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Best Start in Life - Learning conversations and telling stories: 3 to 5 years

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Best Start in Life - Learning conversations and telling stories: 3 to 5 years

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There's some lovely videos and top tips to help support the communication and language development of young children here - giving them the 'Best Start in Life'!

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Learning conversations: 3 to 5 years - Best Start in Life - NHS

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Help your child learn new words and build conversations by chatting about your day and talking together—they’re growing their language skills with every sentence!

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Sharing stories and using the NCC Library Service

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Sharing stories and using the NCC Library Service

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Sharing stories, songs and rhymes are great ways to support learning new words.

Did you know joining Northumberland Library is free and it is free to borrow books? You can borrow up to 20 items from Northumberland Libraries and up to five ebooks or audio books.

What a great free resource!

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Register

Becoming a Member

Any person may become a member of Northumberland Libraries. It is free and you can use our full range of services. It is also free to borrow books. There are charges for some other library services, but concessions are available for certain users.

Joining Online

You can join the library online by clicking on the button below after you have read and accepted the following conditions. You will then receive an email welcoming you to the Service and inviting you to collect your library card from the branch you select when joining online.

Conditions of Membership

1. Any person may become a member of Northumberland Libraries.

2. In the case of young people under 16 years of age they must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult when joining the library. Children under 16 also need parental or guardian permission to use the Library PCs. Young people aged 16-17 years of age will need to show proof of age before accessing the Public PCs.

3. Members may borrow up to twenty items from any Northumberland Library. In addition they may also borrow 6 eBooks, 6 eAudio titles and unlimited eMagazines.

4. Children under 15 will need parental or guardian permission if they wish to borrow adult books and audio books.

5. Members are responsible for the care and safekeeping of items loaned to them. Damage already done to items should be reported at the time of borrowing, otherwise the borrower may be held responsible.

6. The reasonable cost of damage done to items while in the possession of members will be charged according to the assessment of Library staff. If, in the opinion of Library staff the item has been rendered unfit for further use, the member will be required to pay full replacement cost.

7. The reasonable cost of damage done to items while in the possession of members will be charged according to the assessment of Library staff. If, in the opinion of Library staff the item has been rendered unfit for further use, the member will be required to pay full replacement cost. The full cost of replacement will be charged for any item not returned in addition to the overdue charge. Overdue notices or text messages are a courtesy reminder for members convenience and they are responsible for returning items on time.

8. Membership cards are not transferable and members will be held responsible for all items taken out with them.

9. Members changing their address must notify the library immediately.

10. Failure to comply with any of these rules will result in the cancellation of membership at the discretion of the Service Manager - Culture, Heritage and Libraries.

11. A scale of current charges is displayed in each library and is reviewed on a regular basis.

12. Use of the Library Service is also subject to the byelaws made under Section 19 of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 by Northumberland County Council.

DATA PROTECTION PRIVACY STATEMENT 2018

Northumberland County Council (NCC) is the sole owner of the information collected by us. The information collected will enable us to provide you with a library service. We will only provide your personal information to other external organisation or individual if it is lawful to do so, e.g. the prevention and/or detection of crime, where sharing is covered by a data sharing agreement or Service Level Agreement (SLA) or where you have provided explicit consent to do so. Personal data will be held securely, then destroyed in line with NCC's Culture, Heritage and Libraries retention schedule. The Culture, Heritage and Libraries Retention Schedule and Northumberland Libraries Privacy Notice can be found on the Councils website.

Acceptance

Click the button below to accept these conditions and proceed to the registration form.

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Any person may become a member of Northumberland Libraries. It is free and you can use our full range of services. It is also free to borrow books. There are charges for some other library services, but concessions are available for certain users.

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Sharing Stories: Strategies to Support Early Language Development and Conversation Skills

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Sharing Stories: Strategies to Support Early Language Development and Conversation Skills

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5 top tips to use when sharing stories with your child at home

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Your child’s journey to school starts at home. We understand that all children develop at their own pace, and that we’re all learning from birth. When it’s time to start school, some children will need more help than others.

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Jim Field is an illustrator, character designer and animation director.

From music videos and title sequences to illustration and picture books, Jim has worked on a variety of projects.

Jim has won multiple awards for the children's books he has illustrated; including the Lollies, The Roald Dahl Funny Prize, The Evening Standards Oscars Prize and The Sainsbury's Award.

He was the 5th bestselling children's book illustrator of 2018.

Jim has illustrated children's books with Kes Gray, Rachel Bright, Julian Gough, Michelle Robinson, Michael Broad, Jeanne Willis, Steve Cole, comedian David Baddiel and Sir Michael Morpurgo.

Jim now lives in Paris with his wife, daughter and a small grumpy cat.

