Before children learn to talk, they develop lots of important communication skills. These early skills include looking at people, listening, taking turns, and sharing attention with someone else during an activity or play. These are the building blocks that help children learn to understand language and communicate with others.

Many important communication skills develop before a child says their first words. By interacting, playing, and spending time with other people, children learn how communication works and how to connect with others.

Social skills are the skills we use every day to interact with people. They include talking, listening, using gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and body language. These skills help children share their thoughts, understand others, make friends, and join in with activities.

Some children find social communication skills more difficult to develop. This may be linked to a wider diagnosis, or it may simply be an area where they need extra support. With the right help and opportunities, children can continue to develop these important skills.