Help your kids learn to speak

CHILDREN are reaching the age of three without saying their first word, according to a new YouGov poll.



Although the average age for babies' first words is ten to 11 months, almost one in six parents reported their children had problems learning to talk and four per cent had not spoken by the age of three.



So what should you do if your little one says precious little?



Clare Geldard, director of I Can, the children's communication charity, says your first job is not to panic: "All children develop at different rates so don't compare your child to others.



By following simple tips, you can bring their speech on in leaps and bounds."



Here are Clare's top tips to get tiny tongues wagging.

1) Talk to your baby as soon as they're born. Parents often feel silly doing this but it's surprising how quickly you'll get some kind of response or noise back if you say something and leave a pause after it.

2) Have fun. Your child will learn better if they're enjoying interacting with you. Learn action nursery rhymes like Humpty Dumpty or Hickory Dickory Dock, clap your hands or practise animal noises together.

3) Learn together as you go about your everyday life. Use everyday tasks like putting the shopping away to teach the names of things.

4) Good communication is all about eye contact – get down to your child's level to talk to them.

5) Repetition is key to good language skills. Try singing a nursery rhyme to your toddler and leaving the last word out for them to finish.

6) Give children time to respond. We live in a fast-paced world so often think everything should be instant. Kids need time when they're learning to process what they've heard and what they want to say back.

7) For children under three use short, uncomplicated sentences. Don't say: "Right, let's go and find your coat, hat, gloves and scarf and then we'll lock up, get in the car and go to the supermarket." Break all that information down into chunks by starting with: "Go and find your coat. Where's your coat?" When they bring it back to you or point it out, move on to the next thing.

8) Children learn the names of things quickly but there are many more words they need under their belts – from adjectives to verbs. The best way to teach these is by being physical. Jump up and down to show jumping, shiver if something is cold etc. Use all senses from touch to smell to help words make sense.

9) Storybooks are fantastic. Build up to complicated stories and don't be afraid to start showing your child pages from about three months onwards. Books with actions you can copy such as We're Going On A Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen, are a great place to start.

10) Play games and go large on the facial expressions. Games like Peekaboo that rely on funny faces will increase your child's attention to you, and what you say.

11) Don't use the TV as a childminder – watch it with your kids and ask them about what they've seen.

12) Forward-facing pushchairs are not as bad as people think. Just stop and kneel down every so often to chat to your child at eye level.