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ISBN: 9781615192038
Published: April 8, 2014
Price: $15.95 US / $20.95 CAN
Paperback: 320 pages
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Small Talk
How to Develop Your Child’s Language Skills from Birth to Age Four
by Nicola Lathey, Tracey Blake
 

Give your child the gift of conversation with Small Talk!

You are your child’s most valuable resource when it comes to learning to talk. In Small Talk, speech and language therapist Nicola Lathey and parenting journalist Tracey Blake demystify the six stages of language learning, from “Pre-Babble” to “Complete Sentences,” so you can tune in to what your child is saying—or trying to say! You’ll also learn:

  • Why the babbling stage is so important
  • How to encourage your baby’s first words
  • Communication techniques to calm your toddler’s tantrums
  • The truth about pacifiers, baby signing,and the impact of TV on language development
  • Causes for concern and where to turn for help.

Written by experts who are also parents of young children, Small Talk helps you to give your child the best head start by encouraging language and vocabulary development early on. Simply set aside as few as 10 minutes for Small Talk Time every day. With 50 games and activities to choose from, it’s time to start Small Talking!

★ 2014 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Parenting Resources Competition, Silver Award (Education category)

“In a fun, down-to-earth style, Small Talk gives parents the practical tools to understand their babies and to help them develop speech and language while sharing the excitement of each new word.”
Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Professor of Pediatrics, Emeritus, Harvard Medical School

Small Talk is a must-read for parents keen to help their child express themselves from the get go. I can't recommend it enough.”
Gurgle magazine

Nicola Lathey is a pediatric speech and language therapist specializing in children under five. Nicola has worked all over the world, including England, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. She is the founder of the Owl Centre, a private speech and language therapy clinic for children. She lives in Oxford, England, with her husband and daughter.


Tracey Blake is an experienced journalist and editor at the Daily Mail, where she writes the parenting blog Small Talk. She lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her partner and their two children.