Communication

Pregnancy:

• start communicating with your baby in pregnancy through talking, singing and touch

From birth:

• babies communicate from day one
• take time to watch your child, wait and listen; mirror what they are doing: from copying their play choices to copying their gestures, sounds and/or words
• find time every day to talk with your baby/child. For example, whilst shopping and in the car
• give time for your child to respond in their own way - with a look, a gesture, or with sounds and words
• playing with your child is important for speech and language development; sing and listen to nursery rhymes and songs together, this also helps to develop your child's language
• rather than asking too many questions, comment on your child's play or actions and add a new word or idea. For example, "Mmh a banana. A yellow banana", rather than "what's that you're eating?"
• try adding a word to your child's attempts at talking e.g. they say' car' and you say 'yes a blue car'
• enjoy sharing stories and reading together
• use the Five to Thrive approach (Respond, Cuddle, Relax, Play, Talk) to have meaningful everyday moments with your child. This will build attachment and support language development as you are connecting with your child.

If English is not your first language

Use the language you are most fluent in to talk to your baby - this is important to help your babies brain development to support speech, language and communication. Children learn English faster if they are building on firm foundations in their first language.