Welcome
The information below will explain strategies you can use to support your child to develop their communication skills. There is information on Help with Understanding, Help with Talking, Help with Social Interaction and Help with Speech Sounds. You will find short videos which will give you ideas of things you can do during your everyday routines and while you play with your child. It will be helpful to watch the videos and then choose one or two strategies to try at a time with your child.
If you need support with voice difficulties or stammering, there are separate information sections at the bottom of this page.
If you are unsure what to expect and when in terms of your child’s speech and language development, you can use the Ages and Stages Guide to Speech and Language Development to find out more.
If you are a professional working in childcare or school, these strategies are also relevant to supporting a child’s communication development in your setting. You can also scroll to the bottom of the page to find a dedicated ‘professionals’ section with further advice and support.
Help with understanding
To support your child to develop their understanding of language, we have put together a series of videos which talk about a range of useful strategies you can use during your everyday activities and while you play with your child.
It will be helpful to watch the videos and then choose one or two strategies to try at a time with your child.
You can look through these using the scroller across the bottom of the first video.
Help with talking
To support your child to develop their talking, we have put together a series of videos which talk about a range of useful strategies you can use during your everyday activities and while you play with your child.
If you have concerns about your child talking, it can be useful to think about their understanding of language and social interaction first. If you have any worries about your child’s understanding or interaction it will be helpful to focus on these first.
It will be helpful to watch the videos and then choose one or two strategies to try at a time with your child.
You can look through these using the scroller across the bottom of the first video.
Help with social interaction
To support your child to develop their social interaction, we have put together a series of videos which talk about a range of useful strategies you can use during your everyday activities and while you play with your child.
It will be helpful to watch the videos and then choose one or two strategies to try at a time with your child.
You can look through these using the scroller across the bottom of the first video.
Please also visit the ‘Quick links’ section for more useful website links and leaflets on this topic.
Family support for autistic children
If your child is autistic or is under-going/awaiting an autism diagnosis the websites below provide support, resources, and advice.
- AWARE (aware-uk.org) – a parent-run group supporting families with children and young adults on the autistic spectrum (formal diagnosis is not required). The group covers the Airedale, Wharfedale, Bradford and Craven areas and beyond.
- National Autistic Society (autism.org.uk) – offers a range of resources and advice, working to transform lives and change attitudes to help create a society that works for autistic people.
- Ambitious about Autism – a national charity for autistic children and young people, providing information and practical support and delivering specialist education and employment programmes.
Help with speech sounds
To support your child to develop speech sounds, we have put together a series of videos which talk about a range of useful strategies you can use during your everyday activities and while you play with your child.
It will be helpful to watch the videos and then choose one or two strategies to try at a time with your child.
You can look through these using the scroller across the bottom of the first video.
Supporting phonological awareness
Visit BBC Tiny Happy People to find out what ‘phonological awareness’ is. Learning and practising these skills will support your child’s speech sound development as well as supporting reading and writing.
For some ideas of specific activities you can use to support your child’s sound awareness and phonological awareness, visit the ‘Quick links’ section.
General advice
Please find below a further video which offers general advice and guidance that will help you have positive and supportive interactions with your child as they play.
In the ‘Quick links’ section for this topic, you will find a link to a leaflet which details how you can use apps on your phone or tablet to support your child with their speech and language needs, including links to a variety of apps you may like to try.
Voice disorders in children
If you notice the quality of your child’s voice sounds different to the voices of others who are the same age and sex, visit this page to find out more. This may include their voice sounding more harsh or hoarse, too high or low, or too quiet, loud or more nasal than you’d expect.
Find out moreStammering
Please visit our webpage on Stammering for all ages if your child has a stammer that you would like more support with.
Find out moreProfessionals
If you are a professional and work with children who require extra support, please visit the Professionals Speech and Language Therapy page for 4-5 year-olds. Here you will find a range of resources including training and support videos.
Find out more