Make Chatter Matter with I Can

Speech, Language and Communication Development

The transformation from gurgling baby to talkative toddler seems like a miracle. And it’s true that a massive explosion in communication development takes place during the first three years of life.

Most children begin their speech and language development inside the womb. From around 24 weeks, an unborn baby can hear sounds and as they travel around with their mother, they get particularly used to her voice. When a baby is born, they can already recognise several familiar voices and will learn which person is linked with which voice - it helps if family members talk to the new baby right from the first day. 

You play a very special role in helping your child to learn to talk and your baby’s next stage is learning to pay attention to your voice above all other sounds. Talking to your child in simple short sentences will help make sure that by the age of one, they will already understand a handful of words.  Understanding words comes first. After this, children usually attempt to make their own version of adult words which tends to happen between 12 and 18 months. All the time, your baby will be learning to understand new words and at around the same time as your baby is walking well, they’ll start to construct mini-sentences of two words. For example, “sheep gone”. Once children have started to produce short sentences, their words become clearer. They are soon able to make sounds closer to adult speech sounds, though this skill doesn’t develop completely until about age 5.

Learning to talk relies on having somebody who not only listens but also responds. Children don’t learn to talk on their own and they need your help and interaction. Kate Freeman, Professional advisor for children’s communication charity I CAN says “Communication is the foundation life skill and the bedrock for all future learning opportunities.  Helping your child develop good communication skills as early as possible can be very simply integrated into your everyday routine but will have a profound effect on your child’s ability to learn, achieve and make friends.  Create simple communication games in the doctor’s surgery or on long car journeys, have a quick sing along whilst waiting for the bus or chat your way around the supermarket – there are hundreds of daily opportunities to get communicating!”  For further information on how to help your child’s communication development, visit www.talkingpoint.org.uk or order your free copy of Chatter Matters DVD from the I CAN website www.ican.org.uk  

I CAN’s Make Chatter Matter campaign highlights the importance of developing good communication skills in all children.  April is Make Chatter Matter month – log on to www.ican.org.uk for further information.

 
10 WAYS TO DEVELOP SPEECH AND LANGUAGE
(Simple tips to help children become little chatterboxes)

• GET YOUR CHILD’S FULL ATTENTION FIRSTGet down to the child’s level and engage their attention before speaking or asking a question – say their name to encourage them to stop and listen.  Talking about what your child is interested in will also help to gain their attention.
  
   
• MAKE LEARNING LANGAUGE FUN
  Funny voices, rhymes, noises and singing all help children to learn language. Be silly – often the daftest things gain their attention
  
   
• IMITATE CHILDREN’S LANGUAGE
  With very young children, simply repeat back sounds, words and sentences. This demonstrates that you value all they say.  This can be anything from “ba” to “Oh, you liked the apple?”
  
  
• USE A FULL RANGE OF EXPRESSION
  Speak in a lively, animated voice and use lots of gestures and facial expressions to back up your words – you’ll give clues about what your words mean
  
   
• USE SIMPLE, REPETITIVE LANGUAGE
  Keep sentences short – as you talk about what is happening (“We’re driving in the car” or “Wow, you’re building a tower”)
  
  
• MAKE IT EASY FOR YOUR CHILD TO LISTEN AND TALK
  It is easier for your child to know what to listen to if your voice is not being masked by the television or music.  Give your child quiet times to help them focus on your words.  If your child uses a dummy, make sure that it is not in the way of their talking.  Keep dummies to sleeptimes
  
  
• BUILD ON WHAT CHILDREN SAY
  Talk very clearly and add one or two words to your child’s sentence – if your child says ‘look car’, you could say ‘look, red car’
  
  
• GIVE CHILDREN TIME TO RESPOND
  Children often need time to put their thoughts together before answering, so give them longer to respond than you would with an adult
  
  
• BE CAREFUL WITH QUESTIONS
  Try not to ask too many questions, especially ones that sound like you’re constantly testing the child, or where you already know the answer
  
  
• DEMONSTRATE THE RIGHT WAY
  Praise your child’s efforts, even if the results aren’t perfect – simply say the correct pronunciation rather than point out the mistake eg. Your child says “Look at the dod”, You can say “Yes, it’s a dog”
  

CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE – WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHEN
Every child develops at a different pace, but here is a basic guide:

• Up to 3 months
  Your baby makes vocal sounds e.g. cooing, gurgling. They can also make attempts to copy your face if you stick your tongue out or open your mouth to them.
  
  
• 3-6 months
  Makes vocal noises to get attention and makes sounds back.  Your baby will laugh during play and will babble to his or herself.
  
  
• 6-12 months
  Starting to understand regularly used words such as “byebye” and “milk”. Babbles with sounds such as ‘ba-ba, no-no, go-go’.  Will use gestures such as waving/pointing to communicate. The first single words such as ‘mummum’ will be heard around the age of 12 months
  
  
• 12-15 months
  Starting to understand more and by 15 months, can say around 10 single words, although these may not be clear15-18 monthsStill babbling but uses at least 20 single words.  Copies gestures and words from adults and uses intonation, pitch and volume changing when ‘talking’.  Understanding short sentences, as well as words, such as “give it to me”.
  
  
• 18 months – 2 years
  Uses up to 50 words and begins to put two to three together.  Frequently asks questions e.g. the names of people and objects.
  
  
• 2-3 years
  Uses around 300 words with descriptive language e.g. Words describing time, position and function.  Linking four or five words together. Understanding longer sentences including descriptions of size.
  
  
• 3-4 years
  Uses sentences of four to six words and uses past and future tense.  Able to remember and enjoys telling long stories or singing songs.  Understanding colour and position words.
  
  
• 4-5 years
  Uses well formed sentences but there may still be some grammatical errors. Easily understood by adults and peers and will frequently ask the meaning of unfamiliar words.
  
  Words: I CAN, the children’s communication charitywww.ican.org.uk  
  
  www.talkingpoint.org.uk