Friday 29 July 2016. Families in Dorking and Leatherhead are being urged to ditch screen time and embrace face-to-face time chatting with their children this summer after research reveals that 1 in 4 children in England now starts school without the language and communication skills they need (Early Intervention Foundation).
To help parents and carers out, CSH Surrey's Speech and Language Therapists are today launching their new ‘Face2Face’ campaign to get children talking more in a bid to improve their educational and life chances.
Kate Green, Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist at CSH Surrey, says: “Research shows us that language development is central to children acquiring good literacy skills. Not only that, by the time a child is five, their vocabulary can predict their future educational success (www.ican.org.uk/).
“The increasing time children and adults are spending using screens, watching TV and using mobile phones is reducing the opportunities for today’s children to learn vocabulary. Although they may be observing or listening to language on TV and devices, this isn’t supporting them to actively absorb language.
“Learning new vocabulary happens best through face-to-face interaction in everyday situations. So actively involving children in conversations, and chatting about what they are doing will help them to remember and use the words they hear.
“When a child is engaged in a conversation, the other person can repeat and reinforce vocabulary they already know. The adult can also introduce them to new words that are directly related to what they are focused on. In this way parents and carers can expand and strengthen children’s vocabulary.”
CSH Surrey’s Speech and Language Therapy team has developed more than 50 ideas sheets to encourage families to get chatting. The resources focus on a wide range of ordinary and everyday experiences and activities, and are supported by an ‘Expanding Language’ video.
Families are being urged to use these resources to engage their children in conversations this summer to expand and reinforce their vocabulary.
“Through our Face2Face campaign we’re helping parents and carers to lay down the foundations for their children’s learning, literacy and language development for life,” says Kate Green.
“The ideas sheets cover a variety of topics, from things you can make together to home life. No special toys or equipment are needed, just time to talk with your child. The summer holidays are a great opportunity to start spending more time face-to-face, especially if your child will be starting school in September. Use our ideas sheets to gradually expand your child’s language: adding just a few new words each day will make a lifetime of difference.”
For information and the campaign resources visit https://www.cshsurrey.co.uk/our-services/services-children/developing-language-skills