Awards

Oi Frog! written by Kes Gray and published by Hodder Children's Books

Winner of the Bishops Stortford Picture book Award

Nominated for the Kate Greenway 2015

Shortlisted for Peter's Picture book of the year 2015

Winner Portsmouth Children's book Award 2016

Nielsen Silver Award 2019

Oi Dog! written by Kes & Claire Gray and published by Hodder children's Books

WINNER OF THE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION 4-7 FICTION PICTURE BOOK AWARD 2017

WINNER OF THE FCBG YOUNGER CHILDREN'S CATEGORY 2017

WINNER OF THE LOLLIES PICTURE BOOK CATEGORY 2018

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS 2017

The Lion Inside written by Rachel Bright and published by Orchard Books

WINNER OF THE UKLA BOOK AWARD 2017

Shortlisted for The Evening Standard Oscar's Book Prize 2016

Longlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Prize 2017

The Koala Who Could written by Rachel Bright and published by Orchard Books

Winner of Evening Standard Oscars award 2017

The Parent Agency written by David Baddiel and published by HarperCollins

Winner of the Lollies 2016 Children's 9 - 12 yr old category

There's a Lion in My Cornflakes written by Michelle Robinson and published by Bloomsbury

Winner of the first Sainsbury's Children's Book Award 2014

Cats Ahoy! written by Peter Bently and published by Macmillan

Winner of The Booktrust Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2011

Nominated for the Kate Greenaway 2012

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Buy The Lion Inside 1 by Bright, Rachel, Field, Jim (ISBN: 9781408331606) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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A video from various children who have overcome SM 

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A video from various children who have overcome SM 

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"I can't talk at school" - Selective Mutism Awareness: Video Featuring Children

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Speech sound norms - what to expect when 

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Speech sound norms - what to expect when 

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Speech and Language UK provides details on development of speech sounds and how to support young children in this area

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Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives

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Speech sounds are the sounds we use for talking. We use our tongue, lips, teeth, and other parts of our mouth to create different speech sounds. Speech sounds are not the same as letters. For example, the word 'sheep' has five letters, but only three sounds: 'sh' 'ee' 'p'.

When do children learn different speech sounds?

As children learn to talk, they gradually learn to make more and more speech sounds. This means that they cannot say all speech sounds straight away. Some sounds like 'm' are easier to make than sounds like 'th'. The chart below shows the ages that children who speak English can normally say different sounds.

Children who can't make these speech sounds at these ages might need extra help from a speech and language therapist. Children may lisp 's' sounds until around age four or five. See our factsheet on lisps.

Even when children can make a speech sound by itself, it can be much trickier to use speech sounds when saying whole words and sentences! Children often find simpler ways to say words when they are finding a speech sound tricky. This chart shows examples of how your child might say words at different ages:

By five or six years old, nearly all words will be clear and easy to understand. Children who say words like a much younger child, or who say their words in an unusual or unpredictable way, might need extra help from a speech and language therapist.

I can understand everything my child says, but other people can't.

Families can often understand their child much better than other people. Families might be able to guess what their child is talking about and they learn to tune into how their child says words. It can be much harder for other people who don't know your child! Here is a rough guide about how clear your child's talking should be at different ages:

What causes challenges with speech sounds?

Children's speech is often unclear when they first start to talk, but most children will get clearer in time. Some children, though, have particular challenges making or using speech sounds and will need extra help from a speech and language therapist to talk clearly. We often do not know why a child has challenges using speech sounds, but it can be linked to:

Challenges with other areas of their communication skills, for example talking and understanding words

Glue ear (see glue ear page for more information)

Cleft palate

Having other family members who needed help with their speech sounds.

What about dummies?

In the past, professionals usually warned against using a dummy after age one as it could cause problems with speech sounds. Recently, studies show that this may not be completely true. For most children, their speech sound challenges are not caused by dummies. We have more information on the pros and cons of dummies here.

I am worried about my child's speech sounds, what should I do?

If the information here has made you think that your child's speech sounds are not as clear as other children their age, it is best to talk to your child's nursery or school, or contact a speech and language therapist. Please see our 'How do I find a speech and language therapist' guide for more information.

We also have a free speech and language advice line, which is a confidential phone call with an experienced speech and language therapist. During the 30-minute call, you will be given the opportunity to talk through your concerns and questions regarding your child's development. You can book your phone call

What can I do to help my child at home?

Focus on trying to understand your child is saying, rather than they are saying it. Turn off any background noise and get down to their level so you can see and hear each other easily.

It is usually best not to correct your child or ask them to copy you saying tricky sounds or words.

Model words. This means saying the word correctly to your child, but not making them repeat it after you. You can do this if you hear them make a mistake. Try to repeat the word a few times for your child. For example, if they say, 'Mummy, there's a tat!', you could say, 'Oh yes a cat! A ginger cat. What a lovely cat.'

Show your child how to use other ways to communicate what they want and need. Our information on visual supports is a good starting point.

Listening to and playing with sounds and music can help develop your child's awareness of sounds. Things to try:

Sing nursery rhymes or read rhyming books together. See if your child can finish the rhyme: Jack and Jill went up the... (hill).

Sing, dance or clap along to their favourite music and songs.

Play with musical instruments. Copy each other's tune or rhythm.

Drum together: Beat out a rhythm together using drums or household objects like pans and spoon.

We suggest trying mouth exercises such as practicing blowing or sucking. Mouth exercises are helpful for most children with speech sound challenges.
Useful websites:

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Speech sounds are the sounds we use for talking. We use our tongue, lips, teeth, and other parts of our mouth to create different speech sounds. Speech sounds are not the same as letters. For example, the word 'sheep' has five letters, but only three sounds: 'sh' 'ee' 'p'.

