How to give extra 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 extra changes I can make at home that make understanding and communicating easier for my young child."
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Reduce screen time
Screens can often distract both children and adults from every day interactions and communication. Try to reduce your and your child's screen time to increase opportunities for playing, talking and interacting together. This simple video from Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust outlines key messages using screens.
BBC Something Special
Something Special uses songs, rhymes and visual humour with Makaton sign language to help you and your child learn how to communicate as well as develop their language in a fun and exciting way.
Cost: Free
Switch off and talk
The average 3-4 year old spends 27.5 hours each week watching TV, using the internet or playing electronic games. Reducing this will be support your child’s communication skills. This webpage and leaflet provides you with information about why this is important.
Makaton sign and symbol resources
These free Makaton resources are available for you to access and use to support communication with your young child. These symbols and signs help you to provide extra information and clues about what you are saying as well as support the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening and understanding.
Cost: Free
Using visual support
Parents play a key role in supporting their child'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 learn more about developing their child's speech and language - this video introduces how to use visual support to help communication.
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
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 a 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 can be used 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 more information about how to use symbols at home to help communication and independence. It also include resources and ideas to get you started.
