Around the age of nine, your child will know the rules of talking, and they can make friends. Their words and stories are improving and growing all the time. Here are some examples of things they will be able to do:
Listening and speaking
Your child can follow several instructions, read your mood and ask questions when they don’t understand something.
They are getting better at talking about time, like how long things take or when something happened. They can describe actions and their effects, like ‘If I forget my coat, I will be cold.’
They can use longer words and not make many mistakes when they speak.
Telling stories
A nine-year-old can tell a story with a clear beginning, middle and end. They can change stories to match the interests of the person they’re speaking to.
Mixing with others
At this age, your child will know when to speak and when to listen. They can keep conversations going by asking questions and making comments. You’ll notice they will change how they speak to different people. For example, how they speak to their friends might be different to how they speak to their teacher.
Any concerns?
All children learn different things at different times. No two are the same. If your child is doing some of these things, but not all of them, this is normal.
If you’re worried about how they’re getting on, speak to their teacher or headteacher. They should be able to give you some simple ways to help at home.
If you need more help, here are some places which may be able to give you advice:
Talking Point - 0845 225 4071
Afasic - 0845 355 5577
SOS!SEN: Special Educational Needs - 020 8538 3731
IPSEA: Independent Parental Special Education Advice - 0800 018 4016
Contact a Family - 0808 808 3555
I CAN - 020 7843 2544