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Parents of Speech-Delayed Children Can Find Help at Library

The Moorestown Library offers several tools and tips for parents of kids with speech or developmental delays.

If you have a young child in your life, you probably look forward to each new milestone with giddy anticipation. First smiles, first steps and first words are all cause for celebration. But when important milestones don’t come when expected, excitement can quickly turn to concern. It is not uncommon for children who are developing well in all other areas to struggle when it comes to speech. If you suspect your child may have a speech delay, the urges you to seek assistance.

A good place to start in addressing speech delays is the New Jersey Early Intervention System (EIS). EIS offers free in-home assessments for children under 3 who are suspected of having a speech delay, or any developmental delay. If your child’s delay warrants intervention, EIS will develop a plan of service, help you set developmental goals and work out a cost-sharing plan based upon your family’s financial circumstances. You can contact Early Intervention at 1-888-653-4463 or find out more on website

In addition, the Moorestown Library has a number of resources to help young children and parents address speech delays. Many families and speech therapists find that using sign language can help children learn to express themselves before they are ready to form words. The library has many books on sign language for babies and toddlers, as well as popular DVD series like Baby Signing Time, Signing Time, and My Baby Can Talk.  

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The library also offers Baby Babble DVDs. These DVDs—Baby Babble and Baby Babble 2: First Words: P, B, M—are designed by speech pathologists to engage children in age-appropriate sounds, words and sign language using attention-grabbing toys, movement and music. The DVDs include parent tutorials with helpful tips and exercises parents can use to encourage their child’s speech development. 

Another useful DVD, Phonics for Babies: First Words, features award-winning puppeteer Mallory Lewis introducing key words and phrases that will be a springboard for all speech. Playful puppets and catchy songs will have children laughing and singing along as they engage in early speech skills. 

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While these materials are specifically designed to address speech and language development in young children, any book that captures your child’s attention can be used as a tool for developing speech and language skills. The library has all sorts of wonderful picture books to appeal to toddlers’ varied interests. Identifying pictures of familiar toys, animals or objects in nature, and practicing saying their names and breaking down these words into individual sounds, is a wonderful exercise for children learning to speak.  

If you suspect your child has a speech delay or any developmental delay, the library urges you to contact the New Jersey Early Intervention System and to take advantage of the library’s resources.

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