Parents and carers are the most important people in their children’s lives. You are the best person to help your child develop.
The information here will explain strategies you can use to support your child to develop their communication skills.
Please note: if you require support for feeding problems please click here.
There are some short videos and links to a wide range of organisations and online resources with advice and guidance on how to support your child's development of their language skills.
They will give you ideas of things you can do during your everyday routines and while you play with your child.
Note: If you are a professional working in childcare or nursery, these strategies are also relevant to supporting a child’s communication development in your setting. You can also visit our Professionals section for more information on our service criteria and referrals.
All children develop at their own pace, yet there are some key skills that we expect them to develop at certain ages. Knowing what those key skills are can help you identify speech and language problems early.
You can use the resources below to help you:
Speech and Language UK's Ages and Stages Guide
Stoke Speaks Out - What to Expect When
Child Progress Checker - Speech and Language UK
In addition to the links above there are a wide range of online resources to help you. We've brought together here some useful short videos that give you tips and advice.
Locala Speech and Language Series - Episode 6 - 18 months to 2 years
If after using these resources and strategies you feel that more support from our service is needed for your child, we suggest you take a look at this simple guide to see if your child needs a referral - click here to download.
Depending on what this shows for your child, here's what you need to do:
Children who score a green rating need no further action so there are no actions to take beyond your usual support for your child.
Children who score an amber rating may require some more help and support with their speech and language development. You can use the information and links listed above on this page to give you additional ideas and advice on how to support your child. If your concerns continue after 3 months please visit one of our Drop-in Sessions.
Children who score a red rating will require support with their speech and language development. We would advise you to attend one of our drop-in sessions. If for any reason you are unable to attend a drop-in session you can telephone on 0300 304 5555 and one of our Therapy Team colleagues will give you a ring back.
If your child is autistic or is under-going/awaiting an autism diagnosis the websites below provide support, resources, and advice.
