Most children develop speech, language and communication in a predictable sequence. New skills build on skills they have already learned. Usually, we expect language and communication to develop over time and by a certain age. Yet, most children will progress at their own pace. Have a look at the Development and Growing Up section for more information about what to expect and when.
There are lots of underlying skills that your child needs to be an effective communicator. So if your child has only recently started saying words, they may take longer to learn speech sounds.
Some children with neurodevelopmental differences (such as autism and or learning differences) may not develop all skills in the way you expect them to.
If you are concerned about your child or young person's communication then contact the Speech and Language advice line in your area.
Common Areas of Concern
Children who are Learning 2 or More Languages
Many children successfully learn more than one language at home before they go to nursery or school. Others will learn one language at home and then go on to learn English as an additional language when they start nursery or school. Here are some tips and information to help you if your child is exposed to more than one language:
Speak your strongest or first language at home so that your child hears a good language model.
Sometimes if more than one language is used in a home, people will switch from one to the other. This will not impact on your child's language but try to be consistent with vocabulary. If you use the word 'roti' try not to call it a 'chapati' at another time.
To learn any language a child has to hear it often. Talk to your child every day during everyday activities like bath time, meal times and in social situations.
Encourage all attempts to communicate in any way or in any language whether they are using words, gesture or facial expression. Show them you are interested in them.
Children learning more than one language often go through a silent period. Don't worry they might not say anything for several months in the new environment. This is a natural process.
An environment which exposes children to more than one language should not bring difficulties or cause delay in learning language. There is lots of evidence that learning to speak and use more than one language can benefit a child's overall academic and intellectual progress.
For more information and advice have a look at the Bilingual section on CBeebies Parenting.
Speech Sound Development
When children are learning to talk, they are learning new words and how to pronounce them. They will not have developed all their speech sounds at the same time. This happens gradually. For some children, learning new sounds can take longer than others. Some children with neurodevelopmental differences (such as autism and or learning differences) may not develop all skills in the way you expect them to. Find out more about your child's speech sound development on CBeebies Parenting. The following is a general guide as to when certain speech sounds develop.
th r - these sounds are tricky and I might be 7 before I have got them just right
sh - usually I can say these sounds by the time I am 6
ch j - usually I can say these sounds after I am about 5
w l y - usually I can say these sounds when I am between 4 and 5
p b, t d k g, m n ng, f v s z h - usually I can say these sounds when I am between 3 and 4
Common Speech Mix Ups
When I am learning to speak, I will use easier sounds in place of trickier ones. Sometimes, I will miss sounds out in some words and use them in others. I will get better with this as I grow and develop.
3-4 years
I might not always use long blowing, sounds like ‘s’ and ‘f’ so ‘sun’ might sound like ‘tun’ . I might also use ‘t’ or ‘d’ for ‘ch’ and ‘j’ so ‘jam’ might sound like ‘dam’.
I may mix up ‘k’ and ‘g’ for ‘t’ and ‘d’ so I might say ‘tea’ for ‘key’.
If there is a group of sounds at the beginning of a word like ‘stair’, I will make this easier for myself by missing out sounds and say ‘tair’ instead.
I might miss out parts in longer words so ‘elephant’ might sound like ‘efant’.
Its common for me to mix up ‘l’, ‘w’ and ‘y’ for ‘r’ so ‘red’ might sound like ‘wed’ or ‘led’.
4-5 years
I often still mix up ‘l’, ‘w’ and ‘y’ for ‘r’ in my talking.
I am starting to manage more than one sound at the beginning of words so ’spoon’ is easier but more complex words like ‘string’ might still be difficult.
5-7 years
I can manage most sounds although I might say ‘f’ for ‘th’.
Sometimes ‘l’, ‘w’ and ‘r’ are still mixed up in my words.
Dummies and Speech Development
Many parents use a dummy to help soothe their child. This is understandable. Most babies have a strong sucking reflex and often a dummy can help settle a child. Dummies can be a great support to parents and babies in the early months of development.
Long-term dummy use can impact on the development of speech, language and teeth.
If your child has neurodevelopmental differences such as autism, they may be using a dummy to meet a sensory need. If this is the case, it might be helpful to try alternatives (“chewellry”, chew toys, chew buddy, crunchy or chewy snack) to meet this need.
For essentials tips, benefits and risks of using dummies look at the dummies page on Cbeebies Parenting.
Stammering
What do we know about stammering?
