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Good communication is key to children's relationships and development.
Your child is now becoming much more independent and will want to do more things by themselves, such as putting on their coat or getting in to the car. They will also want to talk and chatter and will start asking lots of questions such as "why is the sky blue? or "where do dinosaurs live?" They love to talk to you, to their friends and to other family members about things they are doing or will be doing.
Build in time during the day to talk, listen and read with your child. Use imaginative play to talk about how they are feeling or where they have been. Encourage them to use words and sentences to build up stories about new experiences such as a trip to the park or a visit to a friend's house.
3-4 years Advice and Information
Sandwell Health Visitor Service 0121 612 5021
Talk to your health visitor about the School Readiness Parent Questionnaire
WellComm: Ideas for encouraging language development with 3-year-olds
Children's Centre Family Offer
Children's Centres provide support to families with children and young adults 0-19 years (up to 25 years if they have special education needs or disabilities).
They offer family support, early learning , information and advice on health, parenting, money and benefits, education and school readiness.
There are lots of free services and activities at your local children's centre
Speech and Language UK 3-4 years
This is a guide to how children develop speech and language between 3-4 years. Children develop language at different rates. However, understanding what is typical can help you identify speech and language problems early. There are lots of things you can do to encourage your child to talk and develop language skills.
Short questions you can answer to see how your baby or child is getting on with their speech, language and communication development.
Every child in England is entitled to a free Bookstart pack before they are 12 months old and again aged 3-4 years. Bookstart also gifts additional needs packs for babies and toddlers, as well as black-and-white booklets for newborns and dual language books.
Contact your Health Visitor or local library to find out more about your free Bookstart pack
Libraries are welcoming places for children and families to start exploring books and reading. There are lots of activities and events at your local library and helpful, friendly staff to advise you on what to read to your child. Libraries are free to join and have books in different languages and formats. Your child is never too young to visit the library.
Free childcare for 2, 3 and 4 year olds
Your child is entitled to a free childcare place at a day nursery, pre-school playgroup or childminder from the term following their 3rd birthday. There are positive benefits for your child at this age to play, learn, explore and socialise.
Benefits of Childcare and Child Development
Little Chick Starts School is a story all about what to expect when a child starts Reception. It’s designed to be read by parent and child together. Inside, there are also lots of tips about how parents can support their child emotionally and practically as they begin this exciting new chapter.
Black Country Early Outcomes aims to help parents support their child's communication skills. They have developed books, resources and simple activities for parents to use.
Black Country Early Outcomes Speech and Language Development Cards
Easy to read advice and support about how your child is communicating with you and tips on how to help "I can and you can help me by"
Communication skills are important. They help us get to know each other. When your child is older communication skills will help them make friends and do well at school and in life. Try these top tips to support your child's communication development.
A guide to social and emotional development for birth-5 years
Your baby's social and emotional development plays an important part in their overall development and mental wellbeing. Supporting this during the first 1001 days of a baby’s life is a crucial time for their brain development, they will then build on this throughout the first 5 years of their life.
Watch the video - Why a game of peekaboo can change the world
Guidance to your child’s learning and development in the early years foundation stage. This booklet divides your child’s first five years into the six age bands to highlight what you might notice your child doing at these points. Every child is different! Children do not grow and develop at the same rate. After each age band there are some ideas and tips as to how you can help your child’s learning and development.
The ages and stages of children’s communication development. From birth to 5 years
Helping babies and young children learn skills for talking
Sandwell's Talking Tips
Sandwell’s Talking Tips
10 tips to help support your child's language development.
Get to know these tips and use them as part of what you do every day with your child.
Early Years Practitioners should also familiarise themselves with Sandwell Talking Tips and embed these tips in to their Early Years development planning.
3-4 years Courses
Changes - the early years
free online and face to face courses in Sandwell for parents of children aged 0-4 years
free classes at your local Children's Centre
Help and Support
Help and advice
Sandwell Health Visitor Service 0121 612 5021
Your health visitor will be able to offer advice and support about your child's development. Always contact your health visitor about any worries or concerns you have about your child's health and development.
What can I expect from my health visitor
Sandwell Family Information Service
Sandwell Family Information Service can help you with free, impartial information, advice and guidance on family support and childcare.
Check out these websites for more tips and information on talking to your baby
WellComm Screening
WellComm is a speech and language toolkit for screening and intervention in Early Years.
Children attending Early Years settings are WellComm screened before children enter Reception Class.
Children's Centres also do WellComm screening at Stay and Play and Play Talk Read sessions.
Ask your child's nursery, pre-school playgroup or Children's Centre for more advice on speech and language assessments.
