School Ready Toolkit

Are you concerned about your child's speech and language development? As a parent, it can be challenging to know if your child needs speech therapy or if their development is on track. Here are some signs that your child may benefit from speech therapy:

- Difficulty pronouncing words: If your child has trouble pronouncing certain sounds or words, it may be a sign of a speech disorder.

- Limited vocabulary for their age: Children develop their vocabulary over time, and if your child has a limited vocabulary for their age, it may indicate a language delay.

- Trouble following instructions: If your child has difficulty understanding and following instructions, it may be a sign of a language disorder.

- Struggling to express their thoughts and feelings: If your child has trouble expressing their thoughts and feelings, it may be a sign of a language disorder.

- Frustration or behaviuor issues related to communication difficulties: Communication difficulties can cause frustration and behavioral issues such as aggression, tantrums, or withdrawal.

If you notice any of these signs in your child, it's important to get help from a qualified speech pathologist. Early intervention is key to helping your child develop strong communication skills and reach their full potential. Don't hesitate to reach out to the experienced speech therapy team at Kids First if you need help and support!

Is Your Child Struggling with Speech? Here's What You Need to Know - Kids First Children's Services Worried about your child's speech? Speech therapists in Sydney's northern beaches share the signs to watch out for so that you know when to seek help for your

Kindy guide: How to help your child make friends and be happy in school - Practical tips for parents from Kids First’s Sonja Walker, with Dr Kimberley O’Brien and Leonie Smith

‘Don’t obsess’: How to prep your child for kindy Getting used to classroom rules, making friends, understanding the complexities of playground etiquette and learning about online stranger danger are just some of the important lessons kindy kids will have to get to grips with in their first year.

Helping kids and families through the toughest of times - that's what we do here at Kids First. Our director, Sonja Walker, has been featured nationwide sharing simple tips to make homeschooling easier on children and their parents. Read one of the articles that have appeared (this one from the Canberra Times) here

How to survive learning in lockdown ... again Northern beaches based education expert, Sonja Walker, shares some of her tips for helping your children manage remote learning.

Using language like 'good job' can be an automatic response when working with young children. NAEC has written an informative article that gives 10 alternatives for 'good job' and the reasons why it is important to give children more information when praising their efforts

10X: "Good Job" Alternatives | NAEYC Try the following suggestions to give preschoolers specific, detailed information that recognizes their achievements and encourages their learning.

If your child has unique needs, this helpful advice could be relevant right now

5 ways to share information about your child with their classmates and teachers - Source Kids This may not be something everyone wants to do but if your child is in mainstream school you may be …

Having the confidence to ask for help is an important school readiness skill.

Building independence in time for school - School Ready Toolkit This helpful tip from school readiness expert Sonja Walker will help your child build the confidence to make a successful start to school