Dummies
Books and toys
You can borrow toys and books from libraries and toy
libraries eg through your local library, children’s centre
and / or Bookstart.
Further information and contacts
For further information or to discuss any concerns you may
have about your child’s talking please contact your Health
Visitor or GP or local Speech and Language Therapist:
Useful websites
www.rcslt.org
www.talkingpoint.org.uk
www.literacytrust.org.uk
www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/cslt
Produced by The Leeds Speech and Language Therapy Service
© Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, October 2012 ref: 0631
ch i l d
How
to e
nco
ur
Using dummies can reduce the risk of cot death in babies
up to 12 months, BUT after 1 year using dummies can lead
to problems with their talking, teeth and even with their
eating and drinking skills.
l
a
k
t
your child to
e
com
ag
mu
nic
ate
This booklet contains some general advice about
how to help your child with their first words by:
r
e
h
talking tog
ther
oge
toget
g
n
i
y
pla
g
il stenin t
Any time is a good time to play,
listen and talk together. You can
do this whilst going about your
daily routines such as Have fun playing together with your child.
Now is a
good time to
turn off the
.
TV and radio
Try to
spend
some
time e
very d
ay
(even i
f this i
s on
10 min
utes) w ly
hen
you ca
n stop
what
you’re
doing
and
play to
gether
.
r
the
e
Playing together
getting ready for work or school
£ getting washed or dressed
£
1
If you use more than one
language, then talk to your
child in the language/s you
feel most comfortable using.
English will develop later.
r
e
eth
sit tog
Your child’s first words will usually be the
names of people and things that they
see every day and are interested in.
Set up pretend play
situations like a shop,
cafe or teddy bear’s
picnic. You can use
everyday household
items such as pans,
pots, plates and have a
pretend picnic together.
what
t
u
o
b
Talk a
ild are
h
c
r
u
o
dy
you an hile playing
w
e
doing
“you’r
r
e
h
t
toge
”
g a car
pushin
tower”
a
g
n
i
uild
“I’m b
Join in but don’t tell
your child what to do.
Remember, it’s their
game, so follow their lead
eg stacking bricks, playing
with bubbles in the bath.
2
Listening together
You and your child will be able to listen to each other better
if there is no background noise eg tv, radio, music.
eryday
v
e
o
t
Listen
about
k
l
a
t
d
an
- for
m
sounds
e
h
t
s
ake
,
what m
singing
s
d
r
i
b
le
rhead,
examp
e
v
o
s
ane
s
aeropl
eg dog
s
e
s
i
o
ln
anima
g etc.
barkin
Make pre
tend
sounds w
hen playin
g
like “bru
m brum,
here com
es the ca
r,”
“toot too
t, the tra
in is
going int
o a tunne
l,”
“quack, q
uack the
duck is sw
imming.”
mu
lk
3
Ta
n
s
r
u
t
e
k
Play lis
tening
games
like “R
eady S
t
ead
games
- on “g y Go”
o” you
child c
an bui
r
l
d
a
t
push a
o
car, blo wer ,
w or
pop bu
bbles e
tc.
ta
to
m
e
s
a
g
l
a
sic
n
to liste
s
n
r
u
t
Take
en
lk. List
a
t
d
n
a
nd
child a
r
u
o
y
to
him or
e
g
a
r
u
enco
o you.
t
n
e
t
s
i
l
her to
Play mus
ical gam
es
eg musica
l statues,
pass
the parce
l. Use sha
kers
or musica
l instrum
ents
to encou
rage you
r child
to copy m
usical pat
terns.
Listen carefully
to your child.
Early words may
not sound clear.
If he says “gog”
you answer “yes
it’s a dog.”
Your child will also need some quiet time to help
them take in what is going on around them.
