Child Development
Communication 0-5’s
Did you know that a child will learn more about speaking and words in the first five years of their life than at any other time? Your child needs good speaking and listening skills to be able to learn, so it is really important that you help in the development of their language.
Let’s start talking
Sing and talk to your baby during your pregnancy as your child can begin to recognise your voice from inside the womb. From the moment they are born, make eye contact and smile. Talk to your child about everyday things at home and when you’re out and about.
Follow these links to find out more about how to develop communication from pregnancy onwards:
· Talk with me communication leaflets
· Why not try this at home? activity ideas for toddlers
Songs, rhymes and stories
Children learn best when they are playing and songs, rhymes and stories are helpful for developing listening and attention skills. Singing and rhymes help children to develop their speech because they often repeat words. Follow these links to find out more about language development:
As with other skills, children will develop language skills at different rates. Children understand far more than they can express. If you are really concerned about their speech development then talk to your Health Visitor or log on to the Talking Point website to check how language develops.
Tips about using dummies
Dummies prevent babies from babbling and toddlers from chatting - they need lots of practice at both of these skills to develop their speech. Children with dummies in their mouths will form sounds incorrectly as they cannot put their mouths and tongues in the right position to say a word properly.
Tips about language
Follow bilingual quick tips to learn how to develop good talking and listening skills on the National Literacy Trust website.
Let’s start reading
Reading aloud to children is one of the best ways to get them interested in books.
Bookstart has free packs of books for your baby and toddler. There are also extra packs available for children who have a hearing or vision impairment, or who speak English as an additional language. Find out what's available from Bookstart and how you can get your child's packs or call the Family Centre.
It's never too early to start sharing stories with your baby. Take a look at the Read with Me leaflets which are full of simple tips you can try with your child.
You can also get tips in the Read with Me photo album on the SurreyFIS Facebook page and Learn with me web pages.
The National Literacy Trust website has lots of advice and tips for parents, including tips on reading stories aloud.
Libraries are a great place to go to borrow books and if you need some new ideas, check out their book suggestions. They run all sorts of events, like rhymetime and storytime you can join in with.
Let’s start writing
A lot needs to happen before your child can pick up a pen and write. They need to learn to coordinate hand and eye movements and strengthen their hands and fingers so they can grip and develop balance, e.g. for pencil control.
These leaflets are full of easy ideas you can use to help your child develop the skills they need for writing.
Write with me leaflet 6 to 12 months
Write with me leaflet 1 to 2 year olds
Write with me leaflet 2 to 3 years
Write with me leaflet 3 to 4 years
Write with me leaflet 4 years plus
Let’s start counting
Maths is everywhere, even for babies, and by seven months old babies already have a sense of numbers. These leaflets are full of easy ideas to help you develop your child's early maths skills.
Count with me leaflet new-born to 12 months
Count with me leaflet 1 to 2 years
Count with me leaflet 2 to 3 years
Count with me leaflet 3 to 4 years
Count with me leaflet 4 years plus
Let’s start moving
These leaflets contain tips and ideas on how to develop your child's physical development through play and activities.
Move with me leaflet new-born to 6 months
Move with me leaflet 6 to 12 months
Move with me leaflet 12 to 18 months
Move with me leaflet 18 to 24 months
Move with me leaflet 2 to 3 years
Move with me leaflet 3 to 4 years
Move with me leaflet 4 years plus
Let me be me
Your child's personal, social and emotional development (PSED) in the first five years of their life is as important as developing physical and communication skills. Follow the links below to find parenting tips to help your child develop and manage feelings and emotions.
Let’s go to nursery
The learning experiences children have at nursery or with a childminder can really help to shape them and their development. Early years childcare providers follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework which uses learning through play for every child from birth to five.
Standards under the framework are clear and consistent, with expectations about safety, welfare and learning clearly set out. The framework allows your child to learn through a range of early learning activities which will be planned to take account of your child's individual needs, interests and stages of development.
You can search for details of toddler groups and childcare on the Family Information Directory.
Let’s get ready for school
The Get ready for school booklet gives practical advice about preparing your child for primary or infant school. It contains information on:
· Finding and applying for a school place
· Things to think about in the weeks before school
· Childcare
· Life at school
· Time for you
You can find further information on when and how to apply for a school place on the school admissions web page.
Let’s keep learning, 5+
Understanding maths
Some children struggle with maths or numeracy, but the good news is that there are several ways parents can help their child become confident with numbers.
How you can help
Speak with your child's school – find out what they are teaching to help your child's numeracy skills so that you understand and can support what your child's teachers are trying to do.
Reduce their anxiety-
· praise your child
· help with homework – be involved and interested
· encourage mathematical games and activities at home - relate these to what your child is learning at school and make it fun.
Doing the maths
check that your child can explain the problem they have to solve
use easy words to explain the problem.
use practical items for maths tasks like counting, e.g. money, make the homework meaningful.
make number facts fun – for example, use times tables song
use mental arithmetic by talking about different ways to get a right answer
help your child find a mistake and praise them for doing this.
Discuss any concerns you have with your child's teacher.
Math games and activities
Make maths fun by involving the family and trying new ways to practice maths skills. Ideas include:
sorting, counting, matching, comparing
using number songs and rhymes
using puzzle books and games
spotting numbers on bus and car number plates
counting money and change when you go shopping
telling the time
asking your child to halve or double the numbers in a recipe you give them
measuring furniture and spaces to see what would fit where
reading bus and train timetables.
Find out about extra support available for your child at school https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/at-school/extra-support-for-your-child
Helping your child to read
Reading helps children to spell better. See 'helping your child to read' for some useful tips.
Libraries for 5+
It's free to join the library and to borrow books and audio books! You can join by visiting the library or joining online.
Explore centuries of stories, poems and illustrations at the British Library with Discovering Children's Books, a free online resource for children, teachers and book-lovers of all ages.
Reading Well for Children is the new, expert endorsed, booklist from the Reading Agency.
What to do if you think your child has needs extra support
If your child needs more support with learning than others, they may have special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND), because they:
are not learning as quickly as most other children
have a learning difficulty such as dyslexia
have a disability or health problem
are struggling to communicate or understand what people are saying
find it hard to talk to people in social situations
have emotional or behavioural problems.
There are different levels of SEND; as many as one in five children may need extra support at some stage with their learning. Visit the Local Offer for further information.
If you think your child may be slow in developing or has trouble seeing or hearing properly, it's important you speak to your:
doctor or health visitor
nursery or pre-school keyworker or special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
local child development clinic or Family Centre.