Things you can do to Help your Child’s Speech, Language and Communication Development

Even before they are born, your baby is developing connection between their brain cells and getting ready to learn about speech and language.

1. Sing to your Baby Bump
   Your baby can hear sounds before they are born. Talking and singing to your baby can help them develop their speech and language skills when they arrive. Try singing a song to soothe your baby. Continuing singing when baby arrives can help them to move round less and pay more attention to you.
   
   
2. Get your Family and Friends to Talk to your Bump
   When your baby hears their favourite people talking, their brain starts to develop speech processing skills that are important to help them become tiny talkers. Try getting family and friends to talk and sing to your bump, which will help them to learn the rhythm and pitch of your language.

 

At this early stage your baby is learning to recognise faces and objects, and may take turns making noises with you. Concentrate on listening to sounds and looking at objects with your baby. 

1. Talk About the Things your Baby Focuses on
   You might notice your baby focusing their attention on an object. This is a great opportunity to tell your baby what they are looking at. Focus together on the object and repeat the object's name a few times. 
   
   
2. Coo Together! 
   Listen out for your baby making sounds and make their sounds back to them. This helps to teach them the rhythm of conversation. They may not be babbling yet but they are likely to be making some sounds. 
   
   
3. Peek-a-boo
   Find a blanket and hold it between your face and baby. In an exciting tone say 'where has baby gone'?, using their name. Reveal your face after a few seconds saying 'peek-a-boo!' or 'there she is!'. Repeating this activity will get your baby excited to see you and start anticipating their feelings with words and sounds. 
   
   
4. Tickle Time
   Singing repetitive songs is a great way to help your baby learn the rhythm of language. Try singing songs like 'the wheels on the bus', with actions for your words, or 'walkies round the garden', with tickles at the end of the song. Your baby will become familiar with the rhyme and start to giggle as they wait for the inevitable tickle! 

Babies at this age are becoming more active within their world and are starting to learn about people and objects.

1. Babble Time
   You might notice your baby making lots of little repeated sounds, called babbling. This is an early attempt to form words the way they have seen adults do. Show interest in their sounds and repeat them back to your baby. 
   
   
2. Getting out and About
   With a whole world of things to get their attention, getting out and about is a great way to introduce your baby to new sights and sounds. Follow your baby's lead, naming and talking to them about all the things they focus on. 
   
   
3. Picture Play
   Start to introduce pictures into your baby's playtime to help them make connections between words and objects. Try using a picture book to point out an object (like a star), then point them out again whenever you see them, such as on their clothes, toys or in other picture books. 
   
   
4. Bath Time Fun
   Have a splash around in the water at bath time, using toys or plastic cups. Repeat words such as 'water' and try pointing to and naming different body parts. 

Children at this age can often understand some familiar words and may be beginning to say several. They are learning that talking is useful and fun, and beginning to expand their vocabulary. 

1. Twinkle Twinkle Little...
   When playing with your child sing and do the actions to their favourite nursery rhymes. When you are singing, leave a pause to see if your child can fill in the missing words, such as 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little...'. Their words might not yet be clear, but over time this will help them to learn new words and have fun singing. 
   
   
2. Acting Masterclass
   Playing simple games with your child's favourite toys can help them practice their language skills. It gives them a chance to repeat things you have said to them about everyday routines and activities. For example, practice putting a teddy to bed, saying words like 'night night, teddy'. Use lots of words for actions like 'teddy's sleepy', and pulling covers over, saying 'let's tuck teddy in bed'. 
   
   
3. Wash, Wash, Wash! 
   Start to introduce pictures into your baby's playtime to help them make connections between words and objects. Try using a picture book to point out an object (like a star), then point them out again whenever you see them, such as on their clothes, toys or in other picture books. 

At this stage your child might be starting to ask questions, form short sentences and understand simple instructions. 

1. Action Playing
   Try collecting some of your child's toys together, and ask your child to make their toys do specific things, like jumping, walking or flying. For example 'can you make teddy jump?'. See if your child can do the same action as their toy, and tell them what they are doing, 'like you are jumping just like teddy!'. Try adding new actions over time.
   
   
2. The Great Outdoors 
   The outdoors has lots of opportunities to help your child learn language skills. Next time you are in the garden, at the park or walking to the shop, talk about the things that your child focuses on. Try setting mini challenges, like finding different things such as stones, leaves or grass. Try describing the things they find, like 'wow that's a big leaf', or 'that grass is very bumpy!'. 
   
   
3. Learning Languages 
   If you speak more than one language, or have family members that speak other languages, chatting in your family's other language is a great way for children to learn and to build relationships with family members. Your child's brain can pick up the difference between languages and hearing multiple languages is not confusing to them. 
   
   
4. Taking Turns
   Taking turns whilst playing and talking can help your child to learn communication skills. When playing together with a toy, try saying 'my turn' and playing for a minute, then saying 'your turn' and passing the toy back. Get other children, friends and family members involved and practice taking turns playing and talking. 

