It may be the 21st century but apparently there is an increasing number of children who start school barely able to speak. We aren’t talking two year olds – we’re talking four and five year olds. I was shocked and saddened hearing teachers describe how inarticulate many children are…
For example, some children don’t even know their own name and some speak with no linking words so instead of saying “I went to the shop” they just say “went shop”. This is baby talk not five-year old talk. In poorer areas up to 50% of a class have delayed speech.
No-Pens Wednesday
It was the brilliant idea of The Communication Trust as part its Hello campaign, which aims to make communication a priority for all children and young people in homes and schools across the country.
Schools who took part dedicated the day to speaking and listening – no writing allowed. At least here was an idea to begin addressing those shocking statistics of children who can’t communicate.
Sharing stories
I feel very sad that any child hasn’t had the joy of sharing stories with their family. Being read to must be one of the greatest pleasures in life. One of the strongest memories of my childhood is my Grandma’s version of Red Riding Hood. Although she could barely read and write she told a good yarn – I still remember hiding under the covers when the wolf appeared.
Disadvantaged
The hard truth is children who have delayed speech are at a huge disadvantage in life. In my work as a voice and communication coach I see how important the ability to speak and communicate confidently is. It is fundamental to our self-esteem, personal success and happiness. It helps us get jobs and make friends.
So hats off to ‘Hello’ and The Communication Trust and to those schools who are taking this talking stuff seriously. You can find out more at http://www.hello.org.uk
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