Developing Speech and Language

The environment is an important tool in developing your child’s speech and language. As a parent, you are also a teacher, as your child will inevitably learn most of their first words and sentence structures from you.

Every child's speech and language skills develop at a different rate, so don't be tempted to compare your child to others their age. Some children start speaking later than others. If your child is not speaking, this does not indicate they aren’t learning- they are! In fact, they are absorbing everything they hear around them in conversation and dialogue.

Encourage your child to develop their speech and language by:

Reading to your child each day. This is perhaps the most important way of developing your child's language!
Singing with your child or listening to number rhymes. This develops your child’s vocabulary, concentration and auditory discrimination. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your child learns the words and tunes for each song!
Carefully monitoring what your child hears and what you say- your child will repeat and absorb language they hear.
Talking to your child and always looking at them when you are speaking or giving instructions.
Explaining your reasoning for doing things, such as when you are getting them ready for a bath or bed.
Varying your tone of voice, using expression and body language to convey meaning.
Making sure your child understands your overall communication through gestures even though they may not fully understand the language.
Modelling active listening skills when engaged in conversation with your child. This enables your child to learn how to be a good listener.
Developing your child's listening through stories and conversations. Listening skills are key to your child learning language and developing speech.

Your child maybe learning more than one language, which can result in a language delay of up to six months. If you are concerned that your child has a learning difficulty or a language delay, contact your child's doctor who can advise. In some cases, if necessary, children are referred to a Speech and Language Therapist for a language assessment.

Other beneficial strategies for language acquisition include:

Providing your child with opportunities to socialise as this will encourage them to communicate with others and be express themselves.
Attending mother and toddler groups at local Children's Centres, playgroups or pre-schools. These offer an invaluable tool for developing social skills and offer your child access to a language rich environment.
Attending weekly rhyme time groups at local libraries.
Providing a rich stimulating environment for your child at home. Consider displaying a few educational posters in your child's room, to provide a focus for conversation.
Offering musical toys, such as interactive educational keyboards and games, to expose your child to new vocabulary.
Introducing the Jolly Phonics Songs which teach articulation of the letter sounds as well as new vocabulary.
Maintaining a balanced diet for your child, with the correct range of foods, to develop the mouth muscles, essential for speech and the ability to form words.
Helping your child lead a healthy lifestyle, so they are ready to learn, and respond to the language they hear.
Attending regular pediatric checkups, to ensure your child’s hearing is checked, and any potential difficulties are identified early on.