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Why Reading to a Non-Verbal Child Matters—for Them and for You - Steph Katsovi
Steph Katzovi, middle-grade author and former Deloitte speechwriter, shares how:
• Storytelling builds empathy and self-awareness in children.• Parents can create meaningful connections even when their child doesn’t talk back.
• Humor disarms stress, fosters bonding, and adds lightness to difficult routines.
• Reading aloud—even without expecting a response—can become a lasting gift.
• Her own children’s personalities helped shape her characters and stories.
Claudie explains:
• How a parent’s voice—especially during reading—releases serotonin in the child’s brain, helping them feel calm, focused, and safe.
• The role of dopamine when parents laugh and smile, and why joy is neurologically contagious.
• That these brain benefits apply whether a child is an infant or a non-verbal teen—what matters most is emotional tone and connection.
Episode Highlights
10:30 – “When you see people really listening to a story you wrote—especially one that’s personal—you realize it’s not about being funny or impressive. It’s about connecting.” – Steph
13:00 – Claudie and Kim explain how non-verbal children benefit from hearing expressive voices at home, even if they don’t respond.
22:30 – Kim: “Bedtime stories aren’t just beautiful—they help the brain. They literally release serotonin.”
24:05 – Claudie explains that hearing a parent’s voice calms the brain and aids learning, regardless of the child’s age or verbal ability.
27:15 – Steph: “Even if they didn’t understand what I was saying, I hoped they heard the love in my voice.”
29:15 – Claudie: “Even fake laughter releases dopamine. When you pretend to be funny, you’re literally rewiring your child’s brain for joy.”
30:30 – Kim and Steph discuss how reading funny books helps parents tune into their child’s sense of humor and reduce morning stress.
32:20 – Steph: “I woke my kids up with rhyming songs… same melody, different words each day. Humor helped defuse the pressure.”
37:15 – Steph: “There’s always a place for humor. Used well, it can be more powerful than a serious message.”
44:37 – Steph reflects on Gandhi’s quote: “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” and how joy and compassion ripple outward through small acts.
View all episodes
By MendabilitySteph Katzovi, middle-grade author and former Deloitte speechwriter, shares how:
• Storytelling builds empathy and self-awareness in children.• Parents can create meaningful connections even when their child doesn’t talk back.
• Humor disarms stress, fosters bonding, and adds lightness to difficult routines.
• Reading aloud—even without expecting a response—can become a lasting gift.
• Her own children’s personalities helped shape her characters and stories.
Claudie explains:
• How a parent’s voice—especially during reading—releases serotonin in the child’s brain, helping them feel calm, focused, and safe.
• The role of dopamine when parents laugh and smile, and why joy is neurologically contagious.
• That these brain benefits apply whether a child is an infant or a non-verbal teen—what matters most is emotional tone and connection.
Episode Highlights
10:30 – “When you see people really listening to a story you wrote—especially one that’s personal—you realize it’s not about being funny or impressive. It’s about connecting.” – Steph
13:00 – Claudie and Kim explain how non-verbal children benefit from hearing expressive voices at home, even if they don’t respond.
22:30 – Kim: “Bedtime stories aren’t just beautiful—they help the brain. They literally release serotonin.”
24:05 – Claudie explains that hearing a parent’s voice calms the brain and aids learning, regardless of the child’s age or verbal ability.
27:15 – Steph: “Even if they didn’t understand what I was saying, I hoped they heard the love in my voice.”
29:15 – Claudie: “Even fake laughter releases dopamine. When you pretend to be funny, you’re literally rewiring your child’s brain for joy.”
30:30 – Kim and Steph discuss how reading funny books helps parents tune into their child’s sense of humor and reduce morning stress.
32:20 – Steph: “I woke my kids up with rhyming songs… same melody, different words each day. Humor helped defuse the pressure.”
37:15 – Steph: “There’s always a place for humor. Used well, it can be more powerful than a serious message.”
44:37 – Steph reflects on Gandhi’s quote: “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” and how joy and compassion ripple outward through small acts.