FAQ: Language development

Decorative

Families who visit us often raise questions about their child’s language development. We’ve put together some resources that address the most common topics, including how to encourage language development, when it may be necessary to see a speech and language therapist, and bilingualism.

NCT: How can you encourage a child’s language development?

LuCiD evidence briefing: How can parents influence their children’s language development?

Speechbloguk – Help! My toddler isn’t talking.

I think my child may need to see a speech and language therapist. What is the next step?

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) provides information on the steps to take if you think your child needs to see a speech and language therapist.

“Some researchers thought that early exposure to two languages put children at a disadvantage. Newer research tells us that this is not so, and there may be advantages to being bilingual

“This document discusses a number of misconceptions that early years staff sometimes have with regard to multilingual language development

How can I tell if my child is getting enough exposure to each language?

Eleven questions along with my answers […] based on my own research on bilingualism over the years, knowledge of the field that I first entered in the early 1970’s, being a bilingual parent, and my own life as a bilingual”

Where can I find out more about bilingualism?

View a talk by Prof. Theo Marinis – director of the Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism at the University of Reading- and Prof. Ludovica Serratrice – director of Bilingualism Matters@Reading – talk about research evidence on myths and facts about bilingualism on International Mother Language Day, 21st February 2017.