At this age, your child might be using more descriptive language, asking lots more questions and using longer sentences. They may talk about things that happened in the past and the present. 

1. Role Play
   Try joining in your child's imaginary play. This can be anything from tea parties with teddy, or playing fire fighters. Show your child new ideas, such as how a fire fighter sprays water or how teddy stirs tea. Use verbs or action words to describe what you and your child are doing, like 'the fire fighter sprays water everywhere and soaks everything!', or 'teddy sips her tea because it is very hot!'. 
   
   
2. Memory Games
   Describe a recent activity from everyday life, like yesterday's walk in the park, or the trip to the supermarket. Take turns to remember things like 'what did we buy from the shop?', or 'we saw a big red bus near the park yesterday, what else did we see at the park?'. Use lots of praise and help your child to expand sentences, 'and what colour was it?', or 'was it big or small?'. 
   
   
3. What am I?
   Try collecting objects from around the house and ask your child to close their eyes while you hide one behind your back. Describe the object to them until they guess what it is, for example, 'I am yellow, I am curved, I need to be peeled, I am a tasty snack' (a banana). Give as many clues as needed until your child guesses the object. Take turns and ask your child to put an object behind their back and describe it to you. 
   
   
4. Weather Master
   Ask your child to check what the weather is like and decide what they will wear outside. You can help by asking lots of questions like 'is it wet enough to wear wellies?', or 'what did you wear last time it was sunny'?. This will help them expand their communication and understanding of how language can help them to plan. 

At this age, your child may be able to take turns in conversations, use more complicated language and longer sentences. They may use more question words like 'why', 'how', or 'when', and may ask you about the meaning of words they don't yet know. 

1. Shopping Helper 
   Unpacking shopping bags is a great opportunity to chat with your child. Ask your child to name and describe each item you unpack and ask them where it is stored. Get them to help you put away the items and ask them questions along the way, like 'when do we eat cereal'?', or 'what do we normally do with cheese?'. 
   
   
2. Similar or Opposite 
   Find a few items around the house and let your child pick an item. Ask them to describe it, or use a word like 'fluffy, shiny, small, heavy' to describe the item. Ask your child to find something similar around the house, like 'can you find something else that is fluffy?'. Next see if your child can find something opposite. For example, 'this is heavy, can you find something that is not heavy?'. 
   
   
3. Word Sounds 
   Building your child's understanding of word sounds is key to their development. Try asking them to think of rhyming words. For example, if you have just read a book about a tree, ask 'can you think of a word that rhymes with tree?'. You can also play games like I-spy to get your child thinking about words beginning with a certain sound. 
   
   
4. Make up a Story
   Making up stories is a great way to start a conversation with your child. Try using props like toys to bring your stories to life. Ask questions to encourage your child to explain their story, and help them along the way with suggestions about what happens next. 
   
   
5. Treasure Hunt
   Hide objects, healthy snacks or toys around your house or garden and start a treasure hunt. Practice giving your child some instructions on where things are or how to start. Use lots of gratitude like 'try looking behind the chair', or 'have you tried looking next to the grass?'. 

For up to date information about activities and clubs happening in Doncaster you can visit the Families Information Service and Doncaster Mumbler

For up to date information about activities and groups, and for the latest timetables, visit Family Hubs

For information on groups and activities at local libraries, visit Doncaster Libraries

 

Playful and fun weekly sessions for 0-5's, using music, dance and drama activities. For up to date information on groups and activities, visit Tuneful Chatter  

How can I support my child's language and communication at farms and zoos? 

• Watch and observe the animals your child is interested in
• Say the names of animals and talk about the sounds they make
• Use simple describing words to talk about the animals, e.g. long neck, tall, tiny, etc. 

How can I support my child's language and communication outdoors?

• Listen for different sounds together - e.g., cars, animals, birds, people
• Simple I-spy games/scavenger hunts - take turns to find different items, e.g., a flower, tree, a bench
• Playgrounds are great places for you to use action and position words, e.g., go, stop, up, down

Tel: 01302 734315

How can I support my child's language and communication using books?

• Choose books with fun, bright pictures, lift-the-flap books and pop-up books
• You don't have to read the words if your child is more interested in the pictures 
• Talk about the pictures together, using simple words and short phrases
• Make interesting sounds, e.g., animal noises/transport noises

How can I support my child's language and communication in museums? 

• Introduce new words to your child, as you look at new and exciting things together
• Look for family-friendly areas in the museum, which may include games, costumes and role-play, all of which are great for talking about the new things you are exploring together
• Support your child to tell someone else what they saw and did at the museum

Get on your child’s level - Spend time being face to face with your child at their level. Try kneeling or laying on the floor during play to encourage eye contact.

Use facial expressions - Using facial expressions alongside words like ‘wow’, ‘sad’, or ‘happy’ can help make connections between words and real life experiences.

Make eye contact - Making eye contact is an early communication skill. Try getting on your child’s level and making eye contact while talking to them. You can also encourage eye contact by playing ‘peek-a-boo’!

