Struggling to Keep Up? How Busy Dubai Parents Can Turn After-School Traffic, Mall Trips, and Bedtime into Powerful Speech Coaching Moments

January 30, 2026

Understanding the Topic

When speech therapists talk about “using daily routines,” we simply mean this: turning the things you already do every day into chances for your child to listen, understand, and express themselves more.

Instead of adding more to your to-do list, we help you slightly *adjust how you talk, wait, and respond* during ordinary activities such as:

School drop-off and pick-up
Car rides on Sheikh Zayed Road or Al Khail Road
Supermarket and mall trips
Bath time and bedtime
Mealtimes and family gatherings

A common misconception is that speech therapy progress only happens “inside the clinic” or only with a professional present. In reality, research and clinical experience show that children make the strongest gains when parents use simple strategies consistently in daily life, not just once a week in therapy.

Another misconception is that you need to “teach” like a classroom teacher. For most children, especially younger ones, language grows best through:

Playful interaction
Back-and-forth turn-taking
Repetition of key words and phrases
Warm, responsive conversations

This can look as simple as:

Talking about what you see out the car window
Giving your child choices (“juice or water?”)
Waiting a few extra seconds so they can respond
Copying their attempts and then modelling a clearer or longer version

What is developmentally typical?

Before 1 year: Responding to their name, babbling, showing interest in voices
Around 12–18 months: Using a few words meaningfully, pointing to request or show
Around 2 years: Combining 2 words (“more water”, “mama come”), following simple instructions
Around 3 years: Using short sentences, strangers understand them some of the time
Around 4–5 years: Telling simple stories, being understood most of the time

Every child is unique, and there is a wide range of normal. But if you notice ongoing difficulty understanding your child, limited words or sentences for their age, or frustration around communication, it is worth seeking a professional opinion earlier rather than later. Early support is kinder and easier than “waiting and seeing” for too long.

Why This Matters in Dubai’s Multicultural Context

Dubai families have a special mix of challenges and strengths related to communication.

On the challenging side:

Dual-working parents often face long commutes on Sheikh Zayed Road or busy journeys between emirates.
Children may have long school days and after-school activities, leaving little “free time.”
Many families have late dinners or bedtimes due to work schedules and traffic.
Weekends often include trips to Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, City Centre malls, or outdoor events, which can be overstimulating and tiring.

Parents often tell us: “By the time we get home, we’re all exhausted. There’s no energy left for ‘extra’ practice.”

This is exactly why we focus on speech strategies in real life. We help you weave therapist-recommended techniques into what is already happening:

Turning a 30-minute car ride into a language-rich “chat time”
Using escalator rides, food courts, or shop windows at the mall as vocabulary and conversation prompts
Turning bedtime into a calm storytelling and vocabulary routine instead of another battle

On the strength side, Dubai’s multicultural environment offers huge benefits:

Children are exposed to multiple languages (for example, English at school, Arabic at home, plus Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, Malayalam, French, or others with extended family).
They hear different accents and communication styles, which can support flexible thinking and social skills.

Many parents worry that multilingual exposure is *causing* their child’s delay. Evidence shows that bilingualism or multilingualism does not cause speech or language disorders. A child with a true underlying difficulty will show it in *all* languages; a child with typical development can learn two or more languages given enough exposure and interaction.

At SLT by Earncey, we respect your linguistic and cultural choices. We never ask you to drop your home language. Instead, we help you use your strongest, most comfortable language to build rich interaction with your child, and we partner with schools to ensure realistic expectations in English or other school languages.

5 Key Signs to Watch For

Sign 1 – Fewer words than expected for age: If by around 18–24 months your child uses very few real words (or stops using words they had) and is not steadily adding new words, it is worth checking in with a speech therapist.
Sign 2 – Understanding seems limited compared with peers: Occasional “not listening” is normal, but consistent difficulty following simple instructions like “give me the ball” or “put shoes in the box” by age 2–3 can be a concern, especially across languages.
Sign 3 – Strangers struggle to understand your child: At 3 years, it is normal for some speech sounds to be unclear, but if most people outside the family rarely understand your child or frequently ask you to “translate,” it may signal an articulation or phonological difficulty.
Sign 4 – High frustration or withdrawal around talking: Watch for tantrums when they cannot make themselves understood, giving up quickly on talking, using only pointing or dragging adults, or avoiding speaking in groups, which can indicate emotional impact from communication challenges.
Sign 5 – Worry that doesn’t fade over time: If your gut feeling has been telling you for months that “something isn’t quite right,” or teachers have raised concerns, it is recommended to seek a professional speech and language assessment rather than continuing to wait and hope the child “catches up.”

Real-Life Success Story: A Dubai Family’s Journey

The Challenge A bilingual Indian family living in Dubai Silicon Oasis contacted SLT by Earncey about their 4-year-old son, Aarav (name changed). At home, they spoke Malayalam and English; at school, he was taught mainly in English. Both parents worked full-time, commuting daily on Sheikh Zayed Road. Most evenings were spent between the car, the supermarket, and quick dinners before a late bedtime.

Aarav used some words but mostly pointed, pulled his parents’ hands, or copied Peppa Pig lines from YouTube. His teacher reported that he rarely spoke in class and often watched other children instead of joining in. His parents felt guilty that they couldn’t do “homework-style” speech activities because by the time they reached home, it was already after 8 pm.

