Coaching with Confidence: Communication Tips for SLPs Working with Parents
As speech-language pathologists, we know that parent involvement is crucial to a child’s progress in both language development and feeding. Parent coaching allows us to extend therapy beyond the session, turning everyday moments into meaningful learning opportunities. But coaching isn’t just giving instructions. It's a collaborative, respectful, and supportive relationship. Whether you're supporting a toddler with limited expressive language or a picky eater struggling with food variety, effective communication with parents makes all the difference.
Here are five key strategies to guide your parent coaching during language or feeding therapy:
1. Build Trust Before Teaching
Before diving into strategies or modeling techniques, take time to connect. Listen actively, validate their concerns, and avoid jargon. Families want to feel heard and understood. Establishing a safe space for open communication helps parents feel more confident and willing to try new things. Remember, you’re there to support, not to judge. A simple “Tell me about what mealtimes look like at home” or “What kinds of words does he use with you?” can open the door to a productive, meaningful conversation.
2. Keep It Collaborative
Coaching isn’t about telling parents what to do, it’s about working together. Frame suggestions as options and invite parents to share what they think will work best in their routines. Try phrases like:
“Would it feel manageable to try this during snack time?”
“Let’s think of a way to fit this into your morning routine.”
This empowers parents and respects their expertise on their child and home life.
3. Be Clear and Focused
Avoid overwhelming parents with too many strategies at once. Choose one or two specific, meaningful ideas to focus on between sessions. For example, if you're working on language, model how to pause and wait for a child to respond during play. If you’re supporting feeding, demonstrate how to use neutral language and avoid pressure at the table. Reinforce that small, consistent changes can lead to big progress.
4. Use Everyday Routines
Help parents incorporate strategies into routines they already have like getting dressed, bath time, meals, car rides. For language, you might coach a parent to label and expand during a diaper change (“You said sock! Yes, blue sock!"). For feeding, you might focus on exposing a child to a new food during a shared grocery trip. These natural contexts make practice more sustainable and meaningful.
5. Provide Encouragement and Celebrate Progress
Parent coaching can feel vulnerable. Acknowledge what’s going well and celebrate small wins. This builds motivation and strengthens the parent’s belief in their own ability to help their child. Comments like “I love how you waited and gave her time to answer,” or “He touched the food! That’s a big step!” help reinforce effort over outcome.
Parent coaching is not about perfection. It’s about progress, partnership, and persistence. By showing up with empathy, clarity, and a collaborative spirit, SLPs can empower families to carry therapy into the routines in the home.
If you're looking to sharpen your parent coaching skills, start by reflecting on your communication style. Are you listening as much as you’re teaching? Are your suggestions clear, realistic, and personalized? Small shifts in how we talk to parents can lead to meaningful changes in how they support their child.