Tots Talking
The Tots Talking programme was designed and developed by Speech and Language UK with a group of parents and carers of 2-year-old children.
The aim of Tots Talking is to improve communication skills in two-year-olds. This is done by sharing information with parents and carers and encouraging use of language and behaviours which research suggests supports children in talking and understanding words. Examples include turn-taking, sharing the child’s interest and adding on to children’s comments.
Tots Talking is aimed at parents and caregivers of 2-year-old children who are not using contingent language with them.
Parents who may benefit from the programme are those who don’t say very much to their children or don’t respond verbally to children’s interactions with them (although they may respond in other ways). It is not aimed at parents of children with SEND.
Tots Talking has eight sessions that run once a week, with small groups of 6 – 8 parents and carers of two-year-olds at risk of speech and language challenges. Each session lasts for one hour.
Tots Talking is an interactive programme and is available for delivery online or face-to-face.
The weekly sessions are run by staff working in nurseries and early years settings who have completed Tots Talking training with one of Speech and Language UK’s Licensed Tutors.
The staff will decide on the best time to run Tots Talking each week. The group runs without the children attending so you may need to arrange for crèche facilities.
Children may come in for the last 5 minutes so parents and carers can show them what they have made, but this is optional.
- Facilitator guide to help run the sessions
- Access to the Tots Talking App (iOS and Android)
- Support from Speech and Language UK
The resources cost £150 per setting plus the cost of training.
Next steps
Please contact Speech and Language UK at info@speechandlanguage.org.uk for next steps or more information.
