Your child needs these really important skills to make friends, learn new information and enjoy the world around them
Getting ready for school involves your child being able to talk: using longer sentences and new words, talking about things they can do, listening to others and asking questions. Talk is being able to understand those around you, being able to say what you think. Your child needs these really important skills to make friends, learn new information and enjoy the world around them.
Some children find talking and listening harder than others. Some children struggle to follow simple instructions, say how they feel, find the right word or sound. If you are worried about your child please come into school and speak to Mrs Amy Langmead our Speech, language and communication Lead.
Amy is a qualified teacher and specialises in Early Years speech and language. Amy is always happy to offer support and can help you make talk easier through play.
Easy tips to help your child to understand better
Keeping your child’s attention
When you are talking to your child, sit down at their level and face them while talking. Try starting the conversation by saying their name. Talk about something you can both see, this helps learn new words “ Look at the dog rolling over”. Try turning off the TV or radio so your child can think and hear without distractions.
Make talk fun!
Use actions, songs, silly noises and funny faces. This will help you and your child enjoy each other’s company and develop routines about being together. Repeating made up silly songs and rhymes about what your child is doing helps them learn new words and names.
Talk about what your child is doing
Ask them what they are doing. This doesn’t always have to be a question. Use comments to help your child think about what they have just done. Use talk to celebrate why you think your child is so clever.
“Look at the ball rolling; you pushed it so hard it’s rolled under the bridge!”
Useful websites to develop language and communication
www.talkingpoint.org.uk
www.ican.org.uk/parents
www.literacytrust.org.uk
Let’s celebrate that our children are unique!
- Notice what your child is really confident at doing and what they enjoy taking part in.
- Think how you can further explore your child’s talents eg join a club, find out information on a website
- Tell your child that you appreciate how they try to get better at things and have noticed what they are really good at.
- Help your child to make decisions by themselves, not always following what their friends think they should do.
- Help your child to set targets, help them to get better at the things they most enjoy.
- Praise your child’s for what they are good at not about the things they find tricky.
Remember and reward your child by praising them eg a cuddle, a treat or a cheer when they have tried their hardest to achieve!
Giving praise and helping your child learn
If you praise and notice things that your child has done they will try again and want to praise you at other times. They will want to try new things and want to share them with you. Your child will believe that you will notice that they are trying hard to practice new things.
Here are a few things you can do to help your child learn and do the best they can at home and at school:
- Praise your child as soon as they have done something, it will mean much more if your praise your children straight away.
- Make sure that you give your child eye contact and smile at your child while you give them praise.
- Be enthusiastic and make your child feel that you really mean what you are saying to them.
- Use words like that’s wonderful, it’s great, I’m very proud of you. Look pleased and make your child feel that you are delighted.
- Notice little things that your child does, even if you have asked them to do thing eg make their bed, put their dishes in the sink. Try not to nag or tell them that they could have done it better. Tell your child that you are impressed that they have tried to do something. Thanks for making the bed,that was really helpful.
Useful websites
www.samaritans.org
www.childline.org.uk
www.youngminds.org.uk
www.family-action.org.uk
www.family-action.org.uk
www.epraise.co.uk
