Our recent interactive parent workshop on language and communication stimulation proved to be an enriching experience for all involved.

The workshop aimed to empower parents with practical strategies to support their child’s communication & language development across various key areas.

We began by exploring pre-verbal skills, emphasizing the importance of joint attention, turn-taking, initiation, eye contact, and gestures. These foundational skills are essential for early communication and interaction. Parents engaged in discussion about the kinds of activities that promote these behaviours, understanding how such skills lay the groundwork for more advanced language development.

We discussed play skills, highlighting the transition from isolated play to playing with others, engaging in functional play, establishing play routines and fostering imaginative play. Play is a critical context for language learning, and parents learned how to use playtime to enhance their child’s social and communication skills.

Receptive language development was another focal point. We covered strategies for encouraging children to respond to their names, understand the meaning of “no”, choice making, identifying items, following requests, and comprehending spoken language. Techniques to enhance their child’s ability to understand and process verbal information were shared with parents.

Expressive language development was addressed by focusing on automatic sequences, symbolic noises, parts of words, building vocabulary, and forming sentences. Parents were provided with tools and activities to encourage their children to express themselves more effectively and expand their expressive language abilities.

Finally, we explored various forms of communication, including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), signs, picture exchange systems, and social communication skills. Parents learned how to support their child’s communication needs using a variety of methods, ensuring that each child can find their voice and communicate effectively.

The workshop was highly interactive, with parents actively participating in discussions, activities, and role-playing scenarios, courtesy of the amazing spaces at Varsity Club in Plumstead. The collaborative environment allowed for sharing experiences and learning from one another, making the session both informative and engaging. We are confident that the strategies and insights gained will have a positive impact on w language and communication development.

Thank you to all the parents for their enthusiasm and commitment to supporting their children’s growth and wellbeing . We look forward to continuing this journey together.

Warm regards,

Aeysha Ebrahim & Samantha Martin

Speech and Language Therapists