Live ChatCommunication from the start
Top tips for children 6-12 months: Attention and listening
It is important for children to listen to language every day and be able to share their attention, for example look at the same object, action, or sound you are talking about. This helps them to develop their understanding and communication.
❗️ Just remember, they may only play with you or a toy for a few minutes before being distracted.
Play
Play is important as it helps your child to develop their social skills, understanding and communication. Find out more for all ages further down the page.
Children learn by copying and repeating what they see and hear in fun ways. They also like to repeat the same game or read the same book again and again, because it is fun, and it helps them to learn.
Understanding Language
Your child will understand some simple daily routines and start to understand the language that goes with them.
It is important to show your child what you are talking about, by pointing and showing them the item/action because they are still learning.
Talking/Spoken Language
Your child will communicate with you in lots of ways; they may:
👆 point
😭 cry
😆 laugh
👶babble
🤲 give you items
🔤attempt to say single words.
It does not matter HOW they communicate. You have to be the DETECTIVE and work out what they are saying.
Speech
Your child may experiment with lots of different sounds and will keep using the sounds they can hear in the language/s spoken in their environment.
Language development through play
Some top tips:
Get involved with what your child is doing/interested in.
Pretend play allows the child to make sense of events, language and understand how people feel.
How to encourage your child to talk.
Turn off background noise: the TV, computer, washing machine etc. so that the child can listen and concentrate on your voice and language without either of you being distracted.
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: songs, games, rhymes, stories, play situations – by repeating the same thing over and over the child learns the sequence and vocabulary.
You are your child’s best toy! Play games together, talk whilst doing household tasks together; find more learn and play ideas here.
Have fun! Children learn best when they are relaxed, safe and have good models of language within their play.
Useful websites: