Services and of Education, is a programme which is offered to all families in Bermuda with preschool children. Our aim is to prevent or minimise developmental problems in our children and to support parents in their parenting role.

We provide an assessment service for preschool children which helps to identify those with special needs and we offer services to the families to address those needs. We also provide general information about child development, numerous resources and support to all families involved in the service through developmental booklets, newsletters, toy library and parent discussions groups.

The services of the Child Development Project are generally provided to children between the ages of two and four. We do, however, take referrals before the age of two and may continue our services until a child is five years old.

The Language Programme at the Child Development Project provides treatment for children with communication problems. Children who have demonstrated delayed speech or language development on the two-year-old home screening, or who are referred by parents or other professionals, will be referred for a speech and language assessment. This assessment will determine whether your child's speech and language is developing normally. If your child does have a speech or language problem he or she may be enrolled in the language programme, or suggestions will be provided on how to help your child at home.

The speech-language pathologist conducts hourly therapy sessions once a week.

These sessions may be limited to only three, or may continue for a year, depending on the needs of your child. Many parents are not sure if their child's speech and language is normal. Children learn the sounds of speech and the rules of language gradually, and although there is a normal progression each child is different.

By their second birthday children are usually beginning to put two or three words together into short sen tences. Parents should notice these sentences gradually getting longer and containing a larger variety of words. These early words are often mispronounced, but will be corrected as the child grows older.

During the early years of language development there may be times when a small child finds it difficult to talk. He may repeat words and phrases and have trouble getting a word out. This is a normal occurrence, and is usually especially noticeable when children are excited or under stress. Parents should be patient and give their child time to express himself and try to listen to what he is saying and not to how he says it.

If your child begins to show discomfort or tension when speaking, or is reluctant to speak, contact the speech-language pathologist here at CDP.

There are many reasons why a child may be having difficult communicating. It is important that children have good hearing if they are to learn language.

Many hearing problems go unnoticed, and this may result in a delay in speech and language development. There may also be other physical problems that make it difficult for a child to make different sounds, or to learn the rules of language.

However, most children will develop good language if they are provided with the opportunities to develop their communication skills. Children begin to learn from birth through their daily interactions with those around them. They watch and listen and learn to imitate the actions, sounds, and words in their environment.

It is important for care-givers to be responsive to these early communication attempts. Very young children begin to communicate by making sounds, crying, laughing, and gesturing. If a child tries to communicate and is ignored he may stop trying. The most crucial language learning takes place before a child's fifth birthday.

Play with your child and talk about what he is doing. Try to talk slowly and clearly and at your child's level. For example, if your child is talking in two word sentences make your sentences just a little bit longer. Try not to direct your child's play, but follow his or her lead.

Children learn best when they are interested in what they are doing. Provide opportunities for your child to learn new words. Talk about what you are doing around the house, let them get involved in conversations, read them books and let them retell the story.

Take them places where they are able to have new experiences. Sometimes children do not talk because all their needs are being met without saying one word. Therefore, provide opportunities for your child to request different things instead of automatically giving them to him.

These days most parents work and young children are spending most of their day in child care. Therefore, much of a child's learning of speech and language will take place when the parents are not around. Try to place your child in a warm and friendly environment that also provides lots of opportunity for the development of good language skills. Pat Azaro (Speech anguage Pathologist) Health & Social Services.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES HTH