Starting to communicate with others

An open chest with colours coming out and a symbol on the front.

Who is the advice for?

These play-based resources will be useful if your child: 

  • has some interactions with adults (but this may not be many), or longer back and forth interactions
  • uses their non-speaking communication (for example, leading you) to communicate
  • uses some words, sounds or pointing to communicate.

How will this advice support my child?

(Setting staff can use this wording to write targets)

These resources are designed to support your child to communicate for more reasons and in different ways during play and everyday activities. They aim to do this by supporting your child to: 

  • allow an adult to join in an activity and have a short back and forth interaction with them
  • build their early interaction skills to facilitate more opportunities for communication
  • be exposed to a range of different communication methods which they could use to communicate with if they choose
  • have opportunities to communicate in whichever way they choose during play and daily routines/activities  
  • understand key words around them within play and daily routines/activities.

Watch first! Top tips for developing social interaction webinar

Watch this 12 minute webinar to learn about JOIN! (join, observe, imitate, naturally model language) to support your child’s social interaction.

Suitable for parents/carers, setting staff and health professionals.

Watch next! Top tips for developing social communication webinar

Watch a free, short webinar. Learn about the strategies SAY, SHOW and WAIT. Learn to support a child by giving them opportunities to develop their communication. Learn how to help a child to develop the ways they communicate. 

Suitable for parents/carers, setting staff and health professionals.

Advice

Support and accept different play styles

Webinar : Understanding and supporting different play styles

Click 'Youtube' to enable full screen.

'Understanding and supporting different play styles': Watch this 6 minute webinar to learn to understand and support different play styles. And, how to support others to value your child’s play styles and preferences

Download 'Understanding and supporting the different play styles' advice sheet: learn to understand and support different play styles. And, how to support others to value your child’s play styles and preferences.

Model new ways to communicate and respond to your child’s way of communicating

Total communication approach handout

Speech and Language UK: 'Add words to what your child says'— Watch this 3 minute video to learn how to model new words.

Speech and Language UK: 'Making Comments instead of asking questions'— Watch this 3 minute video to learn how to turn your questions into comments.

BBC Tiny Happy People: 'How to respond to your child's way of communicating'— Watch this 2 minute video and browse this webpage to learn how to respond to your child’s communication.

North East London NHS Trust: 'Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)'— Browse this webpage and watch the short webinars to learn even more ways you can model different communication for your child.

 

 

Apply these strategies to routines too

A summary of strategies to make the most of routines for supporting communication.  

Speech and Language UK: 'Making the most of daily routines'

Use visuals to support your child’s understanding

Worcestershire Language and Speech Therapy: 'Using AAC to help children with routines video — Watch this 3 minute video explaining how to use objects, photos or pictures to support a child’s understanding of routines. 

Sense:  'Objects of reference'  — Browse this webpage to learn more about implementing Objects of Reference to support your child's understanding.

How can we help you?

  1. Work with us
  2. Our services
  3. Children's services
  4. Adult services
  5. Make a referral