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What is parallel talk in speech therapy?

Narrating what your child is doing as they do it. "You're pushing the truck! It's going fast!" This connects words to their actions and builds vocabulary. Example: Saying "You're pushing the truck! The truck is going fast!" as your child plays.

🎯Therapy Approaches

Parallel Talk

What is parallel talk in speech therapy?

Narrating what your child is doing as they do it. "You're pushing the truck! It's going fast!" This connects words to their actions and builds vocabulary.

Example

Saying "You're pushing the truck! The truck is going fast!" as your child plays.

🔊 Narrating a child's vehicle play

How can I help my child with parallel talk?

Our app encourages parallel talk by giving parents vocabulary to describe vehicle actions.

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About this guide: This glossary is designed to help parents understand speech therapy terminology. Definitions are simplified for clarity and informed by resources from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Not medical advice: This information is educational only. For concerns about your child's speech development, consult a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP).Find an SLP near you →

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Parents Also Ask

What is parallel talk?▼

Parallel talk means describing what your CHILD is doing as they do it. "You're driving the car! The car is going fast! You stopped!" This connects words to their actions and builds vocabulary naturally during play.

What is the difference between parallel talk and self-talk?▼

Parallel talk = narrating what your CHILD does. Self-talk = narrating what YOU do. Both are powerful language-building techniques. Use both during play to maximize language exposure.

@camillekslp
"I love it so far! All of the items are interactive — super engaging for my kids, especially the ones who love cars and trucks."
@camillekslp — Speech-Language Pathologist
Trusted by 25+ Speech-Language PathologistsSee all SLP reviews →

Related Terms

Self-Talk

Narrating your own actions out loud so your child hears language connected to activities. "I'm putting the car in the garage. Now I'm closing the door."

More Therapy Approaches

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Gestalt Language ProcessingModelingExpansionRecastingSelf-TalkAAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)

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Support Your Child's Speech Development

Little Wheels apps use vehicle-based learning to make speech practice engaging and fun. Perfect for home practice between therapy sessions.

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