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How to get your child referred to the Speech, Language and Communication Service.

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Information about support for parents of children with SEND provided by parents of children with SEND

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Parent tips

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Levelling up-Sensory needs

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Importance of Attachment and Relationships

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Importance of Attachment and Relationships

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"dance of the nappy" from "the connected baby" documentary

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Why is language important for mental health?

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Resilience can be learned like any other skill. It takes practice and patience. We cannot shield our kids from all of life's disappointments and challenges.

One of the most effective ways is to surround them with books and stories that promote resilience and whose characters have grit. When we read stories, whether true or fictional, that show others facing their problems and overcoming obstacles, we are helping to develop the same mindset in our children.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our FREE When I Feel Worried Poster. Use this popular printable to make a plan with your child for when their worry shows up. Your child will have a list of their own coping strategies to calm their worry and anxiety.

The Girl Who Lost Her Smile by Karim Alrawi

In the wondrous city of Baghdad lives a young girl called Jehan. One morning, Jehan wakes and sees that her smile is lost. She looks everywhere. Jugglers and fire-eaters come to help her find it. Artists paint murals on the walls of her room. They all try their hardest to entertain Jehan, but still, she cannot find her smile. Derived from a collection of Islamic stories, The Girl Who Lost Her Smile is a simple folktale about uncovering life's hidden beauty.

Ada Twist by Andrea Beaty & David Roberts

Touching on themes of never giving up and problem-solving, Ada comes to learn that her questions might not always lead to answers, but rather to more questions. Ada has always been endlessly curious. Even when her fact-finding missions and elaborate scientific experiments don't go as planned, Ada learns the value of thinking her way through problems and continuing to stay curious.

A Perfectly Messed-Up Story by Patrick McDonnell

Little Louie's story keeps getting messed up, and he's not happy about it! What's the point of telling his tale if he can't tell it perfectly? But when he stops and takes a deep breath, he realizes that everything is actually just fine, and his story is a good one--imperfections and all.

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Her teacher smiled. "Just make a mark and see where it takes you." Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herself. But Vashti can't draw - she's no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. "There!" she says.

That one little dot marks the beginning of Vashti's journey of surprise and self-discovery. That special moment is the core of Peter H. Reynolds's delicate fable about the creative spirit in all of us.

Ish (Creatrilogy) by Peter H. Reynolds

A creative spirit learns that thinking "ish-ly" is far more wonderful than "getting it right" in this gentle new fable from the creator of the award-winning picture book The Dot.

Sometimes I'm Bombaloo (Scholastic Bookshelf) by Rachel Vail & Yumi Heo

Sometimes, Katie loses her temper. Sometimes she uses her feet and her fists instead of words. When Katie is this mad, she's just not herself. Sometimes, she's BOMBALOO. Being BOMBALOO is scary. But a little time-out and a lot of love calm BOMBALOO down and help Katie feel like Katie again!

Violet the Pilot by Steve Breen

Violet is a science-loving girl inventor with a flair for the air! The kids at school tease her, but they have no idea what she's capable of. Maybe she could earn their respect by winning the blue ribbon in the upcoming Air Show. Or maybe something even better will happen-something involving her best-ever invention, a Boy Scout troop in peril, and even the mayor himself!

You Are Awesome: Find Your Confidence and Dare to be Brilliant at (Almost) Anything by Matthew Syed

If you believe you can't do something, the chances are you won't try. But what if you really could get better at maths, or sport or exams? In fact, what if you could excel at anything you put your mind to?

El Deafo by Cece Bell

A 2015 Newbery Honor BookGoing to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school and making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing aid strapped to your chest? That requires superpowers! In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator Cece Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful-and very awkward-hearing aid.

Our popular Big Life Journal - 2nd Edition (ages 7-10) helps children develop strong Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and growth mindset skills through inspiring stories, colorful illustrations, and engaging guided activities. In this beautifully illustrated journal, children learn how to believe in themselves, face challenges with confidence, and use mistakes as opportunities to grow!

Do you have a preteen or teen? Check out theBig Life Journal - Teen Edition (ages 11+). Our popular journal offers plenty of ideas and activities for teens to explore their interests and passions. From assessments to designing their own apps to encouraging advice, it's a great tool for dreaming big!

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Top 30 Children's Books About Resilience

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One of the most effective ways to teach resilience to children is to surround them with books and stories that promote resilience and whose characters have grit. When we read stories, whether true or fictional, that show others facing their problems and overcoming obstacles, we are helping to develop the same mindset in our children.

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This innovative and timely picture book teaches children that they have the ability to stretch and grow their own brains. It also delivers t... See More

This innovative and timely picture book teaches children that they have the ability to stretch and grow their own brains. It also delivers t... See More

Connecting content to people.

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This innovative and timely picture book teaches children that they have the ability to stretch and grow their own brains. It also delivers the crucial message that mistakes are an essential part of learning. The book introduces children to the anatomy and various functions of the brain in a fun and engaging way.

