they start talking
Practical strategies to encourage your child to copy you more
What might be happening if your child isn't imitating yet

You'll walk away with a better understanding of where your child is in their communication journey and simple ways to support their progress at home.

Important time stamps:

1. The progression: how imitation develops- 2:50 2. How to help your child imitate more- 9:23 3. Reasons your child might have trouble imitating - 15:00 Resources Mentioned:

Toddler Milestone Checklist – Track your child's progress and learn what to expect next: weetalkers.com/toddler
Imitation Development Progression – Check out our blog for a visual breakdown of how imitation unfolds: weetalkers.com/blog
Songs+Stories Membership – A high-quality screen-time option that encourages imitation, gestures, and language through engaging storytime videos: weetalkers.com/songsandstories
Gestalt Language Processing – Wondering if your child is a gestalt language processor? We highly recommend learning from our SLP friend, Nicole Casey, and checking out her resources: childled.org
Talk Toddler Course – Learn step-by-step how to support your child's language at home: weetalkers.com/talktoddler

Instagram: @weetalkers — we'd love to connect with you!

Subscribe & Share!

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to the podcast and share it with a fellow parent or caregiver who might be struggling with getting their child to copy words. Your support helps us continue providing quality resources for families to help little ones communicate with confidence.

Quick Update + Resources Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

We've loved connecting with you in Season 1 of Talk It Out with Wee Talkers! While we take a short break to prepare for Season 2, we want to share some helpful resources for you.

In This Episode, We Cover:

How to submit a question for Season 2: Visit weetalkers.com/questions to record and send us your question about baby or toddler speech and language development.
The Wee Talkers Blog: Explore helpful articles on topics like "what to do if your toddler isn't talking," book recommendations, and indoor activities for toddlers at weetalkers.com/blog.
Our online courses: Learn how to support your child's language development from infancy through toddlerhood with our TalkBaby and TalkToddler courses.
The Songs+Stories Membership: Thoughtfully designed screen time for toddlers with ad-free, slow-paced videos and a podcast for kids. Try a few sample episodes in our Talk It Out podcast feed (look for the "Bonus" episodes)!

Resources Mentioned:

Submit your question for Season 2: weetalkers.com/questions
Read the Wee Talkers Blog: weetalkers.com/blog
Explore our baby & toddler language courses: www.weetalkers.com/our-programs
Join the Songs+Stories Membership: weetalkers.com/songsandstories

Thank you for being part of Talk It Out with Wee Talkers! We can't wait to be back soon with Season 2. In the meantime, take care, and we'll talk again soon!

Episode #10: What to Do When You Can't Understand Your Toddler Feb 09, 2025

Show notes

What to Do When You Can't Understand Your Toddler | Talk It Out Podcast

Welcome to another episode of Talk It Out with Wee Talkers! Today, we're tackling a question that so many parents have: What should you do when you can't understand what your toddler is saying?

Carly and Katie answer a question from a dad who feels unsure of what to do when his 17-month-old tries to communicate, but he just can't figure out what he's saying. They share practical, research-backed strategies to help toddlers feel heard, reduce frustration, and strengthen that parent-child connection—even when words aren't clear yet.

If you've ever struggled to understand your toddler's speech—or worried about whether their pronunciation is normal—this episode is packed with expert advice to help you navigate these tricky moments with confidence.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Why toddler speech can be hard to understand (and what's normal)
How to respond when you don't understand your child's words
5 simple strategies to reduce frustration and keep communication positive
Why some toddlers get more upset than others when they're misunderstood
When to be concerned about your toddler's speech clarity

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned:

Related Podcast Episode: Toddler Speech Mistakes (Episode 5)– Learn what's typical for toddler speech development
Blog Post: When You Can't Understand Your Toddler – Get more tips and real-life examples
Late Talker Support: How to Reduce Toddler Frustration Around Communication
Free Toddler Milestone Checklist: Download your copy at weetalkers.com/toddler

Instagram: @weetalkers
Wee Talkers Blog: WeeTalkers.com/blog

Subscribe & Share!

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to Talk It Out with Wee Talkers! Share it with a fellow parent or caregiver who might be struggling to understand their toddler's speech. Your support helps us continue providing expert-backed tips to help little ones communicate with confidence.

🎧 Thanks for listening!

Episode #9: Help! I Think my Child has Started Stuttering Feb 02, 2025

Show notes

Is your child suddenly repeating words or struggling to get them out? In today's episode, Katie and Carly dive into the question: what to do if your child has started stuttering.

You'll learn:

What stuttering looks like in toddlers and preschoolers.
When it's a typical phase of development—and when it might not be.
Simple, actionable ways to support your child at home and help them speak more confidently.

Katie and Carly also share personal stories from their own parenting journeys, along with expert advice to help you feel calm, informed, and reassured.

If you're concerned about your child's speech, or just want to know more about stuttering and how to help, this episode is for you!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Download our free toddler milestone checklist: weetalkers.com/toddler
https://www.weetalkers.com/blog/stuttering

Instagram: @weetalkers
Blog: Wee Talkers Blog

Thanks for listening to the Talk It Out podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you left a review and shared it with a friend. See you next time!

