Starting Life Well service has developed top tips for talking to help you develop your child's speech, language and communication skills take a look at our top tips below:
Get face to face with your child
- You feel like you are playing together
- You can see what your child is interested in
- They can see you are enjoying your play
- You can both hear each other better
Follow your child's lead
- It can reduce frustration and your child will play with you for longer
- It gives them confidence to try things
- Your child is more likely to learn if he/she is interested
- It shows you are interested
Comments not questions
- Unlike questions, commenting doesn't put your child under pressure to talk
- You give your child language as they are experiencing it
- It shows you are interested
Keep language simple
- You make it easier for your child to understand
- They can hear the sounds in words clearly
- You're not bombarding them with too many words
Repeat, repeat, repeat
- Practice makes perfect
- The more a child hears a word, the more likely they are to understand it, then use it
It's good to wait
- You give your child time to talk and to express their interests and feelings
- Your child has your undivided attention
- You don't take over and control the conversation
- You take into consideration the feelings, needs and curiosity of your child