Speaking, reading and writing
\nReading with your child is the best way to help them develop a love of learning and support their speech and language skills. Bedtime stories are a lovely way to sit and calmly read with your child and have their full attention.<\/p>\n
Think outside the box too. Show your child road signs and food packaging which helps them to see words in everyday places. You could also place letters around a room which your child has to find and spell the word \u2018cat\u2019 or \u2018dog.<\/p>\n
Ideally, by the time your child starts school they\u2019ll be able to:<\/p>\n
\tshow an interest in listening to stories
\n \tlook at picture books and make stories from them
\n \tshow an interest in recognising their own name
\n \ttalk about themselves and their needs.<\/p>\n
Pre-writing skills
\nGet creative with supporting your child\u2019s pre-writing skills. Use a paintbrush with water outside or chalks, follow lines underneath tracing paper and play dot-to-dot games.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re all are fun ways to practice holding a pencil. Ideally your child will show an interest in holding a pencil and creating marks.
\nCore skills
\nA child\u2019s strength to hold their pencil comes from their core. You can help your child develop their core muscles by providing them with plenty of outdoor play including:<\/p>\n
\trunning
\n \thopping
\n \tskipping
\n \tjumping
\n \tthrowing and catching a ball.<\/p>\n
Listening and understanding
\nSometimes at school your child will need to listen and sit still. You can help by encouraging activities at home that allow them to practise doing this.<\/p>\n
By finding time to talk with your child and listen to them, they\u2019ll learn that there\u2019ll be an opportunity for them to speak. By emphasising the importance of listening, and showing your child they can take turns to talk and learn, they\u2019ll gradually develop skills that will take them through school and beyond.<\/p>\n
Ideally your child will be able to:<\/p>\n
\tsit still and listen for a short while
\n \tfollow simple 2 step instructions
\n \tunderstand why we need to follow instructions.<\/p>\n
Counting skills
\nCounting can be fun and there are many fun counting games that you can do with your child. You can also teach them to count on a daily basis, for example counting toys, items of food such as carrot sticks. Ask your child to count out plates and lay the table.<\/p>\n
Ideally by\u00a0the time your child starts school they will be able to:<\/p>\n
\tcount objects
\n \trecite number rhymes, for example, \u201c1,2,3,4,5 once I caught a fish alive\u201d
\n \trecognise numbers when they\u2019re written down.<\/p>\n
Useful resources
\nView our\u00a0speech and language therapy communication skills resources\u00a0for activity ideas and guidance<\/p>\n
Advice for parents of bilingual children<\/p>\n
Strategies, information and checking your child\u2019s communication progress<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"