Practice between speech therapy sessions

Speech therapy, when a child needs it, happens with a licensed speech-language pathologist. The visits are the care. The days between visits are when families try to keep a few words alive. A talking friend can sit in those days as extra practice. It is a supplement. It is not the therapy, and it should not be used instead of a session.

Start from the plan you already have

If an SLP gave you words, sounds, or a simple home activity, use that. Put one to three of those words into Talkicorn's setup if they are appropriate to say out loud with a character. Let the friend model the word and praise the try. Do not ask the app to invent a goal, score a sound, or decide that therapy is working.

If you do not have a plan, do not borrow one from an article. Everyday words from play are enough until a professional tells you otherwise. When to talk with an SLP is about that conversation, not about diagnosing anyone.

What "between sessions" should feel like

Short. Kind. The same word more than once. A parent nearby. Stop when your child is done, even if the timer is not.

A typical private visit is a different kind of hour, often far more expensive than a home practice tool, and staffed by someone who can evaluate. Talkicorn does not do that job. The price of a visit is context for why families want practice at home. It is not a claim that an app delivers the visit.

Bring notes to the next appointment if you want: which words you tried, whether your child enjoyed the call, what still felt hard. A clinician can use a parent's observation. They cannot use an app's opinion, because the app does not have a clinical opinion.

What to leave to the SLP

How often to practice a specific sound. Whether a sound is late. Whether therapy should continue, change, or stop. Feeding, voice, stuttering that is getting in the way, or a loss of words they used to have. Those are care questions.

A friend can say "truck" and wait. That is the whole assignment you should give it. If the call ever feels like it is competing with therapy, skip the call that week. The appointment matters more.

For the day-to-day shape of a practice turn, read how to use a talking friend for speech practice.