At Speech & Language Support Services, we believe therapy doesn’t happen once a week or even once a fortnight. Therapy happens every day. That’s why we believe in partnering with parents in speech therapy from day one.
Why We Partner with Parents (And Why Therapy Isn’t Just Once a Week)
We don’t just want to see your child succeed in the clinic we want to see them thrive at home, kindy, at school and out in the world. For that to happen, we focus on family-centred speech therapy because parents play the most powerful role in their child’s communication growth.
When I Worked in Schools…
In my early years as a speech pathologist, I worked in school settings. I’d see children during the school day, but parents weren’t present. Communication happened through notes sent home and few families had the chance to see the strategies in action or learn how to use them.
It looked ideal on paper. Therapy built into the school day, no disruption for families. But beneath the surface, it was a bandaid service: progress inside the session, without the connection needed for real-world success.
I’d spend 30 minutes helping a child make small gains in speech or language, only to find those skills didn’t carry over into every day life. Teachers were busy, parents were out of the loop, and children missed the support they needed between sessions. There was a disconnect.
It didn’t feel right. Progress was slow. I could see each child’s potential — but without parent involvement, that spark rarely turned into a flame.
That experience reshaped everything about how I practice today.
Why “Drop and Go” Therapy Doesn’t Work
When therapy is done without the parent—especially in school or childcare settings—the link between therapy and real life breaks down.
Here’s what we often see:
- Children may behave differently with the therapist than at home.
- Wins in the therapy room aren’t seen or understood by parents.
- There’s no opportunity for families to reinforce or build on strategies between sessions.
- Children can become reliant on the therapist to “fix it” instead of growing their own confidence.
Worst of all, families feel left out, like therapy is something being done to their child, instead of with them. Families become observers rather than partners. That’s why parent involvement in speech therapy isn’t optional, it’s essential.
Therapy that Sticks Happens in the Every Day Moments
Here’s the truth: we only get a tiny snapshot of your child each week. You get the whole picture. And your child learns the most from the people they’re closest to.
When parents engage in everyday back-and-forth talk with their children, language development flourishes. Harvard’s Usable Knowledge describes this beautifully in The Brain-Changing Power of Conversation, showing how small daily interactions between parents and children have a profound impact on communication growth.
Therapy isn’t just what we do in sessions—it’s:
- The way you pause and wait, giving your child space to speak.
- The way you read a story together at bedtime and point out new words.
- The games you play in the car or during dinner prep.
- The gentle ways you model language without even realising it.
These aren’t big tasks. They’re tiny shifts in what you’re already doing—and they have a massive impact when you know how and why to do them.
What Partnering with Parents Looks Like
It’s not about adding more to your plate. It’s about working together, so you know how to make the most of the moments you already have.
Here’s what speech therapy that works really looks like:
- Parents involved in every step
- Checking in regularly to share ideas, strategies, and wins.
- Shared goals and strategies so they align with what matters most to your family.
- Confidence to use skills outside sessions
Sometimes it’s tips in the therapy room. Sometimes it’s a video demo or a parent-only session. However it happens, your involvement is the magic ingredient.
The Outcomes Speak for Themselves
When parents are part of the journey, progress happens faster and it lasts. Partnering with parents in speech therapy turns small practice moments into lifelong communication skills.
✅ Children make faster progress
✅ They’re more likely to use new skills in daily life
✅ Parents feel confident, empowered, and involved
✅ Therapy becomes something we do together, not just a service you attend
Together, we create change that lasts well beyond the session.
A Team Approach that Works
We believe in building therapy around the whole child and the whole family. Because family-centred speech therapy empowers everyone, the child, the parent and the therapist. You know your child better than anyone. We bring the tools, the experience, and the plan. Together, we help your child shine.
Because communication doesn’t stop when the session ends. It happens on the school run, during playtime, in bedtime chats, and through every giggle, question, and cuddle.
That’s why we partner with you.
Why is parent involvement important in speech therapy?
Because children learn best when parents are part of the process. Partnering with parents ensures therapy continues every day at home, at school, and in all the small moments that matter.
Want to be part of something that matters?
Feeling inspired to make a difference with a team that leads with heart?
We’re always looking for passionate clinicians and AHAs who want to create real change.
Continue the Power Series
If this resonated with you, explore the other pillars in this series:
- The Power of Belief – how what we believe shapes what’s possible
- The Power of Connection – rediscovering purpose and joy in what we do
- The Power of Success – redefining wins in therapy and in life – Coming Soon
Each story in the Power Series explores a different way communication transforms lives for families, therapists, and teams alike.