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Many parents try to engage in mindful parenting - being fully present with their children, free from distractions or judgment, and with a soft and open mind. Easier said than done, we know, but the result in providing such undivided attention is that we are more attentive, aware, kind, and understanding in our interactions with youngsters. When it comes to getting tasks done, we learn to take care of one thing in this moment, and another thing in the next. Moment by moment. Task by task.

Mindful parenting behavior is about setting an ongoing intention to be present at the given moment. This presence can take many forms: for example, it may look like paying attention to your child, noticing your own feelings when you're in conflict with him or her, pausing before responding, and listening to your child's viewpoints, even if they differ from your own.

In applying these principles of mindfulness to parenthood, we create an opportunity to be more responsive and more productive, as well as being less in auto-pilot mode and less overwhelmed. Read on to learn more about how mindful parenting can positively benefit your family's health, happiness, and well-being, as well as some simple ways to be a calmer, more mindful parent.

A mindful parenting approach involves pausing so that you can be attuned to your child's deeper needs (are they crying because they are hungry, sleepy, scared, or something else?), and respond to him or her in an appropriate and loving way.

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Many parents try to engage in mindful parenting - being fully present with their children, free from distractions or judgment, and with a soft and open mind. Easier said than done, we know, but the result in providing such undivided attention is that we are more attentive, aware, kind, and understanding in our interactions with youngsters.

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Emotional Wellbeing Support Service Padlet

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Emotional Wellbeing Support Service Padlet

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Links to the EWBS padlets on a range of topics to provide SENCOs and other school staff with tools, resources, ideas and strategies to support pupils with a range of emotional and behavioural needs.

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Helping Children Challenge Negative Thinking

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Help a child challenge negative thinking by teaching them to identify negative thoughts, challenge them, reframe them, and replace them.

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CBT Self help for family and young people-Anxiety, low mood, stress

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CBT Self help for family and young people-Anxiety, low mood, stress

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Everyone struggles with feelings of anxiety and/or low mood from time to time. When we feel this way, it was be helpful to know why we experience these feelings and know some ways that can help us to feel better. These resources can be used to help children learn more about different types of anxiety and low mood and learn some strategies they can use that can help them to feel better.

If you or someone you know continues to struggle, please find details of some useful links and services here:

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WeHeartCBT: cognitive behavioural therapy based resources

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Everyone struggles with feelings of anxiety and/or low mood from time to time. When we feel this way, it was be helpful to know why we experience these feelings and know some ways that can help us to feel better.

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Family Hubs- Healthy Relationships virtual sessions

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Family Hubs- Healthy Relationships virtual sessions

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Understanding the impact that stress has on our brain and our actions

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Understanding the impact that stress has on our brain and our actions

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Learning About the Brain: Worksheets & Teaching Resources

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It's normal to feel upset, anxious, or extremely uncomfortable when we encounter difficult content. Having a strong reaction to information that is generally considered...

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Some simple attention and listening activities

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Some simple attention and listening activities

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Here are some activities which could be used to promote and support with attention and listening.

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If you agree, we'll also use cookies to complement your shopping experience across the Amazon stores as described in our Cookie Notice. This includes using first- and third-party cookies, which store or access standard device information such as a unique identifier. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Click 'Customise Cookies' to decline these cookies, make more detailed choices, or learn more. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. To learn more about how and for what purposes Amazon uses personal information (such as Amazon Store order history), please visit our Privacy Notice.

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Katherine Sully and Gail Yerril Lamb Says Boo

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NEW AND UNREAD LARGE SIZE PAPERBACK BOOK, FABULOUSLY ILLUSTRATED IN FULL COLOUR.Lamb Says Boo! by Katherine Sully. (A charming story of bravery and having the confidence to stand up for yourself) Little Lamb wouldn't say boo to a goose. Or would she?...

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We use cookies and similar tools that are necessary to enable you to make purchases, to enhance your shopping experiences and to provide our services, as detailed in our Cookie Notice. We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements.

If you agree, we'll also use cookies to complement your shopping experience across the Amazon stores as described in our Cookie Notice. This includes using first- and third-party cookies, which store or access standard device information such as a unique identifier. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Click 'Customise Cookies' to decline these cookies, make more detailed choices, or learn more. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. To learn more about how and for what purposes Amazon uses personal information (such as Amazon Store order history), please visit our Privacy Notice.

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Buy Little by Little by Stewart, Amber, Marlow, Layn (ISBN: 9780192727350) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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We use cookies and similar tools that are necessary to enable you to make purchases, to enhance your shopping experiences and to provide our services, as detailed in our Cookie Notice. We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements.

If you agree, we'll also use cookies to complement your shopping experience across the Amazon stores as described in our Cookie Notice. This includes using first- and third-party cookies, which store or access standard device information such as a unique identifier. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Click 'Customise Cookies' to decline these cookies, make more detailed choices, or learn more. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. To learn more about how and for what purposes Amazon uses personal information (such as Amazon Store order history), please visit our Privacy Notice.

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Top Tips on how to develop talking and sentences at home

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Top Tips on how to develop talking and sentences at home

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NIES Speech, Language and Communication Service_ Spoken Language DEC 2022

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Making the most of everyday opportunities to support speech and communication.

