Making Time to Talk - Your Questions on Supporting Children’s Communication

About this episode

The episode addresses listener questions on supporting children's communication and language, emphasizing connection and meaningful interactions.

In this final episode of the series Making Time to Talk , Deborah Brown and Dr Jacqueline Young celebrate the end of the series by responding to listener questions about supporting children’s communication and language. Drawing on questions from students and practitioners, this episode explores: How to talk meaningfully with children about their artwork without evaluative praise When to look at a child and when to look with them to support connection, shared attention, and autonomy Practical ways multilingual families can use their home languages during everyday routines Updated guidance on screen time for under‑5s and how to make screen use more interactive and intentional Throughout the episode, Deborah and Jacqueline emphasise attunement, shared thinking, emotional safety, and practical strategies that can be used in everyday interactions at home and in early years settings. This reflective and practical Q&A episode brings together the key themes of the series and reinforces the message that children learn to communicate best through connection, curiosity, and meaningful interactions. Subscribe, share, and step into a podcast on reflective early years practice. Links to…

People in this episode

Hosts: Deborah Brown, Dr Jacqueline Young

Topics covered

• children's communication
• language development
• multilingual families
• screen time guidance
• meaningful interactions
• emotional safety

Keywords

• communication
• language
• children
• multilingual
• screen time
• interaction
• emotional safety

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Literacy Trust

More episodes of The Early Years Together

• Making Time to Talk - Supporting Language Delay · April 18, 2026 · 18 min
• Research Focus: Intersections Between Creative Thinking and Disadvantage · April 11, 2026 · 23 min
• Making Time to Talk - Building Connections Through Talk in the Home · March 15, 2026 · 13 min
• Making Time to Talk - Supporting Multilingual Children in the Early Years · March 8, 2026 · 11 min
• Making Time to Talk - Why Being an Active Listener is Important · March 1, 2026 · 16 min
• Making Time to Talk - Language Theory and Early Communication · February 22, 2026 · 13 min