2 September 2003

Parents sometimes need help with pre-school preparation

Speech and language therapists are keen to promote the work they do with the parents of pre-school children, in the light of recent media attention on "poor standards" of parenting.

Earlier this week David Bell, the chief inspector of schools in England, said too many children were receiving a "disrupted and dishevelled" upbringing, and as a result the verbal and behavioural skills of children starting school were at an all time low, with many children unable to settle and not ready to learn.

Responding to Mr Bell's comments, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists CEO Kamini Gadhok said behaviour is very obviously linked to language and it is very hard to separate one from the other.

"It is clear some parents have problems with their pre-school children. They have the will but sometimes lack the resources and know-how to cope when faced with a child with language difficulties," Ms Gadhok said.

"Speech and language therapists are involved and engaged with some key initiatives, including Sure Start programmes, which bring together early education, childcare, health and family support to give a sure start to young children living in disadvantaged areas.

"Speech and language therapists work with parents in a creative and dynamic way to develop and promote awareness of language norms, and to increase the use of resources available for children with longer-term language problems. Speech and language therapists also aim to influence bigger groups of children by educating staff in methods of promoting language in pre-school settings."

Talk to Your Baby coordinator Liz Attenborough said: "All parents wish to do their best for their children, but often lack the confidence or knowledge to implement powerful parenting practices, such as attentive listening, singing songs, playing rhyming games and sharing books. Parents need to be empowered to recognise their valuable contribution to their child's ability to make sense of the world, through encouraging communication at every opportunity".

"The National Literacy Trust has embarked on a development year to plan an early language campaign to benefit children from birth to three. Language is the key to learning and children with adequate speech and language skills in the first years of life are far less likely to experience learning and relationship problems at school compared to those who do not grow up in a language-rich environment.

Ends

Notes for editors:

For more information about the :Talk to your Baby project contact Liz Attenborough, Talk to Your Baby coordinator

For more information contact Steven Harulow, email: steven.harulow@rcslt.org tel: 020 7378 3004