Learning to talk

Children develop their speaking skills and understanding of words at their own pace.

Knowing what is typical can help you recognise how your child is progressing and discover ways to support their communication and language development.

Children may need extra support with speech, communication and language at some stage. As parents and carers, there is already a great deal you are doing—and can continue to do—to encourage your child’s development.

Take a look at Bolton’s Five Golden Rules for Communication which are designed to help you support positive, high-quality interactions with your child at home.

How do babies and children typically develop?

Although babies and young children develop at different rates, it can be useful to understand how they typically learn to communicate at different ages. Click the link below for some further information on skills that typically develop at different ages.

Ages and stages - Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives

Who can I talk to if I am worried?

If you are feeling worried about the progress your child is making when learning to talk, you can speak to your health visitor. Visit our NHS support from your midwife and health visitor page to find out more about what they do and when they carry out development reviews. If you’re worried about something in-between visits, you do not need to wait. Contact your health visitor any time.

If your child attends an Early Years and Childcare Setting you can also talk to their key person about your worries and they will give you advice and support.

Activities and links

Baby Babble and Bond

Baby Babble and Bond is a parent-child interaction group. It is a fun and interactive drop-in group, for families with babies 0-12 months. The session is run by our Family Hub Practitioners. During the group you can enjoy songs, rhymes and sensory play with your baby, as well as topic chats on subjects such as: building relationships, weaning, play and oral health.

Find out where and when 'Baby Babble and Bond' takes place.

Chat, Play, Read

Chat, Play, Read is a parent-child interaction group for families with children 12 months and older. This session is run by our Family Hub Practitioners. Enjoy songs, stories, sensory play and craft activities to help build your child’s communication, language and literacy skills.

Find out where and when 'Chat, Play, Read' takes place.

Book Areas in Best Start Family Hubs

You are welcome to come and enjoy the toys, mark-making and book areas in each of our Best Start Family Hubs. You can find these areas in the entrance spaces, along with brew making facilities. Please come and take a book home and then bring it back the next time you visit.

Find out more on our 'Fun with books for under fives' page.