Key talking tips for any age

From the moment babies start to make eye contact, face-to-face time is essential to their development.

Even if they aren't yet talking, your child is starting to learn the back and forth patterns of conversations.

Responding whenever your child makes a sound or gesture helps them know you are listening and their attempts to communicate are important.

During playtime, noticing your child's interests opens plenty of talking opportunities.

As your baby or child starts to talk about or point at things they're interested in, it's a perfect opportunity to let them take the lead!

Expansion is when you repeat what children say back to them, adding phrases and details around the words they use.

As your child begins to say the odd word or phrase, it's very likely they'll be making a few mistakes along the way. But what's the best way to help them get their words right?

Decontextualising is the ability to communicate about things outside of the here and now - it's a key skill for children to develop.

Rhyme is key to helping build an understanding of different word sounds.