Jeaneen Tang — Play Dumb & Sabotage: Tiny Habits that Unlock Speech

In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Los Angeles speech-language pathologist and author Jeaneen Tang to unpack why some kids stay stuck at “grunts and grabs”—and the everyday tweaks that turn requests into real words. Jeaneen shares how to build language without fancy tools: honor a child’s “no,” engineer practice into snacks and play, and borrow the brain’s love of music to make phrases stick.

Jeaneen shares:

• A mom’s day that changed everything. When Jeaneen’s son Che suffered a traumatic brain injury and stroke at 13 months, doctors said he might never walk or talk. Early intervention, OT/PT, and daily language reps proved otherwise—and now fuel her mission to make strategies accessible to every family.
• Why “playing dumb” works. Mindfully under-anticipate needs so kids must communicate: give a few crackers and leave the rest in sight; wait for a reach, sign, or word; then shape “more” into “more cracker,” “cracker please.” Repetition is the engine.
• Honor the “no” (and still get things done). Skip yes/no traps you can’t honor. Try choices: “Brush teeth now or in five minutes?” “Puzzle or book first?” Dignity + predictability = cooperation.
• Music makes words memorable. Rewrite nursery-rhyme tunes with target lines (“iPad away at dinner”)—melody + rhythm bridge gaps for late talkers and kids with apraxia.
• School vs. private therapy—what parents can do. Big school caseloads are real; carryover is essential. Ask for regular IEP communication, keep a home–school notebook, and start a “Team [Child]” thread so everyone aligns on goals.
• AAC, signs, and the goal of being understood. Use what your child will use—from signs to AAC—while teams model consistently. Tools are bridges, not labels.

Whether you’re supporting apraxia, autism, TBI recovery, or just late talking, Jeaneen’s message is simple: create tiny opportunities, repeat them often, and watch language grow.

👤 About Jeaneen Tang
A 24-year SLP across schools, preschools, hospitals, and homes, Jeaneen is the author of Play Dumb and Sabotage (2024) and a mother to Che, whose recovery shaped her caregiver-first approach. She believes many early speech referrals can be reduced through better training for parents, caregivers, and educators—without sacrificing support for kids who truly need services.

🔗 Connect with Jeaneen
IG: @jt808 • @playdumbandsabotage
LinkedIn: Jeaneen Tang
Facebook: Jeaneen Tang

#ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #EarlyIntervention #SpeechTherapy #Apraxia #AAC #IEP #ParentAdvocacy #CaregiverHabits #PlayDumbAndSabotage

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