Early Communication

Before a child can begin to use spoken language they need to have developed a range of pre-language skills. A degree of these skills are necessary for the acquisition of spoken language.

Situational Understanding

•    When a child recognises and responds to certain phrases and words in familiar contexts (e.g. waves goodbye). If these words / phrases were used in a different situation, then the child wouldn’t understand them.

Turn-taking

•    When we as adults have a conversation with another person we each have a turn to talk and a turn to listen. Children need to take turns in games before they learn to do so when speaking.

Motor Imitation

•    Actions are usually imitated before sounds because we can help them to do or copy them.
•    Imitation of physical actions (e.g. clapping hands, waving goodbye, putting arms up).
•    Imitation in front of the mirror (e.g. open your mouth, touch your nose, poke out your tongue, blow kisses).
•    Imitation using toys (e.g. push a car, roll a ball, kiss the dolly / teddy, shake a rattle). 

Sound Imitation

•    Before a child says words they babble.  Often this babble may go up and down and begin to sound like your child is trying to have a conversation.
•    Imitation of sounds means that they have begun the first big step towards developing spoken language.
•    Encourage your child to make babbling sounds by paying attention to them when they do.
•    Imitate your child’s sound back to them and take turns.
•    Make non-speech sounds (e.g. lip smacking, raspberries, sighing, blowing) for your child to copy.  Encourage any attempts your child makes to imitate.
•    Make animal noises and imitate noises made by toys (e.g. car – brmm brmm).
•    Make a book of interesting noise making toys.

Listening to Sounds

•    It is important that children listen to sounds, as they must hear clear models before they can imitate them.
•    Include environmental sounds, speech sounds and words.

Looking and Attending

•    Children need to learn that they have to pay attention when someone speaks their name or talks to them.
•    This isn’t just what is expected to do socially, it also gives your child a chance to look at your mouth and see how you make sounds and words.