Unlocking Language

Unlocking Language An award winning, independent Speech and Language Therapy Service in London.

23/11/2025

Looking for a simple, at-home activity that keeps your little one engaged and boosts their language skills? Try a flour tray play session!

All you need is a tray, a sheet of paper, a sprinkle of flour, a shaker and a few cookie cutters.

It’s quick to set up, wonderfully sensory, and perfect for supporting early communication.

As your child explores the flour, you can model words like shake, tap, press, soft, messy and more.

Describe what they can see and feel.

Pause and wait for them to look, point, gesture or make a sound then respond as if they’re starting a little conversation with you.

These messy moments are full of opportunities for new vocabulary, turn-taking and joint attention.

Use the cookie cutters to make shapes and narrate what’s happening: Press it down. Lift it up. Look, a star!

Simple actions like these give you so many chances to model short, meaningful phrases. Follow your child’s lead, copy their ideas and celebrate whatever they create.

20/11/2025

Every child has a voice and every voice deserves to be heard.

At Unlocking Language, we believe that communication is not a privilege, but a right. Every child should have the opportunity to express who they are, what they need, and how they feel, whether through words, signs, gestures, or symbols.

When a child communicates, they are sharing their world with us. Their voice matters, their words matter, and we are here to listen.

This World Children’s Day, let’s celebrate every voice and continue to create spaces where all children can be heard and understood.

19/11/2025

For International Men’s Day, SLT Jack wanted to shine a light on something often overlooked, the quiet communication struggles many boys and men experience every day.

Working across schools and colleges, he has seen first-hand how many young men find it difficult to express emotions, speak up, or ask for help. Not because they don’t care, but because they don’t always feel confident using their voice.

And here’s an important fact: in the UK, only about 4% of registered speech and language therapists (SLTs) are men.  In earlier research, it was found that men made up just 1-2% of SLTs. 

Jack believes communication is the foundation of confidence, connection and wellbeing. When boys and men feel understood, everything improves: relationships, mental health, and their sense of self.

As a Speech and Language Therapist, his focus is helping them feel heard, supported and empowered.

This International Men’s Day, he reminds every man and boy that speaking up is a strength and support is always available.

18/11/2025

Here is a quick guide to what we often see in early language development.

Around six to nine months, babies start babbling and may turn when they hear their name.
By ten to twelve months, many little ones say their first real words like mama, dada, ball or bye bye.

From twelve to eighteen months, children usually build a small set of words. Some may be cute early versions like wawa for water.

Between eighteen and twenty four months, vocabulary grows quickly. Many children reach fifty or more words and begin using two word phrases like more juice or mummy help.

By two years, short sentences are common, such as I want cookie or more bubbles please.

Every child develops at their own pace, but these milestones give a helpful guide. If you ever have concerns about your child’s speech or language, early support can make a big difference.

14/11/2025

It’s Baby Week!

From those first moments of eye contact to the joy of hearing early babbles, every stage of a baby’s communication journey is something to celebrate.

In the first year, babies move from connecting through looks and smiles to experimenting with sounds, gestures, and even their first words. These small steps are powerful signs of growing connection and understanding.

Every child develops in their own way and at their own pace, but recognising these early milestones helps us nurture communication from the very beginning.

Baby Week UK aims to bring together different sectors and services (healthcare, early years, community organisations) to promote the best start in life for babies, expectant parents/carers, and families.

It emphasises the importance of early childhood (especially the first 1,001 days) and raising awareness of what support is available.

Supporting early interaction sets the foundation for confident communication and lifelong learning. Baby Week UK

13/11/2025

Kindness gives every voice a chance to be heard.

For some children, communicating their thoughts and feelings can be a challenge. As speech and language therapists, we know that gentle encouragement and understanding can make all the difference. When we take the time to listen, wait, and celebrate each small success, we show children that their voices matter.

Kindness in communication is about creating space for confidence to grow. It is about patience, empathy, and connection, giving every child the chance to express themselves in their own time and in their own way.

This World Kindness Day, let us remember that every word, gesture, and moment of understanding can help a child’s voice shine. With kindness and the right support, every voice can grow stronger and be heard.

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12/11/2025

As a speech and language therapist, I always remind parents that the best language learning happens during play, especially when you use your child’s favourite toys. When children are having fun, they’re naturally more curious and engaged, which makes it the perfect time to introduce new words.

In this activity, I used Peppa and Teddy to teach prepositions — those little words that help children understand where things are, like between, next to and on top of. These might seem simple, but they’re a big part of how children follow directions and describe what they see.

You can try this at home with any of your child’s favourite toys. Grab a few small items and model short phrases like “Put the apple between the toys” or “The car is next to Teddy.” Repeat the words naturally as you play together. Children learn best through hearing and doing.

The goal isn’t to turn play into a lesson. It’s to make language part of everyday fun. The more your child hears these words in real contexts, the more likely they are to understand and use them on their own.

