Communicating and Talking

Children start to learn about communication from the moment they are born and ‘conversations’ start long before children are able to use spoken language.

As a parent, you can help your child’s language to develop in the following ways:

• Show interest in whatever your child tries to tell you and respond to their ideas;
• Play alongside your child and at their level;
• Try to have some quieter times in the house when you cut down background noise. This can help your child to focus attention on talking and on words.
• Help your child understand when you are talking to them, by saying their name at the beginning of a sentence;
• Make your face expressive and interesting to look at when you talk. This will encourage your child to look at you. If eye contact is particularly difficult for your child, be happy to accept other signs that they are listening, such as a slight turn towards you;
• Use a ‘sing-song’ voice when you talk. Most adults find it natural to use more intonation when they talk to young children and this is for a reason - it makes it easier for children to pick out or discriminate spoken language that is directed at them and makes it more interesting for them to listen to.
• Enjoy some action songs together and try some listening games like:
  • clapping games, where you clap a particular pattern, followed by your child who imitates, trying to clap the same pattern
  • choosing the right picture or toy animal when you make an animal noise (for example, your child points to a picture of a cow when you say ‘moo’)
  • traditional games, such as musical bumps

• Comment on what your child is doing, even before he has any words to use;
• Allow silence when it seems to give your child time to organise their thoughts;
• Spend more time with your child than you might otherwise do, talking, sharing books together and singing nursery rhymes and other childhood songs;
• Provide clear choices - this might help your child learn new words;
• Try to respond to any attempt that your child makes to communicate e.g. looking back and smiling, repeating any sounds your child produces, giving clear feedback about whether they have communicated successfully. For example, you might say ‘Yes, that’s right, it is a spoon’.

Words for Life is a new website which gives you an idea about the communication milestones your baby and child might reach as they grow. They include ideas for fun activities you can do together to help your children develop their skills.