Build a child’s talking confidence: free 10-minute course

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Help a child with speech and language needs feel proud, enjoy friends and feel braver in a chat. 3 short activities, 10 minutes each, over 1 week.

Why talking confidence?

Children with speech and language needs can find it harder to make and keep friends, especially in busy, chatty groups. As they get older, they may rate themselves lower too. Noticing their strengths, and practising friendships and chats in small, safe steps, helps protect their confidence.

Mooki Cards are not a replacement for medical advice. If you are worried about your child, talk to your GP, health visitor or the school SENCo.

Before you start

• Print the worksheets. Or draw the boxes on plain paper.
• One a day. Do each activity on a different day so the child doesn’t feel overwhelmed.
• Talking is just one part. Remind the child that talking is only one part of who they are.
• Notice and praise. Be specific: “You said hello to Gran. She loved that.”

Day 1: What are you great at?

Helps the child see strengths beyond talking. Uses the My Strengths card.

1. Tick your strengths: read the strengths together. The child ticks the ones they have, and you add your own ticks too. Share a real time you saw each one.
2. My top strength: the child draws or writes their top strength.
3. My grown-up says I’m great at: write what you think the child is great at.

Tip: be specific: “You were so patient helping your sister build that den.”

Day 2: How do you like to be with friends?

Helps friendships grow without needing lots of words. Uses the Friends My Way card.

1. Ways I like: tick the ways the child likes to be with friends, like one friend at a time or making something together.
2. This week I’ll try: ask which one they would like to try this week, like a short playdate with one friend. Write or draw it in the box.
3. How did it go? Afterwards, the child circles a face and you write what went well.

Tip: games with few words, like football, Lego or drawing, take the pressure off talking. Tell the friend’s parent or teacher what helps.

Day 3: Can you have a chat?

Helps the child learn the steps of a chat and practise them safely. Uses the Chat Skills card.

1. My chat steps: read the six chat steps together, from say hello to say goodbye. Act out a chat with toys first, then practise with a family member and swap roles. Tick a box each time the child tries a step.
2. The step I’ll try for real: pick one step to try for real, like saying hello to a friend. Write or draw it in the box.

Tip: practise one step at a time. Notice and praise it when you see it.

After the week: ask yourself

• What is the child’s top strength, and do they know it?
• Which way of being with friends felt easiest for the child?
• Which chat step will you keep practising?

Try these courses next

• Help a child learn new words
• Help a child listen and follow instructions
• See all speech and language courses

Helpful articles

• Speech, language and communication needs: a parent’s guide
• What does a speech and language therapist do for children?
• What is speech and language therapy? Does my child need it?