4
Talking together
How to help words develop
foll
ow
Talk about the everyday
things that you’re doing
or are happening such as
“I’m brushing my hair”
“look there’s a bus”
“let’s make dinner”
short
n
i
k
a
e
Sp
nd use
a
s
e
c
n
sente
use
ords w
e
l
p
sim
ression
p
x
e
f
lots o
.
r voice
u
o
y
n
i
5
Follow
your
child’s
lead wat
to see
what h ch
e
she is l
ooking or
at or
reachin
g for a
nd
talk ab
out th
at.
c
e
i
o
h
c
ur
to yo
n
w
o
u
Get d
l so yo
e
v
e
l
s
t
child’
king a
o
o
l
oth
are b king about
al
and t
ings.
h
t
e
m
the sa
Try t
child o offer
yo
a
up th choice e ur
g
e
say “ two item hold
do y
ou w s and
appl
ant a
e or
n
a ba
nana
”
Name wh
at you’re
both look
ing at the
n say
somethin
g about it
like
“it’s a do
g”
”it’s a big
dog”
”it’s a bro
wn dog”
”it’s wag
ging its t
ail”
When you watch
children’s TV
programmes or
DVDs, watch them
together. Join in with
the songs and play
the games together.
Turn the TV off when
the programme ends
and talk about it
afterwards.
Remember the TV does
not replace you talking
with your child.
6
Looking at Books Songs and Rhymes
Talk about the pictures your
child is looking at for example
“that’s a lovely flower”
Try pop up books, feely books,
flap books such as
‘Where’s Spot?’
‘That’s not my teddy’
‘The very hungry caterpillar’
‘Dear zoo’
Read the same story
Let your child
choose a book
that he/she wants
to look at/read.
7
over and over again,
repeating the same
simple phrases to
help your child
understand and use
words and sentences.
“This is the way
we wash our feet”
“This is the way
we clean our
teeth”
Children enjoy rhymes,
songs and actions even if
they can’t say the words.
g together
everyday activities such
as shopping or going
to the park.
pl
Choose books about
g, listening and
n
i
y
a
tal
kin
Make your own
songs by putting
your own words to
familiar tunes
talk about the pictures.
fun!
Look at books together and
Songs and rhymes help children learn to
listen. They use simple repetitive words and
can help children link words and actions.
a re
Sharing books together helps
with listening and learning
new words
Incey Wince
y spider
Incey Win
cey spider
climbing u
Down cam
p the spou
e the rain
t
a
n
d washed
Out came
t
h
e spider o
the sunsh
ut
in
e
a
n
d
d
And Incey
ried up all
Wincey sp
the rain
ider climb
ed up the
spout ag
ain!
8
Songs and Rhymes
bobbin
e
h
t
ind
Wind the bobbin up,
Wind the bobbin up,
Pull, Pull, Clap, Clap, Clap,
Point to the ceiling
Point to the floor
Point to the window
Point to the door
Clap your hands together 1, 2, 3
And put your hands upon your knee.
9
o
onald had a fa
rm,
ee-eye, ee-eye
oh
And on that fa
rm he had a sh
eep,
ee-eye, ee-eye
oh
With a baa, b
aa here and a
baa,
baa there
Here a baa, th
ere a baa
Everywhere a
baa, baa
Old MacDona
ld had a farm
,
ee-eye, ee-eye
oh
repeat for dog
, duck and oth
er
farm animals
(Repeat, getting faster
each time)
up
W
Head, shoulders, knees
and toes, knees and toes
And eyes and ears and
mouth and nose
Head, shoulders, knees
and toes, knees and toes
es
y and y
If you’re happ
ds
Clap your han
ice)
(Clap hands tw
it,
and you know
y
p
p
a
h
e
’r
u
o
If y
ds
Clap your han
ice)
(Clap hands tw
w it,
y and you kno
p
p
a
h
e
’r
u
o
y
If
t to show it
n
a
w
y
ll
a
re
u
o
And y
w it,
y and you kno
p
p
a
h
e
’r
u
o
y
If
ds.
Clap your han
Heads, s
hou
l
d
n
a
y
p
p
a
h
e
’r
u
o
y
If
you know it ou know it,
Try some rhymes with your child
Head, shoulders, knees
ders, knees and
and toes, knees and toes
t
Old MacDonald’s
farm
Old MacD
Five little ducks
5 little ducks went swimming one day
over the hill and far away
mother duck said quack quack quack quack
and only 4 little ducks came back…
repeat for 4, 3, 2 then…
One little duck went swimming one day
over the hill and far away
mother duck said quack quack quack quack
and all her 5 little ducks came back
10