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What Should I Do If I’m Concerned About My Child’s Speech and Language Development?

Sprinkle Of Salt Speech & Language Therapy Lucy With Toys

By Lucy Creed, Specialist Speech & Language Therapist and Founder of Sprinkle of SALT -Speech & Language Therapy

Many parents worry at some point about whether their child is developing speech and language skills at the “right” pace. This is especially common around the age of four, when children are often expected to start using longer sentences, ask lots of questions, and follow more complex instructions. 

But what happens when your child struggles to communicate? For a child who can’t express themselves clearly or who finds it hard to understand what’s being said, everyday life can feel frustrating, confusing, and overwhelming.  This can show up as tantrums, withdrawn behaviour, or difficulty engaging with others. 

What should a 4-year-old be able to do?

By age four, many children can:

  • Use sentences of 4–6 words (or longer).
  • Ask “who,” “what,” “where,” and “why” questions.
  • Talk clearly enough for familiar adults to understand them most of the time.
  • Follow two- or three-step instructions.
  • Take turns in conversation and play.

However, every child is different. If your child isn’t doing all these yet, it doesn’t always mean there’s a serious problem, but it’s worth keeping an eye on things.

 What to do if you’re concerned:

  1. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it. You’re the expert on your child.
  1. Talk to your health visitor if your child is under school age. They can help you monitor your child’s development and may offer early support or referral options.
  1. Speak to your child’s nursery, preschool or school. Staff may have noticed similar concerns and can involve the settings SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator).
  1. Check if you can self-refer. In some areas, you can contact NHS speech and language therapy services directly without needing a GP referral.
  1. Consider a hearing test. Hearing difficulties can often affect a child’s speech and language development, even if you haven’t noticed signs of hearing loss. Clinical guidance recommends ruling out hearing issues early.

Five Simple Tips to Support Your Child’s Communication

  1. Follow their lead. Talk about what your child is interested in as this helps keep the conversation engaging and boosts vocabulary naturally.
  1. Repeat and expand. If they say, “car fast,” you might reply “Yes, the red car is going really fast!”
  1. Minimise background noise. Turn off the TV or music during key communication moments to help them focus.
  1. Pause and wait. Give your child time to respond before jumping in as this builds their confidence in taking turns.
  1. Model don’t correct. Instead of pointing out mistakes, just repeat what they meant with the correct form. For example, if they say “Him go park,” you might say, “Yes, he went to the park.”

If you’re concerned or just want to learn more, you can reach out to me, Lucy, at:

07434 860055

officesprinkleofsaltuk@gmail.com

Visit: sprinkleofsaltspeechandlanguagetherapy.com

Facebook: Sprinkle of SALT – Speech and Language Therapy | Facebook

More about Sprinkle of SALT 

In response to growing demand,  Lucy has recently launched the Sprinkle of SALT Parent Hub – an online membership platform with:

  • Bite-sized, expert-led video advice.
  • A private, non-judgemental online community.
  • Live Q&A sessions with a qualified therapist.
  • Tailored, flexible support for busy families.

Membership starts from just around £1/day with three pricing tiers available.

SPECIAL OFFER: To get 10% off membership with Sprinkle of SALT Parent Hub and Raring2go! click here

Sprinkle of Salt Speech and Language Therapy Lucy with balloon

 

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