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Play Dumb & Sabotage: Mindfully under-anticipating the child’s needs and creating opportunities to practice language Kindle Edition

4.9 out of 5 stars 92 ratings

Do you find yourself grappling with uncertainty when it comes to nurturing language skills in young children?

Navigate the intricate terrain of nurturing language skills in both typically developing children and those facing unique challenges, from late talkers to those with special needs. This book equips you with essential tools and proven strategies, eliminating the guesswork and empowering you to foster language proficiency with confidence.

Caregiving and teaching young children language would be easier if we were given the tools and strategies instead of having to figure it out on our own. This book will help you with developing language in young children, whether they are normal developing, late talkers, or children with special needs.

In this book, you will learn:

  • How to identify areas where you over-anticipate a child's needs.
  • How we are doing children a disservice by doing so.
  • How to mindfully under-anticipate a child's needs.
  • How to create opportunities to practice language in functional ways.
  • Strategies to apply to everyday activities to help develop effective communicators.

Discover some insights, practical tips, and evidence-based techniques that empower you to create an enriching linguistic environment. Get a copy now!


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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1JPC7P
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ selfpublishing.com (April 8, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 8, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 119 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 out of 5 stars 92 ratings

About the author

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Jeaneen Tang
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Jeaneen Tang, speech-language pathologist and mother of a special needs child. Along with her over 20 years of experience with working go with children and adults with neurodiversity, she also has an 11 year old son who is neurodivergent. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and stroke at 13 months old. Her personal and professional relationship with this amazing population has forever changed her. She hopes to change their world too.

Jeaneen Tang received her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2001 from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. She worked in the schools in Honolulu, Hawaii for 4 years prior to moving to Los Angeles, California in 2005. She worked in the schools of the LAUSD until shifting her focus to early intervention in 2010 with the 0 to 3 year old population. Between 2006 to the present, she has also split her work schedule to work with adults in the hospital and home health settings.

Although she enjoys working with adults, her passion is addressing the needs of our youngest population. She noticed that many of the children who were late talkers were normal developing in every other way, physically and cognitively. Her experience with language development and the rapport she built with her clients and their parents helped to close the gap of the language delays of many of the children she serviced.

The strategies in her book, PLAY DUMB & SABOTAGE, are applicable to not only young children with strictly a speech delay, but also for children of special needs, as well as for normal developing children. The importance of interacting with all babies and toddlers is emphasized greatly. The first conversations we have with children, starting with facial expressions, vocal play, babbling, then words, are the foundations of their communication for the rest of their lives.

Jeaneen has been fortunate to be a guest on numerous podcasts from all across the US and internationally. She's grateful for the opportunity to share her knowledge and experience with so many individuals spanning the globe. By planting the seed of a new perspective on how to approach language development, she hopes to create a greater impact on the world.

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
92 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book offers practical strategies for fostering language development and serves as a valuable resource for parents and educators. Moreover, they appreciate its easy-to-read format, with one customer noting it's equally beneficial for novices and seasoned professionals. Additionally, the book includes insightful anecdotes that make it relatable, and one customer highlights its variety of activities.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

25 customers mention "Language development"25 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's practical strategies for fostering language development, describing it as an insightful and approachable guide that is particularly valuable for parents and educators.

"...Tang presents a broad range of important information (like addressing parents' fear of their infant crying) along many, many detailed suggestions..." Read more

""Play Dumb & Sabotage" by Jeaneen Tang is a deeply personal and insightful guide that offers practical strategies for fostering language development..." Read more

"...It is very easy to read, not filled with technical jargon. Included are many anecdotes and examples which make tasks easier to follow and implement..." Read more

"This book is a helpful guide for anyone looking to support language development in young children, whether they are typical learners, late talkers,..." Read more

20 customers mention "Ease of use"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to navigate and read, making it a great parent resource, with one customer noting it is equally beneficial for both novices and seasoned professionals.

"...Overall, this book is a fantastic resource for parents, caretakers, therapists, and educators interested in maximizing the language, psychological,..." Read more

"...Tang’s writing is heartfelt and professional, drawing from her extensive experience and journey with her son...." Read more

"This is a great book for anyone who is looking to improve their child's language skills. It is very easy to read, not filled with technical jargon...." Read more

"...Really well written and enjoyable to read. The author shares her background and story and helps connect the reader with the content...." Read more

15 customers mention "Readership"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and relatable, with insightful anecdotes throughout. One customer notes that every moment is a teaching opportunity, while another appreciates its personal perspective.

"...therapists, and educators interested in maximizing the language, psychological, and physical development of youngsters in their care." Read more

""Play Dumb & Sabotage" by Jeaneen Tang is a deeply personal and insightful guide that offers practical strategies for fostering language development..." Read more

"...Included are many anecdotes and examples which make tasks easier to follow and implement...." Read more

"...Really well written and enjoyable to read. The author shares her background and story and helps connect the reader with the content...." Read more

3 customers mention "Activity variety"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the variety of activities in the book, with one customer noting they are practical and promote active engagement.

