Kids can feel self-conscious if they speak differently than their peers. And to be honest, a lot of kids do! Whether a child has a regional accent, has trouble saying certain sounds (like r's), or speaks differently for any other reason, this episode will show you how to help them feel confident in their one-of-a-kind voice. We'll also chat about how we can teach all kids to be empathetic and accepting of those who speak differently.

You'll hear from Ellen Braaten, Ph.D. (co-director of The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School), Jann Fujimoto, M.S., CCC-SLP (a speech-language pathologist and owner of SpeechWorks), and Novea McIntosh, Ed.D. (assistant professor of education at the University of Dayton, Ohio, and committee member for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program).

Be sure to also pick up your copy of Malty the Blue Tiger on Amazon! These remarkable books help kids easily learn language — and teach the value of embracing what makes you one-of-a-kind. You can also find free language and speech resources at MaltyTheBlueTiger.com. Have a question you'd like us to answer on this podcast? Send it to us at InPlainLanguage@MaltyTheBlueTiger.com.

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