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Making the most of everyday opportunities to support speech and communication.

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The Words for Life | National Literacy Trust | Words for Life website has some fantastic ideas to support early language development at home, when out and about and as part of your everyday life.

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Search for the apps/games to support your child's language needs

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Search for the apps/games to support your child's language needs

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CBeebies helps pre-schoolers learn whilst they play fun games, watch clips, sing songs and make things with their favourite CBeebies characters and shows.

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Apps to support language and literacy skills

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Apps to support language and literacy skills

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Discover the best apps to support your child’s learning and development

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Story telling is a great way to develop spoken language, understanding and have fun!

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Humans have been telling stories to connect and communicate for thousands of years; they help us make sense of the world and our place in it, and are a fundamental part of what makes us human.

Storytelling also helps children develop the key skills they need to succeed at school.

To explore the importance of storytelling for children, we spoke to Kirsty Cunnington from the National Literacy Trust and writing specialist Pie Corbett.

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Why is storytelling good for children's learning?

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Humans have been telling stories to connect and communicate for thousands of years; they help us make sense of the world and our place in it, and are a fundamental part of what makes us human. Storytelling also helps children develop the key skills they need to succeed at school.

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Children love listening to this!

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Kids’ Poems and Stories With Michael Rosen

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Chocolate Cake | POEM | Kids' Poems and Stories With Michael Rosen

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Parents! See our early years padlet for more ideas on how to develop your child's listening, talking, play and understanding!

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Parents! See our early years padlet for more ideas on how to develop your child's listening, talking, play and understanding!

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Parents! See our secondary age padlet for more information on how to support older children

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Parents! See our secondary age padlet for more information on how to support older children

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Some really good examples of how to develop children's ability to speak in sentences

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Some really good examples of how to develop children's ability to speak in sentences

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LingoRoo - Where Language Comes to Life!

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Speech Therapy Tips to Help Your Child Speak in Sentences!

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There is a huge amount of information on this website.

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There is a huge amount of information on this website.

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If you are a member of Facebook, please consider joining the closed SMIRA group, it is a wonderful source of support.

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Selective Mutism Information & Research Association (SMIRA)

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Selective Mutism (SM) is a communication anxiety disorder. This site contains information on and support for parents, people with SM, and professionals.

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My child is scared of talking. What is Selective Mutism? What parents want the world to know

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Difficulties finding the right word to use.

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Difficulties finding the right word to use.

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Try using word webs to develop vocabulary. Put the word you are learning in the middle.  Your child fills in the rest with your help.

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Try using word webs to develop vocabulary. Put the word you are learning in the middle.  Your child fills in the rest with your help.

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Help your child to think about the sounds the word is made up of.

Help your child to think about what they already know and how this word links with other words that they know i.e. butterflies have wings like birds, they belong to the insect group the same as beetles, they are an insect with wings just like a dragonfly and ladybird, they are different to birds because birds make nests.

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Write/draw words that you know that go with the target words

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Write/draw words that you know that go with the target words

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Clap out the syllables/beats of each word i.e. trac-tor (2 claps), pig (1 clap)

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A rich vocabulary allows children to say exactly what they mean. Knowing and using lots of words helps them to understand what others are saying, to talk and write in an engaging way, and to better understand the world around them.

Support from parents makes a massive difference to the number and variety of words a child knows. One of the best ways to improve your child's vocabulary is to play word games and activities at home. Not only is this an effective way to boost your child's future success - it can also be fun and engaging for the whole family!

Here are some ideas for fun games you can play to build your child's vocabulary and confidence with words.

Building your toddler's vocabulary

Ask questions about stories. For example, 'Is Buzz helpful to Woody? Is the Gruffalo really scary? Do you think the mouse is a clever mouse? How do you know?'

From nursery onwards, encourage your child to answer questions in developed phrases rather than in one or two words.

Try to add more description to your own speech. For example, saying 'Please could you pass me the large blue spoon with the wooden handle?' exposes your child to more words than just saying 'Please could you pass me the spoon?'

Building your child's vocabulary at primary school

Ideally, a new word needs to be used six to twelve times, in different ways, to be remembered long term. Here are some ideas for repeating and reusing words in interesting ways.

1. Play word games

You could explore synonyms (words that mean the same thing) together. See how many different words your child can think of for nice, pretty, or tall. Some healthy competition with friends or siblings can help to make this fun.

2. Act out abverbs

Ask your child to scamper silently, crawl slowly, scuttle rapidly, smile sweetly, or speak menacingly. Children love this!

3. Master meaning

When reading together, ask your child questions focusing around a particular word, such as:

'Could we say that Verruca Salt is selfish? Why? Why not?'

'Could a selfish person ever be kind? Can you give an example?'

'Is Charlie Bucket selfish? Could we say he is unselfish?'

'When have you been unselfish? Does unselfish mean the same thing as kind?'

4. Talk at the table

Talk about food when you're at the dinner table. Use interesting words to describe what you are eating: 'My peas are not just nice and tasty - they are delicious, they are scrumptious. Do you think they are scrumptious?'

