Speech, Language and Communication for Healthy Little Minds: Practical Ideas to Promote Communication for Wellbeing in the Early Years(Little Minds Matter)

This book is packed with practical ideas and techniques to enable early years educators to support the communication development of the children in their setting and to understand the relationship between communication and emotional wellbeing. By forming an understanding of the science behind emotional regulation and the role of the adult in supporting the development of this, the book explores how emotions can impact learning and communication skills, and why we must understand how adult responses and communication have a direct impact on emotional wellbeing. Each chapter provides: practical ideas which will create a culture of communication and connection research and case studies with plenty of opportunities for the reader to reflect on their own practice and interaction style top tips and ideas for promoting speech and language skills in the early years environment; and an awareness of how to support the language development and emotional wellbeing of children who are struggling to communicate Emotions impact interactions, and interactions impact communication and connectedness. This book enables and empowers the reader to understand what communication and wellbeing really look like in the early years environment, and how we can use this knowledge to improve long-term outcomes for children’s learning and mental health. It is essential reading for all early years educators.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1 – Communication and Connection Chapter 2 – Am I safe, Do I Matter, Do You Hear Me? Chapter 3 – Speech, Language and Communication Needs Chapter 4 – Creating Environments Where All Children Are Understood Chapter 5 – Sharing the Love Index

About the Author :
Becky Poulter Jewson has over 25 years of experience working with children and families as a qualified early years lead and is the director of early years and author for Thriving Language Community Interest Company. She has led and developed teams of successful early years educators within children’s centres and the private sector. Having owned her own nursery and pre-school, Becky has developed freeflow provision and language-rich learning environments throughout the country. Becky believes that empowering individuals to thrive and helping to create future generations is probably the best career in the world! She is a passionate advocate for early years and supports many further teaching and learning facilities. Rebecca Skinner qualified as a speech and language therapist in 2001 and is the director of speech and language therapy and author for Thriving Language Community Interest Company. Alongside her work at Thriving Language, Rebecca works as a speech and language therapist for the NHS, specialising in early years and cleft palate. She is passionate about communication and interaction, and the role that the adult plays in the development of this. Rebecca believes that being able to communicate is a basic human right and we must respect all ways of communicating.