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Child Development

General tips to develop speech, language and communication during child-led play

All children develop speech and language at slightly different rates, which are influenced by a range of factors, including general developmental level, position within the family and stimulation at home or nursery.

There are established patterns of typical development which allow for comparison of a child against the expectation for their chronological age. This illuminates specific areas of delay which may be targeted within therapy. There are a range of useful strategies which every parent can employ to develop their child's speech, as well as specific techniques which are taught by the Speech and Language Therapist.

Play face-to-face

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Repeat lots of words

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Encourage good social skills and turn taking

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Laugh and have fun

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    Martha Ryan
    Play face-to-face

    Get down to the child's level so that they can see your facial expressions and watch your lips as you speak.

      Theresa Simpson
      Watch, wait and listen

      Remember to watch in order to find out what your child is interested in, and wait so that they have a chance to tell you their thoughts, feelings and ideas. This can be a look, sound, action, word or sentence.

        Theresa Simpson
        Use comments not questions

        Comment on what your child is doing, which may be with a sound effect, keyword or sentence, depending on the level needed for the individual child. If the child is crashing cars together, the adult could say "crash". If the child is engaging in imaginative play, the adult could produce a running commentary, such as "the lady is riding a horse".

          Theresa Simpson
          Laugh and have fun

          Let your child know that they are fun to be with and you enjoy their company.

            Lawrence Kelly
            Copy

            Show your child that you are interested in their play by copying their actions with the toys.

              Theresa Simpson
              Repeat lots of words

              Name the toys and objects that your child is playing with (or the pictures in the book that they are looking at). Evidence shows that hearing lots of words supports a child's language and speech development, therefore repeat, repeat, repeat!

                Theresa Simpson
                Allow time

                Give you child time to play, engage and develop.