Speech, Language and Communication
Children are like sponges; they listen and learn from you!
Learning to talk and communicate more effectively with you means your toddler can express themselves and build friendships. Each child learns to speak at different stages, so try not to compare your toddler.
However, there are ways you can adapt your daily routine to help your toddler develop this vital skill..
Who can help your toddler learn how to talk?
- You: Talk, sing, read together! Be clear, give them time to respond, and embrace playtime conversations.
- Family Hubs: Join playgroups, get a WellComm screening, and access resources
- Health Visitors: Get expert support and developmental reviews.
- Sandwell Keeps Talking: Find speech tips and activities.
If you are curious to see if your child may need support, use the, Speech and Language UK, Child's progress checker. While this is not a formal assessment, it can be a great tool in helping you decide to seek help from your Health Visitor, Family Hub, or GP. This is NOT a formal assessment.
Make time for talking
Even in a busy family, there are lots of little moments to connect with your child. Nappy changes, bath time, meals, playtime, and bedtime are all great opportunities for quality time. The NHS, Better Health, Start for Life webpage has lot's of information on small changes you can make to have a big impact on your toddler's development.
Click here for more information
Here is a great video by BBC Tiny Happy People on some activities you can do with your toddler at home:
Sandwell Talking Tips
The talking tips, have been developed right here in Sandwell!
Use these tips to boost your child's speech. All tips are suitable for children from birth to 5 years old. These tips are simple and easy to use, for more information on the talking tips visit, Sandwell Keeps Talking.
The early warning signs for when your child’s vocabulary is not as developed as it should be
- Your child is not saying a handful of words by the age of two.
- Your child is not joining words together by the age of two and a half.
- Your child cannot be understood by people outside of the family by the age of four.
- Your child is concerned about the way they sound or is showing signs of frustration when they aren’t being understood.
FREE sessions to help with your toddlers speech and language development
Learning through play is a natural way for your little one to learn. It's fun, engaging, and it helps them develop in many different ways. Our Family Hubs, Libraries and other community venues, offer the below sessions for FREE to support your toddlers speech and language development.