Dinnertime is also a good opportunity to ask your child about their day. For example, you could ask, 'What do you remember from your lessons today?' and encourage lots of detail. You can model this by talking about your own day first.

5. Use interesting words

When you talk to your child, try to use interesting words. For example, 'When I gave my friend her present, she was delighted. Delighted is a strong word for happy. I'm always delighted when you help me tidy up - what makes you delighted?'

Try to model using adjectives (words that describe nouns, like 'yellow' or 'smooth') and adverbs (words that describe verbs, like 'happily' or 'quickly') in your day-to-day speech. For example: 'Can you smell the freshly cut grass?'

6. Discover language on the go

Visit your local museum and ask your child to describe the pictures or exhibits they see. Take your child along with you as you head off to the bank, the grocery shop, or the post office, and see what new words you can discover.

7. Play 'word/not word'

Another way to stretch your child's use of new words is to play 'word/not word'. This works by choosing a word (for example, 'delightful'), and seeing what ideas your child associates with it. For instance, you could say to your child, 'If I say something that you love, say "delightful". If you don't love it, say "not delightful".' Then ask your child why they responded as they did.

For example, you could try these ideas: opening presents on your birthday; eating sprouts; laughing at the puppy; eating ice cream; going to bed early; reading a book; riding your bike.

Now you can vary the game, using 'beautiful/not beautiful', 'hilarious/not hilarious', 'exciting/not exciting', and so on.

Things worth remembering

Try to make time for your child to give full answers. Encourage them to answer in full sentences, or starting with because.

It's okay for your child to make mistakes, and it's okay for you to correct them. A gentle way to do this is to say something back to them the correct way. For example, if your child says 'It weren't me!', you could respond, 'It wasn't you?'.

A good idea to boost vocabulary is to watch BBC Newsround with your child and discuss the issues involved. This is great for improving your child's understanding of the world too!

Teach the correct word for things as they come up in conversation (for example, 'helmet' instead of 'hat' or 'rabbit' instead of 'bunny').

Have a simple dictionary or thesaurus to hand and explore word meanings together. Googling on your phone can also be helpful if you're not sure.

Above all, have fun and remember that children learn at different speeds!

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Building a strong vocabulary: How to help at home - Oxford Owl for Home

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A rich vocabulary allows children to say exactly what they mean. Knowing and using lots of words helps them to understand what others are saying, to talk and write in an engaging way, and to better understand the world around them. Support from parents makes a massive difference to the number and variety of words a child knows.

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How you can help with the important skills of attention and listening

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How you can help with the important skills of attention and listening

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SEND Support Services_  Attention and Listening DEC 2022

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Where do you feel your child's level of attention is at most of the time? Work with school to support them in reaching the next level.

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Where do you feel your child's level of attention is at most of the time? Work with school to support them in reaching the next level.

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8 Highly Effective Activities to Improve 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 for Kids | How to Improve Focus and Attention

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Remember - never respond (with words or body language) in a negative way about your child's stammer. Don't use words such as 'it's terrible/awful/horrific when he is tired' instead talk about the frequency: 'he stammers more when he is tired'.

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Remember - never respond (with words or body language) in a negative way about your child's stammer. Don't use words such as 'it's terrible/awful/horrific when he is tired' instead talk about the frequency: 'he stammers more when he is tired'.

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Stambassadors - suitable for older children

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Stambassadors - suitable for older children

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A wonderfully inspiring set of videos of working people who stammer sharing their experiences and stories with young people.  The aim is to encourage children and young people who stammer to think big when considering career choices.

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It's not difficult to find successful people in all walks of life who stammer from Marilyn Monroe, to King George VI, Ex-Vice President Joe Biden, Ed Sheeran, the Actor Emily Blunt and former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls. As a Charity we meet people from all backgrounds who stammer from Chief Executives to apprentices every day. In fact, people who stammer can be found just about everywhere!

Stambassadors connects people from the world of work who stammer with young people who stammer, sharing their stories and inspiring young people to think big when they are considering their career choices. Take a look at the videos below to hear from people talking about their jobs, their career and their stammer!

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Stambassadors - Action For Stammering Children

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It's not difficult to find successful people in all walks of life who stammer from Marilyn Monroe, to King George VI, Ex-Vice President Joe Biden, Ed Sheeran, the Actor Emily Blunt and former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls. As a Charity we meet people from all backgrounds who stammer from Chief Executives to apprentices every day.

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Learning to talk, like learning to walk, doesn't always go smoothly. See our information below about what stammering is and what you can do if you are concerned when your child/ toddler starts stammering.

We have information leaflets for parents which you can read and share with others. Download them here or order physical copies for free here.

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Learning to talk, like learning to walk, doesn't always go smoothly. See our information below about what stammering is and what you can do if you are concerned when your child/ toddler starts stammering. We have information leaflets for parents which you can read and share with others.

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Remember to look at the other sections on this padlet for useful ways to support your child with their speech, language and communication difficulties!

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Remember to look at the other sections on this padlet for useful ways to support your child with their speech, language and communication difficulties!

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What to do when speaking, understanding and learning are all hard.

