From the Beginning

From their very beginnings an unborn child is preparing be a social being. This illustrated booklet describes how the developing baby learns to listen and recognise parents' voices, remember familiar music, enjoy the sound of a story, respond to touch, dream - and much
more.
The narrative is written in the first person in plain english. It starts at 12 weeks of gestation and proceeds in four weekly intervals up to birth and the immediate post natal period. Cartoons offer parents simple and effective ways of supporting this early communication and relationship with their unborn child - first steps in positive bonding and attachment. Spaces for early scans, for brief notes and for a first photo, make 'From the Beginning' a baby's personal first 'book'.

Before Words

So much learning happens before a child can say their first words. This very accessible resource tells the story of a child's learning during the first twelve months of life. Using cartoons and simple captions, 'Before Words' explains how to develop positive interaction and relationship with a baby.
The importance of regular daily 'quiet time' is emphasised, reducing confusing every day background noises so that the baby can focus on interaction and human voices. 'Pause and wait' gives a young child time to take a turn in the conversation and learn what
conversation is all about. These are just two examples from 'Before Words' - there are many more.
Before Words describes the baby's developing communication at each stage, so parents know what to anticipate. It offers simple practical ways to support the baby's essential listening and 'baby-talk' skills, leading to first words.

First Words

This colourful accessible series of resources moves on to explain in 'First Words' how parents and family can support the young child once they have developed their communication skills to include words. Every day situations and family scenarios are illustrated in the cartoons. The underlying message says clearly that there are many opportunities through the day for communicating and learning - getting dressed; loading the washing machine; shopping together; cooking the tea.
'First Words' gives illustrated examples of simple ways to support the child's developing listening, understanding and vocabulary and acknowledges the importance of parents as the first and best teachers of their child. The back page is devoted to the importance of book sharing and the variety of ways in which books can be enjoyed. It describes 'What's good about a book?'

Words together

'Words Together' is the fourth in this series of illustrated accessible resources about supporting the communication development of babies and young children within the nurturing safety of positive relationships.
Once a child has learned enough words they can begin to put them together into phrases and then sentences. 'Words Together' supports this stage of communication and language development.
Every day situations are once more the focus of the resource with illustrations that depict the involvement of extended family, the importance of social situations and other children, and ways to make the most of routines. Simple suggestions and examples give parents new ideas and affirm that what they are already doing is helpful to their child.
The final page illustrates the delights and importance of many forms of play. Children are shown learning by themselves in solitary play, enjoying shared play time with an adult and playing with other children.