Communication Development

Strategies to support your child's communication development within their everyday routines and play.
Browse this section if you're looking to broaden your child's vocabulary, improve their speech sounds or develop their social communication.

On the Blog...

If your Baby isn't Talking yet

If your Baby isn't Talking yet

You can help your little one to learn how to talk to you by making noises and having fun.You read that correctly.Way before talking develops (from birth, actually) your little...
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When to Sign 'Finished' to your Baby

When to Sign 'Finished' to your Baby

Imagine knowing what you want but being unable to tell anyone? It would be so frustrating. That’s what it feels like for our little ones before they can communicate with...
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Teach Manners through Modelling, not Parroting

Teach Manners through Modelling, not Parroting

When you prompt your little one to “say please” or “say sorry”, they’re learning that they have to copy what you say to get what they want, but it’s unlikely...
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Benefits of Singing Routines and Nursery Rhymes

Benefits of Singing Routines and Nursery Rhymes

Develops language and phonological awareness. Develops turn taking and social communication skills Enhances physical development and rhythm Improves memory, concentration, spacial awareness and thinking skills Fosters a close relationship between...
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How to use Routines to Teach new Language

How to use Routines to Teach new Language

Routine are magic for language learning. We play this game every day where I take her dummy (dody) and she grabs if back again. This has lead to her initiating...
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How to Tempt your Baby to Communicate with Songs and Actions

How to Tempt your Baby to Communicate with Songs and Actions

I’m singing a familiar song and have chosen an action that I know Etta can do. I’ve modelled the action that keeps me singing - tapping the tray. Then I’m...
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Clap out the Syllables in Longer Words

Clap out the Syllables in Longer Words

ALL CHILDREN drop syllables from longer words at some point in their development. Its called 'weak syllable deletion' - and it just means that they drop the weaker, less pronounced...
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The Alphabet Song isn’t Important

The Alphabet Song isn’t Important

The Alphabet Song isn’t important. You heard that right. A-B-C-D somewhat pointless. What’s way more important is the sounds that letters make. We speak and write in sounds not letters....
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Six Common Mistakes when Teaching a Child their First Words

Six Common Mistakes when Teaching a Child their First Words

📌 Share with a parent who's teaching their child to talk 😍 Asking a lot of questions Try: Comment on things they are doing and objects that catch their attention....
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Functional First Words

Functional First Words

Share with a parent who is trying to teach their little one to talk. When Speech Therapists describe words as functional, they mean "useful words to get your point across...
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Close Enough to Kiss and to Talk to

Close Enough to Kiss and to Talk to

  I've seen so many babies being worn super low lately. Learning to wear your baby can be a learning curve - there are so many types of wrap and...
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Tempt them to Communitcate

Tempt them to Communitcate

These are just a few of the ways that you can tempt your little one to interact with you, basically by doing something a little bit silly. Kids are so...
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How to Teach your Baby to Talk: Turn Taking

How to Teach your Baby to Talk: Turn Taking

It's not just about feeding them and keeping them alive! Your baby's brain is a sponge and they're ready to start learning how to communicate with you!!It all begins with...
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The Power of Modelling

The Power of Modelling

Modelling is when you show your child the exact thing you would like them to say or do, and it’s a word Speech and Language Therapists say all the time....
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Why you should teach 'more'

Why you should teach 'more'

When your little one can sign or say "more", the world is their oyster. They'll be able to request more of anything: think food, toys, stories or cuddles, and you'll...
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How to Support your Child's Language Development

How to Support your Child's Language Development

Hint: However you'd like to be supported to learn a new language!Have a think for a moment. If you were in Japan, France, or anywhere were you didn't know the...
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Books Alive: Alfie Outdoors

Books Alive: Alfie Outdoors

We got this book out from the library and it quickly became a favourite. We used it as the basis for a whole load of learning about where vegetables come...
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Pointing out letters

Pointing out letters

You know that posh educational resources and toys with the alphabet on them don't teach your child, right?!I don't care if you have the most beautiful, carved wood letter puzzle...
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If they're feeling too shy to answer questions

If they're feeling too shy to answer questions

Even the most confident kids can suddenly become mute if they’re asked a question. This is a totally normal reaction.We have to step in as their parent so that there’s...
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Supporting Behaviour: What to say

Supporting Behaviour: What to say

This one's a powerful one. We know from research that praising a child when they're doing the right thing is the BEST way to support their behaviour. Every time you...
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