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What to do when speaking, understanding and learning are all hard.

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NIES Speech, Language and Communication Service_ DLD DEC 2022

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Welcome to DLD and Me! Spreading the word about Developmental Language Disorder Latest Articles What is Developmental Language Disorder? DLD is a brain difference that makes talking and listening difficult. DLD affects about 2

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Lily Farrington's Amazing Developmental Language Disorder Animation

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Advice and support for social, emotional and mental health

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Advice and support for social, emotional and mental health

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Click here for some ideas you can try at home to develop social skills

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Click here for some ideas you can try at home to develop social skills

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Hidden Language Disorder - described by older pupils

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Hidden Language Disorder - described by older pupils

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The Hidden Disorder: Understanding Developmental Language Disorder: Full Film

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How you can help develop clearer speech at home?

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How you can help develop clearer speech at home?

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Take a look in here for some practical ideas to use every day!

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NIES - Speech, Language and Communication Service  Working on Speech Sounds DEC 2022

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Tony Ross reads I Don't Want To Wash My Hands

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Want to know more?  Click here for even more ideas and links!

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Want to know more?  Click here for even more ideas and links!

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NIES LiC_ School staff-Information Jan 2023

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Information for children and young people of all ages.

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Information for children and young people of all ages.

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Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives

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Speech and Language UK: Information and support

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Speech and Language UK: Help for parents and families

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If parent training is what you are looking for - click here

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If parent training is what you are looking for - click here

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Some simple ideas to support your child's understanding

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Some simple ideas to support your child's understanding

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NIES - Speech, Language and Communication Service_ Information Carrying Words ICW DEC 2022

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This is a really great website full of tips, ideas and videos to watch!

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This is a really great website full of tips, ideas and videos to watch!

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Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child's language skills. Explore our simple activities and play ideas and find out about babies and toddlers' amazing early development.

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Children’s language development and parenting advice - BBC Tiny Happy People

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A chatty child is a happy child, so Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child’s communication skills through simple interaction and play.

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Join the library - read, read and read some more!

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Join the library - read, read and read some more!

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Children learn lots of language through sharing stories and hearing the same stories read over and over again.
Use gestures, act parts of the story out.
Point to pictures and say what they are called in simple sentences: "monkey! Look monkey. Brown monkey. Monkey in tree"

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Building your confidence as a Dad

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Our dads chat about their confidence as parents and the rights and wrongs of comparing themselves to other dads.

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Play with your child.  Follow their interests

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Play with your child.  Follow their interests

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- Make lots of comments when playing, give your child the words they need - "Your car is rolling down the slide" rather than "what are you doing?"
- Ask fewer questions
- Leave pauses so your child can respond.
- Use short sentences
- Take turns
- REPEAT!

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Afasic provide support for Parents/carers of children who have language needs. this includes useful checklists around language development at different ages.

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Afasic provide support for Parents/carers of children who have language needs. this includes useful checklists around language development at different ages.

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SLCN & DLD SLCN Speech, Language and Communication Needs Events There are many ways that you can help to raise funds Afasic Helpline

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Chat, play, read!

Here are some tips and activities to help your child develop their speech skills:

use things your child is interested in for play, follow their lead and make sure you're physically at their level while playing

if you notice your child looking or pointing at something, talk to them about it before they lose interest in it

picture books introduce your child to new things they haven't seen yet in real life - ask them to tell you the story, or talk about what the characters might be thinking and feeling

make reading, singing and playing even more fun by using lots of actions and different voices

take turns to make noises or speak - your child will be able to hold longer conversations, so slow down your speech, give them plenty of time to respond and listen carefully to what they have to say

talk to your child in short, simple sentences, as it's easier for them to understand you and have a go at copying when they are ready

try to use the same book or sing the same song, as young children learn a lot from repetition

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Find out how you can help your child with their speech & language development. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor or health visitor.

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This document also shows ages and stages of a child's development

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This document also shows ages and stages of a child's development

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Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives

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Skip to content

Our guide to the typical stages of speech and language development in babies, children and young people.

Children develop their speech, language and communication skills at different rates. However, knowing what is typical can help you identify speech and language problems early. You can also find out how to help your child learn to talk and understand words.

Our progress checker will provide short questions you can answer to see how your baby or child is getting on with their talking and understanding of words.

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Ages and stages - Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives

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Our guide to the typical stages of speech and language development in babies, children and young people.

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Helping children and young people to be detectives and understand what people really mean.

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Helping children and young people to be detectives and understand what people really mean.

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NIES Speech, Language and Communication Service Verbal Reasoning DEC 2022

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Fun word games for families

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It's lock down 3 (in the UK) and to keep young minds active and thinking about words we've invented a new word game, 'Word Chain.' Rules, cards and a board are available to download for free. It is probably most suited to children over 8, as it includes words like 'synonym' and 'antonym' but with a little support younger players can join in. It is non-competitive, with no winners and losers.

Please feel free to share it with families.

We would appreciate your feedback, so let us know how you get on by emailing us at thinkingtalking@yahoo.co.uk

On the blog we have other games to play at home listed under 'free resources for schools and families.'

