How to make changes and give specific help at home with my child / young person's understanding, talking and communication
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The resources here will help you reach the outcome: "I know what changes I can make at home to help my toddler with their particular difficulties with understanding, talking or communicating."
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BBC Something Special
Something Special uses songs, rhymes and visual humour with Makaton sign language to help you and your toddler learn how to communicate as well as develop their language in a fun and exciting way.
Cost: Free
Afasic About Talking
Afasic supports parents and carers with young children who have difficulties with listening, talking and understanding others. Here you will find information about: talking, listening and understanding; the terms used to describe these skills; how to recognise if your toddler may have difficulties in these areas; some of the terms used to describe types of difficulties; what might cause these difficulties and the impact that this may have on their development
Signalong Training
Signalong provides training and resources to assist those with communication difficulties and English as an additional language.
Signalong is a key word sign-supported communication system based on British sign language and is used in spoken word order. It uses speech, sign, body language, facial expression and voice tone to reference the link between sign and word.
Cost: Free & £
The Hanen Centre Parent Programmes
The Hanen Centre's programmes for parents are delivered by Hanen Certified speech and language therapists. They are delivered through activities and group discussions - small groups of parents learn how to use everyday opportunities to improve their child's speech, language and communication skills. Hanen provides families with the tools they need to help their child reach their full communication potential. Hanen has developed parent programmes for Language Delays and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
AAC information
The “Focus On…” series of eight leaflets cover topics related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). They are available in print copy and as downloadable PDF files.
CBeebies supporting speech and language difficulties
Discover what you can do to help your toddler learn to communicate with these strategies to help children make themselves understood and express their feelings.
Cost: Free
Using visual support
Parents play a key role in supporting their toddler's 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 to learn more about developing their toddler's speech and language - this video introduces how to use visual support to help communication.
Cost: Free
EarlyBird Programme
EarlyBird is a support programmes for parents and carers, offering advice and guidance on strategies and approaches to working with young autistic children under five years. The programme works on understanding autism, building confidence to encourage interaction and communication, and understanding and supporting behaviour.
Developing Joint Attention
Birmingham Community Healthcare Speech and Language Therapists have produced this video to show you how to help develop your child's joint attention - this means being able to focus on the same thing as you at the same time. How to help your child develop joint attention through play is broken down to help you easily understand what to do step by step.
Cost: Free
Now and Next Boards
Birmingham Community Healthcare Speech and Language Therapists have produced this video to show you how to use a 'now and next' or 'first and then' board to help your child understand what is going to happen next and to encourage them to do what you want them to do. It explains how using pictures can help if children are having difficulties with language.
Cost: Free
Using Objects and Sensory Cueing
Birmingham Community Healthcare Speech and Language Therapists have produced this video to show you how to use objects and sensory cueing to link words, objects and routines. This helps children prepare for and anticipate what is going to happen next; supports language development; supports them to become engaged in a variety of daily routines.
Cost: Free
Communication Boards
Birmingham Community Healthcare Speech and Language Therapists have produced this video to show you how to use communication boards through play and everyday activities to supporting understanding and as a way to allow your child to communicate with you.
Cost: Free
Creating Opportunities to Communicate
Birmingham Community Healthcare Speech and Language Therapists have produced this video to show you how to make small changes throughout the day to increase your child's opportunities to communicate and have a reason to communicate.
Cost: Free
Symbols
Widgit provides symbols that you can use to support communication such as creating communication books to share information; visual timetables to support understanding of structure and routine; task boards to support independent learning; pictures to develop vocabulary and to support children learning English as an additional language. Here you will find more information about how to use symbols at home to help communication and independence. It also include resources and ideas to get you started.