Stammering is also known as stuttering. Stammering is a different way of talking. It is when words and/or sounds are repeated or stretched and sometimes difficult to get out altogether. It’s when the flow of speech is interrupted and it’s difficult for you to say what you want to say.
Stammering is not uncommon. It is more common in children than teenagers or adults. However, for about 20% of those who stammer as a child, their stammer will continue be present when speaking throughout their adult life.
There is no cure for stammering because it is neurological which means there is a difference in the brains of people who stammer compared to the brains of people who do not stammer. Stammering is not caused by nervousness, lack of confidence or lack of intelligence. This way of talking is not wrong or bad- it’s just different. It is ok to stammer. Everyone is different in their own unique way.
You can be a great communicator and stammer.
Stammering is variable. This means some days you will stammer more than others. Sometimes an increase in stammering can be linked to tiredness, stress, illness and sometimes there is no reason to explain it. It’s normal to stammer more on some days be kind to yourself. Instead of saying “I’m having a bad/good day” – say “I’m stammering more/less today”.
Thoughts and feelings about stammering
You may feel ok about your stammer but are aware that others (your parents or teachers) may worry about your talking.
Stammering can sometimes be viewed negatively by people. It is often because they don’t know much about it or understand stammering. People’s reactions such as finishing your words, laughing or looking away can affect how you feel about your talking. It may make you feel like you want to hide it from others.
Some young people develop a range of different thoughts and feelings about their talking due to their experiences and people’s reactions. Some people say they can feel angry, sad, embarrassed or anxious about their stammering. These feelings can lead you to hide your stammer and avoid speaking situations. Having a stammer can sometimes be hard.
When should I ask for help?
You can ask for advice and support for your stammer at any time and whenever feels right for you.
It may be that talking to your parents or teachers is enough support or you may want to see a Speech & Language Therapist if your stammer is impacting on your day to day life.
What does therapy involve?
Therapy is suited to your needs. The therapist will discuss with you what you are hoping to gain from attending therapy. Therapy can help to support and enable you to communicate to your potential and say what you want to say, when you want to say it, without fear or struggle. It can help you feel more comfortable and safe to stammer and develop your knowledge and confidence in knowing how to help yourself. This will help you communicate with more comfort and confidence and reduce the impact of stammering.
What can I do to help myself?
It’s important to know that it is ok to stammer. Your talking is acceptable and valuable.
Learn about stammering and meet other people who stammer. You can get a lot of support and advice from others who understand your experiences. Find out about other people who stammer. There are many successful people who stammer. Look online, there are links below that you might find helpful.
Try practising mindfulness techniques to help you relax if you find you are anxious or tense about speaking. You can find more information and advice on the Help with How I'm Feeling page from Young Minds
Talk to your friends and family about your stammer- let them know what they could do to help you feel more at ease when talking.
What can people around me do to help?
You are the expert in your own stammer. There will be some things that make it easier and more comfortable for you to speak. It’s really important to tell people what helps you and what makes things difficult. At school and home, encourage your parents/carers and teachers to support you. Letting your friends know that you have a stammer and talking about it with them might also help you feel better about it. If other people know about it they are more likely to be supportive and encourage you to be confident and their responses are more likely to be positive. This will also make talking easier for you whilst you are stammering.
Stammering Pride
There is a current change within the stammering community that challenges why a person needs to be fluent and why a stammer needs fixing.
This view shows how people’s negative views and barriers that are in place are the problem rather than the stammer. Therefore, it is society that needs changing rather than the person who stammers. This view helps us to consider that stammering is a difference in talking and not everyone needs to speak in the same way. The stammering pride movement encourages people who stammer to take pride in the way they speak.
STAMMA (look at the “Your Voice” section for people talking about their experiences of stammering). There is also advice for parents, schools, children and teenagers.
Action for Stammering Children (look at the “stammbassadors” page for examples of people who stammer talking about their jobs and how stammering has affected them)
Me and my stammer (feat Ed Balls) | #ISAD2022 YouTube video
Other resources
A TikToker called ge0rgia talks- is a girl who stammers raising awareness of stammering and documenting her journey
Books such as “Stuttering is cool” by Daniel Rossi and “The boy who made everyone laugh” by Helen Rutter.
Stambassadors - Abed Ahmed YouTube Video - listen to a High school teacher talk about what he has done to develop his confidence and be less bothered by his stammer.
@juststutter – exploring life with a stutter through art. Have a look at some cartoons.
Proud Stutter - a multi-award winning podcast changing how we understand and talk about stuttering, one conversation at a time.
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th r - these sounds are tricky and I might be 7 before I have got them just right
