These strategies are aimed at supporting children to get clearer speech when they are talking a lot already.

Watch Wait and Listen

Watch
Watching means paying close attention to children so you can see exactly what they are interested in and playing with. Watching their facial expression and body language to see what they are trying to tell you.

Wait
Waiting is a powerful tool as it gives a child the opportunity and confidence to initiate. Waiting is hard for us adults – we often want to rush in when the child does not respond to us. Try waiting for 10 seconds before speaking or joining in with an activity – it may seem like forever but hold back.

Listen
Listening means paying close attention to a child so you can respond appropriately. This encourages children to continue to communicate.

Listening involves not interrupting a child and not assuming that you understand what they are trying to say. Making sure there is no background noise makes it easier to listen (e.g. turning the TV off).

Be Face to Face

Get down to the child’s level. It is easier for children to listen and talk if you get down to their level and face them.

Make your best guess: “Say what they would if they could”

If your child makes a sound, or says a word, or words you don’t understand or that are said incorrectly then:

• Make your best guess at what they might be saying and say it
• If you are right, repeat the word/sentence back to them
• If you can identify the word that was said incorrectly, repeat and stress that word, make it stand out
• Talk slightly slower with expression

E.g. if your child says “daddy’s tar” for “daddy’s car”, you should repeat back and say something like “Yes it’s daddy’s car, daddy’s untidy car, later we can go in daddy’s car”

• Don’t pressurise your child to repeat the word, you already know they can’t say it correctly yet and they will naturally have a go most of the time

What sounds should a child be able to use at different ages?