In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with speech-language pathologist Jeaneen Tang to talk about early language development, why so many kids end up needing speech therapy, and the simple preventative strategies you can start using today with your own infant, toddlers, and kids.
Jeaneen brings over 23 years of clinical experience working with neurodiverse children and adults — and she’s also the mom of a 12-year-old son who survived a traumatic brain injury and stroke at just 13 months old. He lost the use of the right side of his body, and today he can run, climb stairs, and thrive physically, as best as possible. Her dual perspective as both clinician and parent shapes everything she teaches.
We explore her new book, Play Dumb & Sabotage, a powerful guide for moms and dads, caregivers, and early-childhood educators. Jeaneen explains how intentionally “under-helping” — stepping back, waiting, and letting kids struggle just enough — encourages problem-solving, communication, and confident self-expression.
CONNECT WITH JEANEEN
IG personal: @jt808
IG business: @playdumbandsabotage
Link for her book: Play Dumb & Sabotage: Mindfully under-anticipating the child’s needs and creating opportunities to practice language
FREE Postpartum Planning Guide: https://nataliewelchrd.com/
Episode writing, recording, and editing by Natalie Welch
Audio mastering by Kevin Welch