Speech therapist Sarah Kelly has over sixteen years of experience in the field and emphasizes how important playing with your baby is for their development and why toys with letters and numbers are taboo.

Sarah, who specialises in the early years of life at her renowned SpeakEasy clinic in Dublin, says: “Every child learns through play.”

She explains: “I always say that good therapy sessions are like play. If you follow a child’s lead and interests, you are more likely to engage them and they are more likely to be motivated to learn.”

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Sarah is the proud creator of Baby’s First Playtime, a curated toy box specifically designed to support communication development and encourage meaningful play.

She emphasizes that parents play the most important role in developing their baby’s interaction and communication skills and encourages parents to view toys as a “tool” that facilitates this process.

“Sometimes parents don’t really know how to play with their child. And that’s one of the questions I get asked most often: ‘How do I play with my baby?’ and ‘How do I support his language development?'”

“By using these toys you can support it, but it’s really important to note that the toys in the box and the toys we use are ones that don’t interfere with the interaction with you.”

She goes into more detail and advises parents to be careful when buying toys with lots of flashing lights and loud noises.

She added that while these types of toys are “very engaging,” they generally limit interaction: “The toys in my box have squeakers and shakers, but they still allow interaction with you, and that’s a really important aspect.”

She describes how some of the larger toy manufacturers are bringing baby toys onto the market with the ABCs and numbers and says that these details are “completely inappropriate”.

“That’s why I think parents come in and focus on numbers and letters, and I always have to step back and say, I want your child to communicate their wants and needs, and letters and numbers just come much later.”

Explaining the benefits of something as simple as playing peek-a-boo, she said: “(Peek-a-boo) really encourages the two-way nature of communication. So you’re playing peek-a-boo with your baby, and when you look at them, they’re smiling big at you – but that’s what’s on the line, and that’s how you’re building the architecture of the brain for language.”

“It’s a back and forth through physical interaction where you join in a little bit and they join in a little bit. Even if it’s just a little smile, it’s their turn, and that’s what really builds language and communication.”

Sarah explains why she included pictures of cars and fish in the sensory book section of her toy collection: “(Babies) imitate sounds first. So you can say ‘beep, beep and broom, broom’ for the car and you can make (a sound) with your lips for the fish and a child will imitate those first before they say their first words.”

She goes into more detail about why singing is so important for babies, saying, “One reason is the repetitive nature of singing, which makes it very predictable for a child to know when it is their turn and how to join in. Along with singing, you can also incorporate gestures and actions. This is a prerequisite for saying the first word – the child must first imitate gestures and actions before imitating words.

“Then the rhyme in it helps with vocabulary, with speaking, with phonics, with language. So singing has so many benefits, and I always say, even take the melody of your song and make up your own songs when you’re dressing your baby or changing their diapers.”

In order to build a better playful bond with your little one, talking to your baby is also an incredibly important factor.

“When you talk to your baby in that sing-song intonation and high pitch, it’s melodic and slow and that really engages and engages them.”

“Talking face to face is also very important. When you play with your baby or read to him, you should be face to face so that he can see your facial expressions. He can see your mouth moving and he can imitate you. This builds a real bond with him.”

Sarah emphasized the tremendous value of play, explaining that when your child plays, they always know that you are watching and participating in what they are doing.

“They feel valued and interacting with you is really encouraging. So it’s like the game and the interaction with you are equally important.”

Sarah concluded with a kind remark: “Parents often think, ‘What do I need to do to encourage language?’ and they think in the big picture – but actually it’s the little things, like pausing for the child’s turn during an interaction. That’s really important.”

“Even in that first year of life, a child isn’t saying a word, but you’re still pausing until it’s their turn, and that’s what really encourages language and interaction. I think sometimes it’s these really simple tips and tricks that can really help parents.”

You can find Sarah’s website here and stay up to date with all things language and communication for babies on her Instagram.

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