The Better Health Start For Life campaign, led by the National Literacy Trust and funded by the Department for Education, and the Department for Health and Social Care, encourages parents and carers to adopt positive behaviours to boost their children’s early speech, language and communication skills.
The campaign creates easy and accessible resources for parents, carers and early years settings with children aged 0 to 5, aiming to ensure that all children start primary school with the recommended literacy and language abilities.
Below are some helpful links that provide tips and advice on supporting your children's learning at home
Family-facing Words for Life website - Explore Words for Life for a wealth of activities, tips, and resources designed to help your child develop essential literacy and communication skills. Perfect for families with children of all ages
Walk and Talk cards* - Discover easy ways to chat with your baby or toddler while you’re out and about, helping them develop their vocabulary and communication skills. Check out these tips and activities from Words for Life
Chat, play, read booklets* - Explore fun and simple activities with the 'Chat, play, read' booklets from Words for Life, designed to help your child develop language and communication skills anywhere, anytime!
Short videos for families - Check out this playlist for engaging activities and tips to support your child’s early development, brought to you by Better Health Start for Life. Perfect for parents on the go!
Free monthly newsletter for families - Sign up for the Words for Life newsletter to receive fun, free activities and expert tips to help your child develop essential communication skills. Perfect for families with children aged 0 to 5!
BBC Tiny Happy People website - BBC's Tiny Happy People can help you develop your child’s language and communication skills, so they get the best start in life, through clever ideas and activities which are easy to build into your daily routine
*Also available in translation in 18 community languages, with English and translated voiceovers to match.