Episode #8: How to Help Your Child Say Their Name Jan 26, 2025

Show notes

Hearing your toddler say their name for the first time is such a heartwarming milestone! But when should this happen, and how can you support them along the way?

In this episode, we're sharing simple, stress-free strategies to help your child say their name with confidence and joy.

We'll cover:

When children typically begin saying their name and what's developmentally appropriate.
Fun, practical activities (like photo books and playful games) to encourage name recognition and pronunciation.
How to make learning their name an enjoyable part of everyday play.
When it might be time to seek professional support and what steps to take.

You'll leave this episode with actionable ideas to make this milestone feel achievable and fun for you and your child.

✨ Grab your FREE Toddler Milestone Checklist to track your child's communication development: weetalkers.com/toddler

🔗 Links Mentioned:

Pinhole Press photo books – Use the code: WEETALKERS

💛 If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a fellow parent or leave us a review. Your support helps us reach more families!

We're cheering you on every step of the way. Thanks for listening!

Episode #7: The 18-24 month language explosion Jan 19, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to another episode of the Wee Talkers Talk It Out podcast! In this episode, we dive into one of the most exciting stages of toddler development—the 18-24 month language explosion! 🎉

Katie and Carly answer a common question from a parent wondering how their 22 month old can possibly go from a handful of words to hundreds of words in such a short time. They explore what the "language explosion" looks like, when it typically occurs, and how to help your toddler significantly increase the number of words they use.

If you're navigating the toddler years–whether you're concerned about your child's development or simply want to be proactive– this episode is packed with encouragement and actionable advice to help you feel empowered in supporting your child's language growth.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

What the "toddler language explosion" is and when it typically occurs.
Why the "wait and see" approach is not recommended when it comes to language development.
The impact early intervention can make for toddlers with fewer words than expected at this stage.
Useful strategies to support your toddler's language growth at home.
When to seek support from a speech language pathologist

Links & Resources Mentioned:

To learn about what counts as a word, how many words toddlers have around 18 months old, and how to track vocabulary growth, check out episode 6 of this podcast.
Free Milestone Checklist: Download your copy at weetalkers.com/toddler.
Blog Post: 18-24 Month Language Explosion.
Submit a Question: Have a question for Katie and Carly to answer on a future podcast episode? Share it with them at weetalkers.com/questions.

Instagram: @weetalkers
Blog: Wee Talkers Blog

Subscribe & Share!

If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to subscribe to Talk It Out with Wee Talkers! Share this episode with a friend or caregiver who might find it helpful. We're here to support you and your family every step of the way.

🎧 Thanks for listening.

Episode #6: How many words should my 18-month-old be saying? Jan 12, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to another episode of the Wee Talkers Talk It Out podcast! In this episode, Carly and Katie, pediatric speech-language pathologists and moms, answer one of the most common questions they hear from parents:

"How many words should my 18-month-old be saying?"

What We'll Cover:

Typical Word Count: How many words you can expect from your toddler by 18 months—and why the range varies so much.
What Counts as a Word?: Surprising examples, including animal sounds, exclamations, and partial words, and how to recognize true words in your toddler's speech.
Tracking Progress: Simple tips for keeping track of your child's growing vocabulary and understanding how a variety of words (not just nouns!) helps grow their two word combinations.

Resources Mentioned:

Download our free toddler communication milestone checklist to track your child's language development: weetalkers.com/toddler
Want to learn more about toddler speech sounds? Check out Episode 5 of this podcast season.

A Note of Encouragement:

Carly and Katie remind parents that every child develops at their own pace, and there's support available if you're feeling concerned. You're not in this alone!

If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love for you to share it with a friend or leave us a review.

Instagram: @weetalkers
Blog: Wee Talkers Blog

Thanks for listening!

Episode #5: My Toddler Doesn't Pronounce Words Clearly–a dive into typical toddler speech "mistakes" Jan 05, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to another episode of Talk It Out with Wee Talkers! In today's episode, Katie and Carly answer a parent's question about why toddlers don't always pronounce words clearly. If you've ever heard your child say "wabbit" instead of "rabbit" or "ba" instead of "ball," you're not alone. These (often adorable) speech patterns are a typical part of language development and are known as phonological patterns. Tune in to learn what's typical, when to seek help, and how you can support your toddler at home!

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Why toddlers often simplify words as they learn to talk.
Common phonological patterns.
When these patterns are expected to fade as kids grow.
Signs it might be time to consult a speech-language pathologist.
Tips for helping your child improve their speech clarity at home
The importance of a hearing evaluation if you're concerned about your child's speech.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

Free Milestone Checklist: Download your copy at weetalkers.com/toddler.
Blog Post: What to Do When You Don't Understand Your Toddler.
Speech Sound Chart: Learn about common speech patterns and when they typically resolve. Find it here.
Submit a Question: Got a question for Katie and Carly? Share it with them at weetalkers.com/questions.

Instagram: @weetalkers
Blog: Wee Talkers Blog

Subscribe & Share!

Thanks for listening.

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