Top tips for Early Sentence Users

Is your child at the stage of putting together short sentences (3 – 5 words)? Try these top tips to continue to improve their language and communication.

Follow Your Child’s Lead

Enjoy fun activities together, including your child’s interests. Whatever your child enjoys doing can be used as an opportunity to build language and communication. Join in the play your child’s way. Comment on what your child is doing.

Model Short Sentences

Interpret what your child wants to communicate by her actions and words, and put this into very short sentences that are easy for your child to copy.

Expand Sentences

If your child is frequently using sentences, expand your child’s language by repeating back what they say and adding a word or idea to make a slightly longer sentence, for example if your child says ‘the bus is coming’, you could repeat back ‘the big bus is coming’ or if your child says ‘the playdough is squishy’, you could repeat back ‘the playdough is squishy and stretchy’.

Build Vocabulary

Build your child’s vocabulary modelling lots of object names for things they use every day and are interested in. Don’t forget fun action words – action words are important for building sentences (for example play, catch, dance, fall, eat, drink).

People Play

Do you know the best activities for early interaction that only need you?

• Peekaboo
• Tickles
• Chasing
• Hide and Seek

Tickly rhymes such as:

• ‘Round the garden’
• ‘This little piggy’
• ‘Cross cross line line’

Movement rhymes such as:

• Row, row, row your boat
• Ring a roses
• Sleeping Bunnies

Pause at the high points of the play to give your child opportunities to show enjoyment and anticipation. Pause at the end to let your child show they want to repeat the game. Use predictable, repetitive language that your child can join in.

Use visual information as you talk

Show your child what you mean using visual information as you talk, such as holding up objects, pointing, using gestures and pictures. Using Makaton signs is a great way to build language and communication.

Share songs and rhymes

Share songs and rhymes with your child — songs with actions (like Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes) or with lots of repetition and fun sounds (like Old McDonald or Wheels on the Bus) are great for encouraging young children to join in.

Share Stories

Interactive books, such as ones you can touch and feel, lift-the-flap, or books with buttons, can be great to capture little ones’ interest and take turns.

Chat about the pictures using single words and short phrases, and encourage your child to point at the pictures.

Support Understanding

Children may need time to think before responding to questions and instructions. Give your child time without answering for them. Support understanding by breaking longer instructions down. Support spoken instructions with visual information such as pointing and gestures.

Support Speech Sounds

If your child mixes up or misses out some sounds in words, simply repeat back the correct version of the word for your child to hear. Modelling speech and language while following your child’s lead works better than putting pressure on your child to correct what they are saying or say sounds they might not be ready for yet.

Support Phonological Awareness

Listening out for rhythms, sounds and rhymes is a great way to get your child ready for literacy.

Why not try clapping along to the beat of a song or using musical instruments to bang or shake out the beat?

Nursery Rhymes – say rhymes and songs together with your child.

Pause to let your child fill in the words and talk about which words sound the same (rhyme).

Loving language