Early communication

All forms of communication are valid, and it’s important to recognise, respect, and support the unique ways each child connects with the world around them, if they do not use traditional speech.

Pre-verbal children are children who are learning to communicate before they can speak. They communicate in lots of ways to tell you what they want or need. Sometimes this might be in a quite a subtle way, like making the ‘b’ sound for bubbles.

Non-verbal children simply means that a child communicates in ways other than spoken language. It does not reflect a lack of intelligence, personality, or potential. Many non-verbal children express themselves richly through alternative methods such as gestures, facial expressions, sign language or communication devices. These diverse forms of communication are equally valid and meaningful. With the right support and understanding, non-verbal children can build strong relationships, make decisions, share emotions, and fully participate with their peers. It’s important to recognise and celebrate the many different ways children communicate, and to respect every individual’s unique voice—whether it is spoken or not.

So, when talking about children under 5, in many cases “pre-verbal” is probably a more useful term, but you might hear both phrases used to describe your child.