Making friends. Holding a conversation. Reading the room.

Talks plenty at home, and still struggles at recess or in a group.

• Wants to connect, but making or keeping friends doesn’t come easily yet
• Conversations stall: one-word answers, missed turns, topics that don’t quite land
• Joining a group or jumping into play feels hard, so they hang back

Also part of this: Small, in-person groups, forming by age, where children practice connection with peers to learn and apply skills.

Understanding the words. Finding the words. Telling the story.

Knows what they mean and cannot land it, or misses what is being asked.

• Knows what they want to say but can’t find the words, or gives up trying
• Loses the thread of directions, especially with more than one step
• Tells stories that are hard to follow, or avoids telling them at all

Being understood. Saying it clearly. Sounds that arrive on time.

Hard to understand, whether sounds are late coming in, come out inconsistently, or take real effort to produce.

• Still drops, swaps, or changes sounds that should be there by now
• Sounds come out inconsistently or longer words fall apart
• Visible effort or groping to get words out, more than you’d expect

Sounding like themselves. A voice that lasts. Speaking without strain.

A small or tired voice that’s hoarse, raspy, or strained more days than not.

• A rough or raspy voice that sticks around, even without a cold
• Loses their voice easily, or it fades by the end of the day
• Discomfort or effort when talking or singing

Finding their flow. Words that come easily. Speaking with ease.

Words that repeat, stick, or get stuck, and the frustration that can come with them.

• Repeats sounds, syllables, or whole words (“b-b-ball”, “I want- I want”)
• Gets stuck or pushes hard to get a word out
• Starts to avoid words, sounds, or speaking up because it feels hard