Information and advice to help my child / young person's understanding, talking and communication

Tiny Happy People

Tiny Happy People BBC website provides a wide range of information, ideas and activities for parents to use in daily routines to help develop their baby's communication skills. It includes information about what to expect and when as well as activities and games to play to help speech, language and communication.  It includes information, ideas and activities for parents of babies with SEND.

Cost: Free

Hungry Little Minds

Short videos demonstrating strategies and ideas for easy, fun games for you to do with your baby.  The information is broken down according to the child's age and the suggestions can be used flexibly, in any language, in a way that suits you and your child.

Cost: Free

Parent information, advice and resources - Worcestershire

The Worcestershire Speech and Language Therapy service website provides a comprehensive range of resources, advice and You Tube videos to help parents to support their child /young person at home. 

Visit the website to find:

• Information about speech, language and communication
• Free resources you can download and use at home
• Links to our You Tube channel where you will find demonstrations of activities you can do at home
• Further information about the local team, where we work and what services we provide 

Cost: Free

Be face to face at the baby's level

Being face to face with babies helps them to listen, concentrate and understand the message you are sharing. It also helps you to see where the baby's focus is and what they are trying to communicate. This simple video produced by Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust shows why this is important.

Cost: Free

Talk together in daily routines

This leaflet provides information about how you can use everyday activities and routines to talk about what your baby can see and what is happening. Babies learn from activities that happen over and over again.  This gives you a chance to use lots of repetition of words.  Linking these to daily routines will help to make links between the words you say and what they mean.

Cost: Free

Dummies fact sheet

Using a dummy long term can have an effect on your baby developing communication and speech sounds. Get Hackney Talking have provided tips on how to cut down on dummy use over time as well as lots of other useful information to help you know what you can do to support your baby's communication development.

Cost: Free

Baby Buddy App

Baby Buddy is a free app to support you from bump to baby including information about typical communication development.  It automatically sends you personalised, relevant and timely bite-sized updates in "Today's Information"; answers questions; helps with goal setting, signposts support; tracks progress and more.

Cost: Free

TCT Universally Speaking 0-5

Universally Speaking is a booklet with information about typical communication skills, including attention and listening and understanding; interactions and speech.  Use the booklet to find out whether your baby is on the right track, what helps them learn to talk and listen and what to do if you have concerns about any of their communication abilities.

Cost: Free

PEEP

Peep Communication and Language strand - evidence-based parenting programme for parents and babies together to attend together. There is a focus on bonding, attachment and the quality of the home learning environment as well as a focus on communication and language. You have the opportunity to gain 3 credits towards NOCN Learning Together at home.

Peep Early Literacy Strand - evidence-based parenting programme for parents and children to attend together. There is a focus on bonding, attachment and the quality of the home learning environment as well as a focus on literacy. You have the opportunity to gain 3 credits towards NOCN Learning Together at home.

Cost: Free

Use everyday routines

Use everyday routines as times to introduce communication and language learning opportunities to your baby. This leaflet from NHS Ayrshire and Arran gives you ideas for everyday routines that are perfect for learning and includes information about ways to do this.

Cost: Free

Labelling and Commenting

Using real word labels and commenting on what your baby is interested in helps them to learn new words.  Here NHS Tayside's Rhyming Robin and Chatty and Charlie share information about how to do this as well as many other top tips for learning words. 

Cost: Free

Copy, repeat, imitate

Copying your baby's sounds and actions shows them you're interested in what they are saying and doing, encourages them to do more and shows them how conversations and communication works. Here NHS Lothian share ideas of what you can do to help your baby's early communication skills.

Cost: Free

Greater Manchester 10 Tips for Talking

The Greater Manchester (GM) 10 Tips for Talking are ten key messages to support the development of language and communication skills for babies and young children and can be used by everyone. Each tip is designed to give families and anyone working with children some small suggestions that can make a big difference and help give children the best start. Each message is based on sound research and is delivered by children.

Cost: Free

NLT Tips for talking leaflets

The National Literacy Trust provides a wide range of parent-friendly downloadable leaflets outlining tips for talking, why talking to your baby matters and the benefits for their development. The ideas include information for talking in daily routines such as during nappy changing, information for dads and activities to support communication when out and about. 

Cost: Free

Using visual support

Parents play a key role in supporting their babies language and communication skills in everyday life. Children learn about the world through their experiences and interests particularly within their play. Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust provide information and opportunities for families learn more about developing speech and language - this video introduces how to use visual support to help communication.

Cost: Free

Slowing down

Slowing down when talking and singing helps babies to tune into the rhythm and the words adults around them are using. Slowing down also gives babies time to think about what they would like to say or do.  This is one of a series of videos from Speech and Language Therapists from South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust outlining strategies to support speech, language and communication development.

Cost: Free

Learning more than one language

Many children grow up learning more than one language. This information leaflet from NHS Forth Valley provides you with useful information and top tips about what you can do to help your baby on their way to being bilingual.

Cost: Free

Speech and Language Chatter Matters

This series of videos for parents and carers outlines how speech, language and communication skills develop; what families can do to support their baby; how these skills develop over time; children with speech and language needs and how to access information and support.

Cost: Free

NLT Bilingual quick tips

The National Literacy Trust has produced a series of bilingual quick tips for parents and practitioners to help children develop good talking and listening skills. There are lots of different languages.  Copies can be downloaded and shared with families.

- Say hello to your new baby
- Dummies and talking
- Talk to your baby and child in your own language
- Making the most of television
- Talking with your baby
- Sharing songs and rhymes
- Playing with your baby

Cost: Free

The Baby Club

BBC's The Baby Club, is a website featuring songs, rhymes, stories and activities that will give you ideas for playing, singing and sharing with your baby.

Cost: Free

Family Nurse Partnership

Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) is a home visiting programme for first-time young mums and families. It will help you to have a healthy pregnancy; improve your child's health and development and plan your futures.

Cost: Free