Child Not Talking? Look at COPYING...The 7 Cs of Communication | Laura Mize | teachmetotalk

In this episode of our 7 C’s of Communication series, join pediatric speech-language pathologists Laura Mize, M.S., CCC-SLP and Macy Mize Usher, M.S., CCC-SLP from teachmetotalk.com to discuss the 5th C… Copy. What is the most important skill you can teach a child who isn't talking yet? It may not be what you think. In this episode of our 7 C's of Communication series, Macy and I discuss the 5th C... Copying. Before children learn to use words, they learn to imitate. In fact, toddlers learn to talk only after they become proficient imitators. That's why imitation is one of the most powerful skills we can strengthen in late talkers, minimally verbal children, and autistic toddlers. In this course, we'll walk through the Imitation Hierarchy, from actions with objects and body movements to gestures, sound effects, verbal routines, words, and phrases. We'll also discuss why imitation doesn't always develop in a predictable sequence for neurodivergent children, including autistic gestalt language learners who may imitate phrases before single words. Most importantly, we'll help you figure out what may be getting in the way when a child isn't imitating and how social, motor, cognitive, and sensory differences can affect learning. You'll leave with practical strategies you can use immediately to teach imitation during play and everyday routines. We'll share how to use modeling, wait time, anticipatory body language, and my favorite cueing strategy: "Tell him, show him, help him." If you're working with a child who isn't talking yet, this may be one of the most important episodes in our entire series. Handouts mentioned in this podcast are included with purchase of CE credit for therapists Therapists - Earn .5 ASHA CEU for $5 Parents pdf - $5 includes the show notes LINK HERE: https://teachmetotalk.com/ceu_course/asha-ceu-course-0022-copy-the-7-cs-of-communication/ UPDATED BUILDING VERBAL IMITATION CHART: https://teachmetotalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Verbal-Imitation-in-Toddlers-Preschoolers-2.pdf Who This Is For: - Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) - Early intervention providers, developmental therapists, OTs - Parents of toddlers and preschoolers with speech delays - Parents of autistic children Ready to Go Deeper? This is the next episode in our 8 part series: The 7 C's of Communication: Developing Treatment Plans that WORK for Toddlers & Preschoolers with Language Delays. Check out the other episodes in this series. If you want a step-by-step system to apply this framework in real life with autistic kids, check out: https://teachmetotalk.com/strengths-based-autism-course-toddlers/ Here's my newly updated therapy manual I mentioned Let's Talk About Talking: https://teachmetotalk.com/late-talking-toddler-speech-therapy/ Have a question for Laura and Macy? Email laura@teachmetotalk.com or macy@teachmetotalk.com with the subject line PODCAST Join Laura’s daily email for free therapy ideas: (near 50K subscribers!!) https://teachmetotalk.com/ Therapy Manuals from teachmetotalk.com The Late Talker Workbook NEW https://teachmetotalk.com/the-late-ta... The Autism Workbook https://teachmetotalk.com/product/aut... Let's Talk About Talking https://teachmetotalk.com/product/let... Teach Me To Talk The Therapy Manual https://teachmetotalk.com/product/tea... Building Verbal Imitation Skills in Toddlers https://teachmetotalk.com/product/bui... Teach Me To Play WITH You https://teachmetotalk.com/product/tea... FUNctional Phonology https://teachmetotalk.com/product/fun... Apraxia Workbooks 1 & 2 https://teachmetotalk.com/product/the... Shop Our Favorite Speech Therapy Toys: https://www.amazon.com/shop/teachmetotalk Amazon affiliates earn *teeny tiny* commissions from purchases. It's still a great way to support our work!**