Frequently Asked Questions
Dummies
“My daughter loves her dummy, especially at sleep time, but will it stop her speaking?”
Take a look at this information from Speech and Language UK and Words for Life. You can read about the benefits and disadvantages of using a dummy and some advice for stopping dummy use when you and your child are ready.
Screen Time
“Will watching TV help my son with his speech and language?”
Children learn the most about communication from playing and interacting with other people. Take a look at this research about screen time from Hanen, including ways to make the most of any screen time with your child.
Growing up with 2 or more languages
"Should we stop speaking our language at home and try and use English to stop our son getting confused?"
Knowing more than one language is a fantastic skill and does not cause children to have difficulties with their speech, language and communication. Your home language is a part of your and your child’s identity, so keep your home language alive. Developing their home language skills will give your child a strong foundation for learning other languages.
We advise you to:
- Talk to your child using the language you feel most confident speaking.
- If you child prefers to use English, you can still speak to them using your home language.
- Look at books with your child and make up stories. Your local library will be able to help you find stories in your home language.
- Help your child to feel proud of their language(s). This will help them develop a strong cultural identity.
Take a look at this information from Hanen and Speech and Language UK for more information about growing up with more than 1 language.
Last updated25 Jul 2024