So next time you’re playing together, grab Peppa, Teddy or whoever your child loves most, and turn those little moments into language learning opportunities!

11/11/2025

Learning about Pronouns: He & She

Today we are focusing on pronouns, the words we use instead of names, like he and she.

Understanding and using pronouns helps children describe people accurately and develop their grammar and comprehension skills.

In this activity, we use verb picture cards showing different actions. Children look at each picture and describe what’s happening using the correct pronoun:
“He is eating”
“She is drinking”

This guided approach helps children:
- Learn to identify gender (boy/girl)
- Use correct sentence structures
- Build understanding of who is doing what

By practising with clear visuals, repetition, and conversation, children begin to use he and she naturally in everyday speech, a key step in their language development journey.

Comment ‘pronouns’ for a he/she activity pack.

10/11/2025

Sorting fun in the ball pit today. This simple but engaging activity is a great way to help children build their vocabulary and learn how to sort and categorise words through play.

We hid different animals and transport toys in the ball pit, then took turns guessing what we found, describing it, and deciding whether it belonged in the animal or transport group. Activities like this encourage children to think about word meanings, link words by category, and use descriptive language in a natural and playful way.

Categorisation is such an important skill for language development. It helps children organise their thoughts, expand their vocabulary, and make connections between new and familiar words. And when it’s done through play, children are motivated to explore, talk, and learn without even realising it.

Who would have thought a ball pit could support so much language learning?

09/11/2025

Exploring Animals Through Sensory Play and Language!

At Unlocking Language, we love combining sensory play with language development because when children play, they learn best.

In this exciting foam-filled activity, children dive into a world of texture, discovery, and communication. As they shake, squeeze, and search through the soft foam to find hidden animals, every movement becomes an opportunity for language learning.

Children are encouraged to use their words to make requests, label what they find, and describe what they feel and see.

This kind of sensory-rich experience supports language in powerful ways:

Vocabulary Growth: As children name each animal and describe what they’re doing (“I found a lion!” / “The frog is slimy!”), they strengthen their understanding and recall of new words.

Sentence Building : Repetition and expansion help children form longer, more confident sentences. For example, a simple “lion” can become “The lion is hiding in the foam!”

Listening and Following Directions: Through playful prompts like “Can you find the animal that roars?” or “Let’s look for something with a long trunk,” children learn to process and respond to spoken language.

Turn-Taking and Social Interaction: Working alongside peers or adults teaches valuable communication skills such as sharing, waiting, and listening to others.

Sensory Regulation: The tactile experience of foam provides calming and alerting input for children who benefit from sensory-based activities. It keeps attention focused and bodies engaged while learning through movement.

By blending language learning with hands-on exploration, children connect words to real experiences. The sensory nature of foam play captures attention, reduces anxiety, and makes learning both joyful and meaningful.

07/11/2025

Following Instructions with Mr Potato Head

Today we worked on understanding and following directions through a fun colouring activity featuring a picture of Mr Potato Head!

Activities like this help children:
• Develop their listening and comprehension skills
• Learn colours and vocabulary
• Strengthen their ability to process and follow multi-step instructions

We didn’t use the actual toy, just a colouring sheet of Mr Potato Head. For example, we might say:
“Colour his ears blue.”
“Colour his hat red.”
“Colour his nose yellow.”

By listening carefully and following each direction, children practise understanding language and responding to instructions all while having fun!

This simple activity can be done anywhere at home, in the classroom, or even on the go. You can make it playful by doing it together: describe what you see, model new words, and give your child short, clear instructions to follow.

Comment ‘follow instructions’ to get a pack of colouring in sheets.


06/11/2025

Assessing Language with the Renfrew Action Picture Test.

Today we are using the Routledge Books Renfrew Action Picture Test (RAPT) a much-loved language assessment for children aged 3 to 8½ years.

It helps us see how a child uses grammar, builds sentences, and describes what they see in a picture.

We have paired it with Blank Level questions, which help us explore the child’s understanding of language from simple questions like “What is the girl doing?” to more abstract ones like “Why is she feeling happy?” or “What do you think the weather is like outside?”

These questions gradually increase in complexity, encouraging children to reason, predict, and problem solve as they talk. It is a valuable way to understand how the child uses and understands language, helping us create individualised targets that support communication step by step.

Why we love the RAPT:
• It’s quick to administer and engaging for children.
• Gives great insight into a child’s grammar and expressive language.
• Works beautifully alongside Blank Levels to assess both understanding and expression.
• It’s a fantastic screen or ice breaker assessment to use , helping children feel comfortable and chatty.
• A true go-to tool for Speech and Language Therapists everywhere!

Address

Unlocking Language, Unit 3, 12 Pepper Street
London
E149RP

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 10pm
Tuesday 8am - 10pm
Wednesday 8am - 10pm
Thursday 8am - 10pm
Friday 8am - 10pm
Saturday 8am - 10pm
Sunday 8am - 10pm

Telephone

+442075369299

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