"This provides a variety of activities and exercises available to help stimulate and improve the language skills of young children...." Read more

"...The activities are practical and easy to implement. I'm adding it to my students' resource list." Read more

"Active engagement..." Read more

Highly recommended!
5 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended!
The author really caught my attention with their conversational style. I liked that the information was void of technical terms that everyday people aren’t readily familiar with. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to better connect with children and how to teach them in a more effective way. Worked for me
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2024
    First of all, author Jeaneen Tang's 20 years of experience as a language-speech pathologist becomes quite obvious as she explains in wonderfully clear language and stories her approach to and tips for enhancing the language development of children. By 'playing dumb' as a parent or caretaker, the child naturally tries harder to 'fix' the targeted situation and get what they want from the interaction with the adult.

    While I am sure these strategies work well for fostering language development in young children, I would add that this 'play dumb' strategy works for much more than strictly language! By encouraging children to work harder (both physically and mentally) for what they want, the children end up more physically developed and with better problem solving skills. The best part is that Tang's "Play Dumb & Sabotage" book transforms everyday tasks into fun opportunities for meaningful communication, learning, and development.

    Finally, this is not one of those books with a great idea or two that is repeated over and over to stretch out the page count. Tang presents a broad range of important information (like addressing parents' fear of their infant crying) along many, many detailed suggestions for exactly 'how' to play dumb in various situations. There are lots and lots of different strategies offered for readers to experiment with!

    Overall, this book is a fantastic resource for parents, caretakers, therapists, and educators interested in maximizing the language, psychological, and physical development of youngsters in their care.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
    "Play Dumb & Sabotage" by Jeaneen Tang is a deeply personal and insightful guide that offers practical strategies for fostering language development in young children, whether they are typically developing, late talkers, or have special needs. As a parent and a speech therapist, Tang's journey mirrors my own as an educator, where our "Why" began with our children. Her book transforms the often daunting task of nurturing language skills into a manageable and enjoyable process. Tang emphasizes the importance of under-anticipating children's needs to create opportunities for meaningful communication, which resonates with anyone who has worked closely with young learners.

    Tang’s writing is heartfelt and professional, drawing from her extensive experience and journey with her son. She provides caregivers and educators with invaluable tools and strategies that eliminate guesswork, making supporting children's language development in everyday interactions easier. The book's unique approach and engaging style remind us that every moment is a teaching opportunity and that true learning extends far beyond traditional settings. "Play Dumb & Sabotage" is a must-read for anyone involved in the growth and development of young children, offering a roadmap to nurturing effective communicators through mindful interaction and practical application.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
    This is a great book for anyone who is looking to improve their child's language skills. It is very easy to read, not filled with technical jargon. Included are many anecdotes and examples which make tasks easier to follow and implement. What is especially notable is that there are no special materials to buy or to gather to begin using any of these techniques. As one continues through the chapters, there will be many 'aha' moments, as well as situations you will recognize that occur daily and realize, 'hey, I can do that'.

    Targeted outcomes are broken down into simple steps and progress to more complex tasks. There are practice pages at the end of each chapter to help you think out how to adapt the suggestions to use with your own child. There are also many words of encouragement throughout. It is ok if your child doesn't respond as expected, if they cry, if they resist your rewards, if they don't pay attention, if YOU make a mistake! It makes sense and is more understandable the reasons why you need to break down skills and provide many repetitions with the analogies given of adults learning a foreign language or of athletes learning new or improving their skills.

    As it's stated, the purpose of this book is not to make someone an expert but simply to have one recognize there are so many opportunities within the normal day that can easily be used to practice communication with your child. What a great book Jeaneen!!
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2024
    This book is a helpful guide for anyone looking to support language development in young children, whether they are typical learners, late talkers, or have special needs. Really well written and enjoyable to read. The author shares her background and story and helps connect the reader with the content.

    It offers clear strategies and tools, making the process less overwhelming. You'll learn how to create practical opportunities for children to practice communication skills and gain confidence in helping them grow as effective communicators. This a great book!!!
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024
    This is a great read! The intro really caught my attention having learned the horrific experience the author's family went through. After all, parents always want the best for their children and it is no wonder we make sure they have the best they can, however, sometimes our action can be detrimental to their personal growth and development and this is exactly where this book could help! The author did a great job giving practical examples and guidance in every possible scenario you can think of. Coming from a professional background, she also uses her personal experience that I am sure most of us can relate to. Overall, I learned a lot from this book, it is easy to read, highly relevant and relatable. If you care about your child's personal development and growth then this is the book you shouldn't miss! Highly recommended!

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Conor Killian
    5.0 out of 5 stars Learning Strategies
    Reviewed in Canada on May 30, 2024
    I was a foreign language teacher for more than 20 years. Many of the tactics covered in this book are familiar to me. Clapping out syllables. Matching target sentences to nursery songs. Under anticipating to encourage the engagement of the learner. Avoiding closed questions. Syllabic emphasis. Non-verbal communication. Misleading questions to provoke a correction. Correcting the learner in a thoughtful, targeted, judicious manner. And modelling, modelling, modelling. I can confirm that the author knows exactly what they are talking about, has a mastery of the subject, and can offer a lot of actionable information in this book. Good for all parents and teachers.
  • Benvenuti Francesca
    5.0 out of 5 stars Molto utile
    Reviewed in Italy on May 1, 2024
    Questo testo combina informazioni pratiche e personali in un modo che può essere molto utile per chi lavora con bambini che hanno difficoltà nel parlare o per i genitori che vogliono aiutare i propri figli a comunicare meglio. L'autore, grazie alla sua grande esperienza e sensibilità, offre consigli utili e spunti di riflessione importanti su come affrontare i problemi di linguaggio nei bambini.
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