Spoken Language

What do we mean by Spoken Language?

Spoken language, also referred to as expressive language, refers to the words and sentences that a child is able to use. When children first start to talk, they will use single words and as their vocabulary develops they begin to join these words together into short phrases and then sentences; these sentences develop in complexity as a child’s language skills develop. Children can have spoken language difficulties in a range of areas, including thinking of the words they want to use (word finding), developing their word joining skills and understanding how to construct sentences, developing their narrative skills and developing the ability to use different grammatical structures. There are many ways that we can help a child who is struggling with their spoken language skills. This section includes a range of relevant resources and advice.

• Adding language and experience
• Helping your child use first words
• Using choice to encourage early spoken language
• Joining words
• General strategies to support spoken language

Advice for parents of pre-school children

• Adding language and experience
• Helping your child use first words
• Use of choice to encourage early expressive language
• Joining words

Activity sheets for working on different areas of spoken language – concepts, grammar, sequencing and narrative

• Concepts:
  • Activities for developing concepts of size
  • Activities for developing concepts of colour
  • Activities for developing concepts of space
• Grammar:
  • Activities for developing use of pronouns
  • Activities for developing use of plurals
  • Activities for developing use of negatives
  • Activities for developing use of past tense
  • Activities for developing use of joining words (conjunctions)
  • Activities to develop use of questions
• Sequencing and narrative – Activities to develop sequencing and narrative skills

Online resources to support with spoken language

• Twinkl – sign up for a free account and search in the SEND section for lots of useful resources and activities, for example:
  • https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/specialeducationalneeds-sen-speech-language-therapy-language/speech-language-therapy-question-words/speech-language-therapy-question-words-mixed-question-words (resources for working on question words)
  • https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/specialeducationalneeds-sen-speech-language-therapy/specialeducationalneeds-sen-speech-language-therapy-language/slt-concepts (lots of concepts covered such as same/different, basic concepts, negatives)
  • https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/specialeducationalneeds-sen-speech-language-therapy/specialeducationalneeds-sen-speech-language-therapy-language/specialeducationalneeds-sen-speech-language-therapy-narrative-and-sequencing (resources for working on sequencing skills)
• Black Sheep Press – https://www.blacksheeppress.co.uk/product-category/parents/comprehension-parents/ These resources are available to purchase and include worksheets supporting use of concepts, grammar and barrier games.
• Splingo - language based apps available to download from the app store or Google Play. Developed by Speech and Language Therapists, these interactive apps cover the following language areas – Actions, Categories, Describing Words, Early Words, Past Tenses and Pronouns. All apps are appropriate for 4+ and can be purchased individually for £2.99/£3.99. Three apps are available in a bundle for £7.99.
• Sing and Say, Oxford https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/singandsay/videos/default.aspx A range of videos with suggested activities to encourage communication from Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust