1st Edition
How to Help Non-Speaking Children in the Early Years Supporting Communication through Joy and Connection
In every setting there are children who struggle to communicate. When they’re not talking, or only using a handful of words, it can be hard to know how to help. In this book, you’ll be encouraged to spot early moments of communication and respond with clarity. You’ll find an invitation to stop doing and start noticing, to try new things and collaborate with the team around you.
The book presents key concepts in bite-size chunks, with a wealth of real-life examples from speech therapy sessions and early years settings. It explores practical strategies to help children develop their foundational speech, language and communication skills, and includes fresh ideas to:
· Build honest and supportive conversations with parents about communication needs
· Value empathy and imagination as we tune in to each child’s world
· Take a pro-neurodiversity lens to inform your practice
· Measure progress and support professional development.
Communication is core to our sense of wellbeing, personal agency and belonging. With a focus on fostering joyful moments of connection, this book offers a fresh perspective and a dose of encouragement for all early years practitioners, speech and language therapists, SENCOs and key people looking to support positive communication development in the children in their care.
CHAPTER 1. What this guide is and how it can help you.
What we’re aiming for (Help them learn it’s worth the effort)
Stop doing, start noticing (this is the hardest part)
What to expect from this book
CHAPTER 2. Expand your definition of communication.
Speech, language and communication
Talking isn’t everything
Always respond
Understand why we bother
Look out for opportunities
Understand what’s going on behind the scenes
CHAPTER 3. Build relationships.
Include everyone from the beginning
Aim for a flat hierarchy
Practise active listening
Avoid fix-it mode
Stay out of judgement
Regulate to communicate
Realise our shared humanity
‘Celebrate with me’
CHAPTER 4. Start from strength.
Tell a story of hope
Describe what the child can do
Shift your language from disorder to difference
Consider needs, not problems
Trust in capacity
CHAPTER 5. Let the child lead.
Tune in to the child’s point of interest
Give it space
Look for the invitations
Directing vs. Responding
Give attention to get attention
Solutions for when it’s hard:
Allow it to look like ‘nothing’
Regulate to communicate
Allow the play to look unexpected
Avoid the toy trap
CHAPTER 6. Choose your focus.
Decide what’s important
A note on mindfulness
Understand where the child’s at
Write goals for the adults, not the child
Write SCRUFFY goals
CHAPTER 7. A strategies list
Allow yourself to do less
Embrace the awkward silence
Reflect the child
Pay attention to the details
Play with words
Use big gestures
Make your phrases sing
Use sound effects
Give, don’t quiz
Make it easy
CHAPTER 8. Keep going.
Imagine something different
We’re in the business of relationships
The simple version
Share with others
Choose one thing
Stick with it
Embrace everything
It’s all in the noticing
Useful links
Bibliography
Index
Biography
Bryony Rust, aka SaLT by the Sea, is a speech and language therapist sharing her own experiences of what works with young children, learned through years of providing therapy, training practitioners and collaborating with caregivers. Bryony is also a keynote speaker and clinical supervisor, helping others navigate the surprise delights and challenges of helping young children learn to talk. Working in close partnership with families, her focus is on valuing each child’s unique contribution, fostering personal agency and a sense of belonging. To find out more, visit saltbythesea.com
"Bryony’s book is an absolute must-read for any parent, teacher, professional, educator or caregiver looking to better connect and communicate with children, especially non-verbal or neurodivergent kids. This wonderfully practical and accessible guide is filled with creative strategies to try, garnered from Bryony’s own practice and research. Her friendly, understanding and non-judgemental tone throughout the book helps to put you at your ease as you embark on the journey of tuning into your child's world, whether you have a verbal child, a late talker, or a child with additional needs. Bryony invites us to reflect on what makes our best interactions and relationships so special and reminds us that these sacred spaces of connection should be the core aim for speech therapy, not chasing arbitrary targets. You'll be liberated to slow down, let the child take the lead, and embrace any and all forms of communication that arise naturally through play. This book will help you to reflect on your interactions and expand your understanding of what it means to communicate meaningfully with children. I highly recommend this brilliant book - it's an investment in deepening your bond with your child in beautifully life-changing ways." - Kathy Brodie, Early Years consultant and founder of Early Years TV
"A witty, compassionate and honest guide to nurturing communication. This book is for all non-speaking children and any person who supports them. Bryony’s strength based view of ability shines through whilst offering quality exercises and reflections to try out in practice." - Lyra Wright, Early Childhood Teacher
"This is a glorious, gentle book that will be supportive, accepting and inspiring to parents/carers and professionals. A book that truly encourages us to place the child at the centre of care but also that and acknowledges the challenging, but oh so valuable, role of parents and carers." - Suzanne Churcher, Speech and Language Therapist and Lecturer, University of Sheffield
"Bryony writes from a personal and experienced perspective as a Speech and Language Therapist with joy, passion and insight. Her advice is approachable and compassionate.” - Louise Coigley, Speech and Language Therapist, Lis’n Tell: Live Inclusive Storytelling
"Bryony lays out a perspective shift for how to follow a child's lead and increase connection and joy to facilitate communication. From child-led therapy, to observing the child, to being a communication partner that follows (rather than leads), this book lays out the 'how to' of interaction that is fun, playful and facilitates language and connection for the children we work with." - Sarah Lockhart, M.S. CCC-SLP, SLP Happy Hour
"What a joy to read. I urge anyone of whatever level of experience, to read this book. From initial Speech and Language Therapy training to CPD, it will encourage your reflective practice and make you an even better you. Bryony’s book helps to peel back the layers to find (or rediscover) the important core when supporting non-speaking children. It emphasises the importance of the child, waiting for them to lead and being ok with silence. Through recognisable examples, Bryony shows us how we can word things differently, refocussing on small things that can make a big difference, providing many practical ‘take homes’ throughout. This book reminds us to ‘trust in the value of what the child shows you’; I am grateful for the reminder and for this gift of a book. - Sarah Parsons, Speech and Language Therapist, Redriff Primary City of London Academy
"This book really made me reflect on my own practice with families and children (not just non-speaking ones). Bryony has crafted something that is accessible and full of optimism, while being frank about the challenges. Addressing so many of the questions and challenges that families and practitioners ask about, in a non-judgemental, practical, kind way, this is useful reading for parents, family members, practitioners and SLTs alike. I really loved the suggestions on goal setting, strength-based descriptions of communication and the practical strategies. I'm never going to be able to listen to Daft Punk again without thinking of the washing machine song!" - Rachel Tuckely, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Sound Talk Speech and Language Therapy Ltd
"Bryony so beautifully weaves her professional insights and personal anecdotes to share the importance of a child led and strengths based focus when supporting communication, play and connection. This book was full of hope, joy and celebration of non-speaking children. Honouring and appreciating their ideas, attempts to communicate, and meeting them where they are at in order to support their speech and language, play, and ongoing development. I finished the book feeling like it is a permission slip to slow down, get attentive and really listen to what children are telling us." - Carly Budd, Occupational Therapist and Founder of Developmental Play Academy
"A breath of fresh air. Focussing on the relationship first, Bryony sets out thoughts, frameworks and strategies that are child-led, celebratory and meaningful – focussing on connection, collaboration and most importantly, fun! Using examples and analogies throughout, she explores a range of considerations and urges us to think about things differently - including the importance of co-regulation, shifting our language to be more strengths based, and embracing awkward silences! As she rightly states, communication is “about so much more than words.” - Frances Johnstone, Founder and Director of Therapy Links UK CIC, Principal Speech and Language Therapist
"This is a beautifully written, warm hug of a book, which gently informs and facilitates reflection on how to help non-speaking children with a kind, difference-affirming approach. The narrative “it’s ok to try stuff and don’t worry if it goes wrong sometimes” will appeal to parents and practitioners alike. The honest and touching stories of challenges Bryony has faced in her own life, interwoven into the text, make the book entirely relatable. I found myself thinking “yes – exactly that” at many points. I wish I’d had this book earlier in my career and will absolutely recommend it to parents, SLT students and supervisees." - Jan Baerselman, Director, Talking Outcomes Speech & Language Consultancy
"This wonderful little book is a fabulous storied account of the ethos of supporting and scaffolding shared moments of connection with people. It is beautifully written, and absorbed quickly and easily. I will recommend it to every speech and language therapy student that I meet. The principles and strategies apply, not just to children in the early years, but to anyone who finds communication difficult at any time in their lives." Jo Sandiford, Senior Lecturer and Speech and Language Therapist, Leeds
"A refreshingly empathic personal perspective, focusing on a child led approach to communicating with non-speaking children." - Lou.E, Approved Foster Carer for 10+ Years