Our Approach At SLT by Earncey, we began with a detailed assessment and parent interview to understand Aarav’s strengths, challenges, languages, and daily schedule. Based on this, we designed an individualized plan focusing on:

Weekly one-to-one therapy sessions with play-based, evidence-based language goals
Practical parent coaching in daily routines: how to respond during car rides, bath time, and bedtime rather than adding extra tasks
Respect for both English and Malayalam, encouraging parents to use whichever language felt most natural during emotional or bonding moments
Coordination with his school to share simple strategies, such as visual supports and extra wait time for responses

Instead of giving long home “worksheets,” we set tiny, doable goals like:

In the car: Play “I spy something red/round/big” using buildings, cars, or road signs
At the mall: Label and expand (“Yes, shoe – big shoe, black shoe, Daddy’s shoe”), and give Aarav a chance to choose between two options verbally
At bedtime: A 5-minute picture book routine where parents followed a “comment, wait, respond” pattern rather than asking constant test-like questions

Parents received regular video and written updates after sessions, so they could see exactly how strategies were used and copy them in their own way at home.

The Results Within three months, Aarav began using 2–3 word phrases during car rides (“big truck”, “mama see moon”), then started spontaneously commenting at the mall and at home. After six months of consistent therapy plus realistic daily-routine practice, he:

Used full short sentences in both Malayalam and English
Joined simple play with classmates at school
Was understood much more easily by extended family over video calls

Most importantly, his parents felt relieved and empowered. Instead of feeling guilty about not doing “extra” speech tasks, they felt confident that the time they *did* have – in the car, at dinner, at bedtime – was truly helping their child’s progress.

How Speech Therapy Works at SLT by Earncey

1:1 Parent Contact: Video and written updates after every session
Weekly Home Practice: Personalized, practical activities
Open Communication: Direct therapist–parent collaboration
Consistency Across Settings: School and clinic alignment
Cultural Sensitivity: Respect for Dubai’s diverse families

At SLT by Earncey, therapy is led by a Speech and Language Pathologist with a Master’s in SLP, a Bachelor’s in BASLP, 9+ years’ experience at Dubai Community Health Centre, and personal family experience with fluency and neurodevelopmental conditions. This blend of professional and lived experience helps us understand both the clinical and emotional sides of your journey.

Practical Tips for Dubai Parents

Tip 1: Use car rides as “talk time” – turn off background screens sometimes and comment on what you see, then pause to let your child respond in any way (sounds, words, pointing).
Tip 2: During mall trips, offer simple choices with words (“lift or escalator?”, “juice or water?”) to encourage your child to use their voice instead of just pointing.
Tip 3: Make a 5-minute “special talk time” at bedtime – read one short book or tell a simple story about their day using pictures or toys, focusing on back-and-forth interaction, not perfection.
Tip 4: Reduce pressure by praising effort, not correctness – instead of correcting every word, repeat what they said in a slightly clearer or longer way and celebrate that they tried.
Tip 5: If you still feel worried after trying these ideas for a few weeks, or teachers have concerns, contact a speech-language therapist for an assessment rather than waiting, especially if your child is 3+ years and has noticeable difficulties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is bilingualism causing my child’s speech delay? A: For Dubai families, this is one of the most common and understandable worries. Current evidence is clear: bilingualism or multilingualism does not cause speech or language disorders. Children worldwide successfully learn two or more languages when they have enough exposure and responsive interaction. If there is an underlying speech or language difficulty, it will appear in *all* languages, not just one. At SLT by Earncey, we assess your child’s skills across the languages they hear and guide you on how to support both your home language and school language in a balanced way.

Q: When should I seek professional help? A: You should consider an assessment if you notice any of the following:

Very limited words or no clear words by around 18–24 months
Difficulty understanding simple instructions by 2–3 years
Strangers rarely understanding your child’s speech by age 3–4
Stuttering that persists or causes distress
Loss of skills they previously had
Ongoing parent or teacher concern, even if others say “just wait”

Early intervention gives your child the best chance to build strong communication skills for school, friendships, and confidence. It is not about labelling; it is about understanding how to help.

Q: How long does speech therapy usually take? A: This varies widely and depends on your child’s age, type and severity of difficulty, consistency of attendance, and how often strategies are used at home and school. Some children make significant progress within a few months; others may benefit from longer-term support over a year or more, with goals adjusted as they grow. At SLT by Earncey, we will always discuss your child’s progress openly, review goals regularly, and make sure therapy remains purposeful and practical for your family schedule. The aim is not just “more sessions” but meaningful, real-life communication outcomes.

Conclusion

You do not need extra hours in your day to support your child’s speech and language. You need small, consistent changes in how you use the time you already have – in traffic, at the mall, around the dinner table, and snuggled up at bedtime.

As a parent in Dubai, you are already doing a lot. If you are worried about your child’s communication, you deserve clear guidance, not blame or pressure. With expert support and realistic strategies that fit your family’s lifestyle, you can turn ordinary Dubai routines into powerful speech coaching moments and help your child feel more confident, understood, and connected.

Don’t wait or worry alone. If you’re concerned about speech or language development, help is available.

👉 Book a consultation with SLT by Earncey today 📞 Call us at +971 56 596 3010 📧 Email: earnceyjohnson740@gmail.com 🌐 Visit: https://sltbyearncey.com/contact-us/

About the Author

Earncey Johnson Speech and Language Pathologist Master’s in SLP, Bachelor’s in BASLP, 9+ years at Dubai Community Health Centre, personal family experience with fluency and neurodevelopmental conditions Dubai Community Health Centre