Shall We Say

17/11/2025

Multilingualism and code-switching (switching between languages) are always strengths. Children don’t plan it, rehearse it, or think twice about it. They simply use the language that fits the moment.

It’s flexible, expressive, and completely natural.

And it's a strength even for children with language difficulties. Being monolingual won’t “fix” a language delay or disorder. Maintaining and growing all of a child’s languages can support their communication, connection, and overall language development.

Maybe there’s room for something gentler: letting children know they don’t need to change any part of themselves to belong

22/10/2025

🍬 Making the Language of Maths Real

These days, after dinner, my daughter and I have been using a few Smarties to make maths language come to life!

👉 “Take 10 Smarties and divide them into 2 groups.”
👉 “You have 6 Smarties. Share them equally between you and your sister.”
👉 “Give us all 2 Smarties — how many will there be in total?”

She answers a few of my questions first, and then gets to eat a couple of Smarties as her reward. It’s a simple way to practise words like divide, equally, and share in a way that feels fun and meaningful.

She gets to play and then eat a few smarties so she's highly motivated, even at the end of a long day (you see her here in her pyjamas) and she only eats a small number of Smarties by the end (4 or 5) so I don't think it's a sugar overload before bed, more a treat well earned!

We’ll move on to something new once she’s confident with these ideas, but for now, this has been a lovely, low-key way to make maths and language real.

11/10/2025

💫 Following, Not Leading

One of the most powerful ways to connect with an autistic child is to follow their lead in play.
Join in with what they love — whether that’s dinosaurs, trains, spinning wheels, or sorting colours.

When you enter their world, you show:
❤️ “What you care about matters.”
🗣️ “Your way of playing is valid.”
🤝 “We can connect through what you love.”

Through shared joy, communication begins to grow naturally — no pressure, no correction, just connection.

10/10/2025

In 'WORDS FOR WELLBEING ANIMATION' Professor Courtenay Norbury talks about the connections between Developmental Language Disorder and social, emotional and ...

09/10/2025

🌈 Reframing Autism: Seeing Strengths Differently

Imagine a world where what we call “restricted interests” are recognised as passions, the kind that spark deep focus, creativity, and expertise.

Autistic children often develop incredible knowledge and skills when they’re supported to explore what truly interests them. These passions can become lifelong strengths in science, art, technology, music, nature, and so much more.

When we shift our perspective from “fixing” difference to valuing diversity, we see how much everyone has to offer, in their ideas, insights, honesty, and unique ways of thinking.

💡 The more we allow children to follow their passions and adapt the world to include them, the more they can thrive and we all benefit.

28/09/2025

Skills for starting school...from language and sharing to handwashing and potty training...

School readiness tips and activities to support the skills your child needs to start school - from potty training to language learning.

24/09/2025

👂 Little Listeners, Big Talkers

One of the best ways to help your toddler’s language grow is to listen carefully to what they say and then gently expand it.

🌟 Example:
Child: “Doggy run!”
Parent: “Yes, the doggy is running fast!”

By adding just a little more, you’re modelling how words join together, without correcting or pressuring. Over time, toddlers start to copy longer sentences and richer vocabulary.

💡 Try it today: next time your child says something short, repeat it back and add one or two extra words. It’s simple, powerful, and helps little voices grow into confident talkers.

23/09/2025

📖 What’s your child’s favourite book right now?

Reading together isn’t just cosy — it’s powerful for language development.
Research shows that dialogic reading (where you talk about the story, ask questions, and encourage your child to join in) can significantly boost vocabulary and comprehension.

✨ Instead of just reading the words, try pausing to ask:

“What do you think will happen next?”

“Why do you think she feels sad?”

“Can you find another animal on this page?”

These small changes turn storytime into a two-way conversation — and that’s where the real learning happens.

So… what’s your child’s current favourite book? 📚

Dialogic reading involves an adult and child having a dialogue around the text they are reading aloud together. Learn how to use this strategy effectively to help kids build vocabulary and verbal fluency skills and understand story structure and meaning. Downloadable handouts to help guide parents i...

10/09/2025

🗣️ Teen Talk: Building Assertive Communication

Teenagers sometimes swing between being too quiet… or coming across as too forceful. Helping them find a balance — assertive communication — is a powerful skill for friendships, school, and beyond.

✨ Try this tip at home:
When your teenager has a request, encourage them to use the “I feel… I need… because…” structure. For example:
👉 “I feel stressed when I get interrupted. I need a few more minutes to finish my homework because it helps me stay focused.”

This gives them a clear voice, shows respect for others, and helps avoid conflict.

💡 Practising little scripts like this can make a big difference in their confidence.

09/09/2025

Spaces available for Saturday morning speech and language therapy sessions in Flitwick! Contact me at chloe@shallwesay.co.uk to book

08/09/2025

🎵 If the Cocomelon songs are driving you up the wall… that’s not a bad thing! 🙉
They’re designed to be catchy — and when songs stick in your head, they stick in your child’s too. That repetition is actually helping your child learn new words, rhythms, and sentence patterns.

So next time you find yourself humming ‘5 Little Speckled Frogs’ in the supermarket, remember — your child’s brain is humming along too! 🚌✨

And later on, when you join in and sing together, you’re giving those language skills an extra boost. Win-win (even if the tune is stuck in your head all day)!!

The Wolf went Huff and Puff and Blew the House Down!SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCybhUbTbIxukBHdfgAvnlkQ?sub_confirmation=1Subscribe for new v...

08/09/2025

🗣️ Supporting older children with language challenges? Encourage them to rehearse tricky conversations (like asking a teacher for help) at home. Role-play builds confidence for real-life situations.