Smile - Smiling is a great way to build your child’s non-verbal communication skills. Smile regularly when making eye contact and return your child’s smiles with enthusiasm!

Model good speech - Children pick-up speech from the people around them. Pronounce your words clearly and use full sentences to help them learn, even if they don’t yet understand everything you say.

Try not to speak too quickly - Give children time to learn the words you say by speaking slowly and clearly.

Avoid baby talk - Try not to use made-up words, like “are wu my widdle baby”, as tempting as it might be! Instead, use real words slowly and in a clear, high pitch.

Engage from birth - Start talking, making eye contact and using facial expressions as soon as your child is born. Children are learning about speech and communication from day one!

Show you are interested - Make time to respond to your child with enthusiasm. Showing interest helps them to learn about the back and forth of communication.

Actively look and listen - Actively listen and respond to your child. Make eye contact when they are making noises or speaking to you. This helps to build their understanding of communication and grows their confidence.

Limit distractions - Technology can be a great tool, but too much can distract children from learning speech, language and communication skills. Try setting ‘screen time’ limits, and promote language learning through fun activities.

Put your phone down - Adults can get distracted by technology too! Your child needs lots of time with you and without distraction to build their communication skills.

Value babble - Babble sounds are a stepping stone to language. Try translating your child’s sounds to show them that you are paying attention. For example, if your child looks at a car through the window and babbles, try saying ‘”oh look, there’s a car” while pointing yourself.

Introduce new words - Introduce new words by adding new words on to familiar things your child says. For example, if your  child says “a car”, you could say “yes that’s right, it is a car. It is a BIG, BLUE, car!”

Talk at your child’s language level - Read age-appropriate books with your child, and in everyday speech, try replying to your child using sentences that are a few words longer. For example, if they say, “sock off”, respond with “yes, we’re taking your sock off”

Repeat words - Repetition is key to making language stick. Try repeating songs you like singing together, or ask older children to repeat sentences back to you to check their understanding.

Limit questions - Sometimes children can be overloaded with questions. Too many questions can inhibit language and communication. Try to comment rather than asking lots of questions and avoid closed ‘yes/no’ questions.

Give children time to think and respond -Give children extra time to process what you have said and to think of an answer. Listen well and wait
patiently.

Try not to interrupt - Children need extra time to process the things they have heard and to form their own words. Try not to interrupt their speech or thinking where possible.

Enjoy talking together - You can make talking together fun and enjoyable. Try playing games using words, and make learning new words enjoyable. Take a look at our activities for inspiration.

Visual Aids - The use of visual aids are highly recommended in communicating with EAL children. Images and objects are useful in engaging the child without the use of language. For children with little or no English, practitioners can create an 'objects of reference' bag. The bag can contain objects or images that are used in the setting daily to represent specific activities or routines such as a nappy, a paint brush or a cup. The practitioner can use the resources to show the child before carrying out the action. This will allow the child to gain an understanding of the routine and begin to associate first with an image or object, before then acquiring the correct word to match the action. 

Positively Encourage Home Language - It is important to remember that a child's home language is integral to a child's cultural and individual identity, and should be encouraged to be used and developed in the setting and at home. According to research from the Department of Education, home language skills can easily be transferred to new languages and therefore will help support a child's understanding of language. Work closely with the child's parents/carers to ensure that the home language is valued, as this will be key to ensuring a partnership that successfully supports a child with EAL.

Learning Through Play - A child will express themselves best through doing something that they enjoy. Use play opportunities to interact with an EAL child. Facial expressions and eye contact are a key factor in communication, helping the child to feel appreciated and important. Practitioners should allow the child to lead the play, offering key words such as 'car' or 'cat' where appropriate. Using noises or objects, such as 'choo choo', will help the child to understand and interact vocally without the pressure of using their language. 

Lots of Praise - Children respond well to lots of positive praise and stickers are a great tool to encourage children. Using visual gestures such as clapping and positive facial expressions will help empower a child who is attempting to use a new language. It will encourage them to continue trying and give them confidence. Self esteem and confidence are a key factor in learning a new language and the more praise a child gains for having a go, the more the child will be willing to try.

Hear ME and hear MY voice. 

Sharing every day activities, talking and playing is crucial for my brain development and will launch my language and all later learning. 

Time for you and me to talk together is special.

My turn, your turn interactions help my brain and language to grow. 

Talk to me in our home language to keep our family culture alive.  

I love to hear new words, songs and favourite stories again and again to help me learn and feel confident. 

Adding words to my language will help it grow.

Encourage all my attempts at communication. 

Read my cues to give you clues. 

Watch out for my facial expressions and actions, as I want to show you how I am feeling. 

I might point to show you the things I need you to name for me. This will help build my brain and help my language grow. 

As soon as I am born, I will love hearing a sing song voice. 

Speaking a little slower with a variety of facial expressions will help me understand words and feelings.

Face time away from a screen gives us time for you and me.