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Free word game for families (8+) - Thinking Talking

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It's lock down 3 (in the UK) and to keep young minds active and thinking about words we've invented a new word game, 'Word Chain.' Rules, cards and a board are available to download for free. It is probably most suited to children over 8, as it includes words like 'synonym' and 'antonym' but with [...]

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Older pupils with Developmental Language Disorder

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Older pupils with Developmental Language Disorder

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The LINT Sensory Support Service have shared this useful leaflet about Glue Ear

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Explaining Coronavirus to young children

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Explaining Coronavirus to young children

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Posted by Nosy Crow, April 6, 2020

Axel Scheffler has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. Published by Nosy Crow, and written by staff within the company, the book has had expert input: Professor Graham Medley of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine acted as a consultant, and the company also had advice from two head teachers and a child psychologist.

The book answers key questions in simple language appropriate for 5 to 9 year olds:

* What is the coronavirus?
* How do you catch the coronavirus?
* What happens if you catch the coronavirus?
* Why are people worried about catching the coronavirus?
* Is there a cure for the coronavirus?
* Why are some places we normally go to closed?
* What can I do to help?
* What's going to happen next?

We want to make sure that this book is accessible to every child and family and so the book is offered totally free of charge to anyone who wants to read it. However, we have suggested, at the back of the book, that families might make a donation to help our health service if they find the book useful: https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/.

Kate Wilson, Managing Director of Nosy Crow, said:

"We were very aware that many parents and carers are struggling to explain the current extraordinary situation to children, many of whom are frightened and confused. We thought that the best thing we could do would be to use our skills to produce a free book to explain and, where possible, reassure children. We asked Axel, whose work is so familiar and so loved, to illustrate it. He was happy to do it, and did it extraordinarily quickly. Meanwhile, having heard Professor Medley interviewed by the BBC, we looked him up and wrote to him, and despite his huge workload, he reviewed the book over a weekend, and we were able to incorporate his suggestions, together with those of two head teachers and a child psychologist, into the final version of the book. We hope it helps answer difficult questions in difficult times."

Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo, said:

"I asked myself what I could do as an children's illustrator to inform, as well as entertain, my readers here and abroad. So I was glad when my publisher, Nosy Crow, asked me to illustrate this question-and-answer book about the coronavirus. I think it is extremely important for children and families to have access to good and reliable information in this unprecedented crisis, and I hope that the popularity of the books I've done with Julia Donaldson will ensure that this digital book will reach many children who are now slightly older, but might still remember our picture books."

Professor Graham Medley, Professor of Infectious Disease Modelling at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said:

"This pandemic is changing children's lives across the globe and will have a lasting impact on us all. Helping children understand what is going on is an important step in helping them cope and making them part of the story - this is something that we are all going through, not something being done to them. This book puts children IN the picture rather just watching it happen, and in a way that makes the scary parts easier to cope with."

You can read the new, revised edition of Coronavirus and Covid: A book for children about the pandemic below, and download it as a PDF here.
We have also created a free audio edition of the book, read by Hugh Bonneville. You can listen to the audio for free on Soundcloud here, and below. It is also available to download for free through the Cloudaloud audiobook app, which can be found on the App Store here.
Nosy Crow produced the audiobook with Strathmore Publishing, and both Strathmore and Bonneville gave their time for free.

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Out now: a free information book explaining the coronavirus to children, illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler

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Axel Scheffler has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. Published by Nosy Crow, and written by staff within the company, the book has had expert input: Professor Graham Medley of the London ...

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Sound Awareness - listening to sounds - is really important to help speech and literacy

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Sound Awareness - listening to sounds - is really important to help speech and literacy

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NIES - Speech, Language and Communication Service Sound Awareness DEC 2022

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"I didn't talk at school" - An interview with a child who had Selective Mutism

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Check this out for some great ideas from birth to age 5!

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Check this out for some great ideas from birth to age 5!

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Chat, play, read!

Here are some tips and activities to help your child develop their speech skills:

use things your child is interested in for play, follow their lead and make sure you're physically at their level while playing

if you notice your child looking or pointing at something, talk to them about it before they lose interest in it

picture books introduce your child to new things they haven't seen yet in real life - ask them to tell you the story, or talk about what the characters might be thinking and feeling

make reading, singing and playing even more fun by using lots of actions and different voices

take turns to make noises or speak - your child will be able to hold longer conversations, so slow down your speech, give them plenty of time to respond and listen carefully to what they have to say

talk to your child in short, simple sentences, as it's easier for them to understand you and have a go at copying when they are ready

try to use the same book or sing the same song, as young children learn a lot from repetition

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Find out how you can help your child with their speech & language development. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor or health visitor.

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See some examples of visuals below. These will help attention and listening as well as your child's ability to understand what is expected.

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Scan this QR code to be directed to the Northumberland Family Hub app where you will find lots of extra information about your local family hub.

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Useful video to watch.  The charity ICAN is now called Speech and Language UK.

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Useful video to watch.  The charity ICAN is now called Speech and Language UK.

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I CAN - helping children develop the speech, language and communication skills

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Some examples of visuals you could use to support your child at home

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Some examples of visuals you could use to support your child at home