Children’s understanding of language develops before they learn to say words. They learn what words mean by listening to you talking, watching your face and the gestures you make. For example, you might say to them: "You look warm, are you’re thirsty? Here’s some juice."
The best way of developing a child’s understanding is by talking to your child about everyday activities and playing with them. Match your words to what they are doing or looking at and repeat the same words and phrases. For example if your child is pushing a car along you could say: "Vroom vroom, push the car, push the car, push the car."
You are the best person to help your child’s understanding and can do this much better than expensive toys or video games.
Making 
sure you have your child's attention is crucial to them understanding what you are saying. You could try these tips to help them be able to give you their full attention:
Simple 
language is easier for a child to understand, so think about the words you use when you speak to them. Try these tips:
Sometimes your child might need time to understand and process what is being said to them. By giving them time to respond to instructions and questions, you will reduce any pressure they feel to produce an appropriate response. You could try:
Asking too many questions, or making questions complicated, can be confusing for your child. These tips could help:
Using visuals can really help your child understand the spoken word. To find out more about using visuals, please visit our page using the link below.
Sharing a book with your child is a great way to help develop their understanding, imagination and language. You don't have to read all the words, you can tell the story from the pictures.
If there is a story your child enjoys, they will love reading it over and over again with you.
We’re pleased to be able to provide a range of short, free introductory speech and language (SaLT) courses which will offer you some simple strategies to use within the home or educational settings.
We would like to support as many children and young people as possible, so each course is available as a recorded session below. We have a range of resources online that link to these training sessions to offer further information and ideas.
Supporting Understanding
Supporting Understanding is for adults working with children who struggle to understand questions and instructions in the classroom.
This course explains how questions can be broken down into ‘Blanks Levels’, and how understanding these levels can allow you to pitch questions and instructions in a way to maximise your child’s ability to understand. We will also discuss some simple strategies you can use in the classroom to support and develop children’s understanding of language.
Make sure your child can see what you are talking about, so that they can link the word or idea to the object or what is happening. Children need to hear new words repeated many times before they understand them.
Let us know what you think!
We've been working together in Norfolk and Waveney with families and professionals to put together information, advice and resources that are helpful to families. Let us know what you think, and anything we could change or add to make it even better.
If you live in Norfolk
You can contact the Healthy Child Service team by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520 631590. Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
If you live in Waveney
If your child is 11-24 years old, FYI Norfolk is an interactive NHS website just for them. It provides reliable and trustworthy advice and support on lots of health and wellbeing topics.
Norfolk SEND Local Offer provide information and advice on services for young people with additional needs in Norfolk.
Suffolk SEND Local Offer provide information and advice on services for young people with additional needs in Waveney.
Mencap is a national charity who support people with learning disabilities. They offer a free Learning Disability Helpline with advice and guidance. Call 0808 808 1111 to speak to a trained professional.
Kooth offers online counselling, advice and emotional well-being support for anyone aged 10-18, seven days a week until 10pm.
