Supporting Early Communication and Development Through Everyday Interactions (0–3 Years)

·      This practical, hands-on webinar focuses on how parents, childminders, and early childhood educators can actively support speech and language development in children from 0 to 3 years using simple, everyday strategies.
·       Participants will learn how to turn daily routines such as feeding, bathing, dressing, and playtime into powerful language-learning opportunities, with clear examples of what to say, how to say it, and when to respond.
·       The session will demonstrate practical techniques including talking through actions, expanding a child’s words, using songs, books, gestures, and play to encourage communication, and responding to sounds and attempts to communicate. 
·       Real-life examples & (tuff trays, puppets, figures etc…)  will be used to show how small changes in interaction can significantly boost language development for the appropriate age and stage of the child. 

Certificate of completion

Gillian Powell is a part time lecturer in Applied Professional Practice and Pedagogical Framing on a Bachelor in Applied Early Years Education course delivered in the Cork College of Commerce by the Dundalk Institute of Technology. She owned and managed The Haven Montessori School in Bandon for thirty-two years. This early years setting catered for over fifty children and the emphasis was on outdoor education. Outdoor education in three early years settings in Ireland was the focus of Gillian's research during the course of a Masters in Education in University College Cork.

Bernie Pentony is an early years educator with 30+ years of experience. She tutors FETAC level 5&6 Early Childhood Education & Care modules and lectures part-time on the BA Early Childhood Studies program at DkIT. Bernie holds a BSc in Early Childhood Care, Education, and Health, as well as a Masters in Learning and Teaching. Her research on intergenerational learning in early childhood education was featured on the Together Old & Young (TOY) website. She received training in Therapeutic Play Skills facilitation in 2022 and is an accredited classroom leader in the Dina School-Preschool Incredible Years Programme