Speech, language and communication

Communication and language skills are vital for your child’s development. These skills will affect their future life chances and relationships. It can also impact your child’s ability to learn, make friends and develop ideas and opinions.

Explore other speech, language and communication pages

Girl playing with her hair, sitting at a table chatting and laughing with a man

Two young primary school girls laughing together in the playground.

Young child and adult high-fiving whilst sitting on the floor.

pre-teen girl wearing mint coloured hoodie and pigtails chuckles while she looks at her mother.

Two Young Adults Walking Over Bridge Chatting Together

If your child has additional needs visit our specific section for more support

Speech, language and communication for additional needs

The differences between speech, language and communication

Speech, language and communication can be easily confused. Here are the differences between them:

Speech is how you say it. It is how clearly you speak, using the right sounds and putting them in the right order so that others can understand you clearly.

Language is what you say. It is how we use words and sentences to understand and express.

Communication is the message you are trying to get across. You can communicate without words by using gestures, expressions and moving your body.

Learning to communicate

Attention and listening skills

Good attention and listening skills are vital for joining in with activities and interacting with other people. It the foundation for the building blocks of communication.

Developing good attention and listening skills are essential to help your child to become a good communicator. These skills will also help your child understand and use language.

Playing and social skills

Understanding language

Using language

Speech sounds

Find other pages on speech, language and communication

Two girls playing telephone with tin cans and string. Background is a grey sofa. Girl in foreground listening to tin can and smiling

Child development and growing up
Speech, language and communication

Attention and listening skills

The most important skills needed for communication are attention and listening skills. All other communication skills are based upon the ability to pay attention and listen.

Child development and growing up
Speech, language and communication

Playing and social skills

Play is your child’s way of exploring and learning about the world. It can help them understand new words and learn how to communicate with others. Playing and social skills are important for your child to learn.

Primary school boy sits at his desk in his uniform and looks up at his teacher

Child development and growing up
Speech, language and communication

Understanding language

Understanding spoken language helps children follow instructions, answer questions, understand stories and identify objects and pictures. A child’s understanding of language is usually ahead of their ability to use language.

Child development and growing up
Speech, language and communication

Using language

The use of language or 'expressive language' is how your child is learning to say new words and put them together into sentences. It also includes non-verbal communication like gestures.

Child playing the keyboard with an adult woman in front of her conducting her

Child development and growing up
Speech, language and communication

Speech sounds

Speech sounds are the individual sounds we use to make words. The sounds we make when we speak are made from the voice box (larynx), mouth muscles, jaw, lips, teeth, and tongue. In English we have 46 sounds for 26 letters of the alphabet.

Mum and daughter preparing food while laughing together in the kitchen

Child development and growing up
Speech, language and communication

Bilingualism

Bilingualism is the ability to communicate in two or more languages. Information and advice for parents on bringing your child up bilingual, the benefits of bilingualism, and some ways you can encourage your bilingual child. Professionals advice on what to expect from a bilingual child.

Two women kneeling behind their babies, which are both lying on a bed on their back

Child development and growing up
Speech, language and communication

Communicating with your baby

Infants and babies can communicate from the moment they are born. As soon as they arrive, your baby is learning about speech, language, and communication. It's important to talk to your baby and to encourage them to notice noises and sounds. Learn more about eye-contact and showing your baby new sounds.

Adult woman and child sitting on a sofa looking at a young boy sitting on the floor writing on a piece of paper on a coffee table in front of them

Child development and growing up
Speech, language and communication

Developing language

As children grow older, their list of known words becomes bigger and more complicated. They learn new ways to put words together into sentences. Their understanding and comprehension of spoken, non-spoken and written communication also progresses.

Child development and growing up
Speech, language and communication

Helping your baby or toddler to talk

Learning to talk is a key milestone for children however talking can be intimidating. Learn about using copying techniques and words to encourage your toddler or child to talk. Find advice on whether dummies or pacifiers can impact speech development.

Young girl on mobile phone with a younger boy peering over her shoulder to look at the mobile phone.

Behaviour, emotions and mental health
Speech, language and communication

Selective mutism

Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder. It is where a person who is able to speak, cannot speak in specific situations or to certain people. Selective mutism will often come with shyness or anxiety.

Young girl sitting on dad's knee reading a book together and laughing.

Speech, language and communication

Stammering

Stammering (also known as stuttering) is a difference in how speech sounds and words flow. It can develop gradually or your child can suddenly start stammering.

Family Of A Teen And Two Younger Siblings Chatting On A Big Sofa With Artwork Behind Them

Child development and growing up
Speech, language and communication

Storytelling and narrative

Learning to tell a story and sequence events are essential skills for children and teenagers to learn. It will help them understand the order of events and how to tell an engaging story. These stories can be from their imagination or repeating the events of the day.

Child development and growing up
Speech, language and communication

The importance of play

Playing can be a great way for your child to exercise but playing also helps children learn. They learn how to interact with their surroundings, find their interests and learn about the world around them. It’s also a great way to build a relationship with your child and create memories together.

Young child sticking their tongue out with a cheeky smile

Speech, language and communication

Tongue tie

Tongue tie is when the tongue is restricted. This is caused by the fold under your tongue (also known as the frenulum) being too tight or short. It can also cause the tip of the tongue to look blunt, forked or have a heart shape in appearance. Read about the impact on speech and ways to treat tongue tie

If you have any questions or concerns about your child's speech or use of language, a health professional in our team will be able to offer advice and support.

You can Call Us on 0300 029 50 50 or Text Us on 07520 649887 to start a conversation.

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