PARENTS & SCHOOLS GUIDE

Support your child’s language and developmental journey with our expert advice and resources

100+ Practical tips
50+ Fun activities
24/7 Support available

🚼 0 to 2 years: foundational development phase

🧠 Cognitive development

  • Lack of interest in surroundings or faces
  • Difficulty tracking with their eyes or recognising familiar faces
  • Little curiosity about objects, no exploratory behaviour
  • Delay in object permanence (does not look for a hidden toy)

🗣️ Language development

  • At 6 months: no babbling, no reaction to sounds
  • At 12 months: no varied sounds, does not respond to name
  • At 18 months: no recognisable words, does not understand simple instructions
  • At 24 months: fewer than 50 words, does not combine two words

🧩 Psychomotor development

  • Delayed motor milestones (head control, sitting, walking)
  • Persistent hypotonia or hypertonia
  • Asymmetrical or stereotyped movements
  • Little interest in manipulation or fine motor tasks

❤️ Emotional and social development

  • Little or no eye contact or social smile by 3 months
  • No interest in social interaction or shared play
  • Indifferent to separation from or reunion with a parent
  • Lack of emotional response (laughter, fear, joy, …)

👶 2 to 4 years: rapid development of language and social skills

🧠 Cognitive development

  • Difficulty understanding cause-and-effect relationships
  • Very stereotyped or repetitive play with no imagination
  • Limited curiosity, does not ask “why?”
  • Difficulty solving simple problems (inset games, puzzles, …)

🗣️ Language development

  • At 3 years: speaks very little or is difficult to understand
  • Does not understand simple instructions
  • No 2–3 word sentences
  • No verbal exchange (question/answer)
  • Persistent echolalia (automatic repetition)

🧩 Psychomotor development

  • Difficulty running, jumping or climbing
  • Poor balance or frequent falls
  • Difficulty coordinating both hands
  • Struggles to hold a crayon, imitate a vertical line or circle

❤️ Emotional and social development

  • Plays alone and ignores other children
  • Difficulty sharing or waiting their turn
  • Frequent tantrums or difficulty handling frustration
  • Does not imitate social behaviours (pretend play “like mum/dad”)

👧 4 to 6 years: structuring and autonomy

🧠 Cognitive development

  • Struggles to focus for more than a few minutes
  • Delay in recognising colours, shapes or numbers
  • Difficulty understanding multi-step instructions or game rules
  • Lack of planning or disorganisation during activities

🗣️ Language development

  • Limited vocabulary or incomplete sentences
  • Struggles to tell a story or answer open-ended questions
  • Persistent pronunciation difficulties
  • Does not understand multi-step instructions
  • Difficulty engaging in conversations with peers

🧩 Psychomotor development

  • Difficulty coordinating fine motor movements (buttons, cutting, drawing)
  • Clumsy pencil grip, unstructured drawing
  • Awkwardness or avoidance during physical activities
  • Difficulty orienting themselves in space or time

❤️ Emotional and social development

  • Difficulty fitting into a group or following rules
  • Extreme opposition or social withdrawal
  • Emotional immaturity (excessive crying, tantrums, fear)
  • Little interest in symbolic or pretend play

👦 6 to 9 years: school learning phase

🧠 Cognitive development

  • Difficulty retaining school information
  • Attention or working memory challenges
  • Significant slowness in homework or class tasks
  • Difficulty grasping abstract concepts (time, logic, …)

🗣️ Language development

  • Difficulty reading, writing or understanding a simple text
  • Persistent errors in syntax or conjugation
  • Limited listening comprehension
  • Struggles to reword or recount an experience

🧩 Psychomotor development

  • Graphomotor difficulties (slow, illegible, painful handwriting)
  • Poor posture or tension during fine motor activities
  • Difficulty coordinating movements (sports, music, …)
  • Problems with lateralisation (confusing right/left)

❤️ Emotional and social development

  • Lack of self-confidence, performance anxiety
  • Social isolation or frequent conflicts with peers
  • Difficulty expressing emotions appropriately
  • Impulsive behaviour or avoidance of school activities

👧‍🎓 9 to 12 years: consolidation and maturation

🧠 Cognitive development

  • Difficulty reasoning logically or planning ahead
  • Lack of autonomy with school work
  • Struggles with abstract or implied instructions
  • Loss of interest in learning

🗣️ Language development

  • Difficulty understanding humour or implied meaning
  • Limited vocabulary precision
  • Disorganised or poor spoken expression
  • Difficulty writing or expressing ideas in writing

❤️ Emotional and social development

  • Social withdrawal, isolation or loss of interest in relationships
  • Oppositional behaviour, anxiety or low self-esteem
  • Difficulty managing emotions or frustration
  • Hyper-emotional responses or age-inappropriate behaviour

Fun activities to try at home

Classified by developmental domain

1. Cognitive development

Boost memory, attention, logic and problem-solving.

🧩 Sorting games

Sort objects by colour, size or shape

🎲 Simple board games

Memory, Uno, dominoes, puzzles

🧃 Cause-and-effect play

Pour water, stack blocks, watch objects fall

🧠 Treasure hunt

Give simple clues to find a hidden object

🧩 “Guess what?”

Guess an object based on given clues

2. Language development

Boost comprehension, vocabulary and spoken expression.

📚 Shared reading

Read together, ask questions, retell the story

🎤 “Who am I?”

Guess an animal or job from clues

🗣️ Songs and rhymes

Repeat, mime and invent new lyrics

🎭 Role play

Pretend to be a doctor, shop assistant or teacher

🧃 Describe everyday objects

“What is it? What is it for?”

3. Psychomotor development

Develop gross and fine motor skills, coordination, tone and body awareness.

🔹 Gross motor skills

🏃 Indoor obstacle course

Use cushions, tunnels, chairs to climb over

🕺 Dance and balance games

Play “Musical statues” or “Simon says”

⚽ Ball games

Throw, catch and aim at targets

🔹 Fine motor skills

🎨 Beads, play dough, clothes pegs

Strengthen dexterity and grip

✂️ Cutting and gluing

Create a collage or character

🖍️ Drawing games

Trace lines or copy simple shapes

4. Emotional development

Help children recognise, express and regulate emotions.

🎭 Emotion cards

Guess or mime emotions (joy, fear, anger, sadness…)

📖 “My emotion book”

Stick pictures or draw feelings from the week

💬 Daily sharing time

Each evening, say “what I liked / what I liked less today”

🧘‍♀️ Playful relaxation

Breathing with a soft toy on the belly, animal yoga

❤️ Hug box

Create a ritual to strengthen emotional bonds

5. Social development

Encourage sharing, cooperation, rule-following and empathy.

🎲 Family board games

Learn to wait for your turn, win and lose gracefully

👨‍👩‍👧 Cook together

Follow steps, collaborate and share tasks

🎭 Group role play

Pretend to be teachers, chefs or vets together

🧩 Build together

Create a block castle or blanket fort

💬 Compliment circle

Each person says something kind about someone else

6. Sensory development

Stimulate sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, proprioception and vestibular senses.

🖐️ Sensory bins

Use coloured rice, flour, lentils, water, sand, hidden objects

👃 Smell games

Guess spices, fruits or soaps by scent

👂 Sound bingo

Identify household or outdoor sounds

👣 Barefoot trail

Walk across different textures (towel, rug, cushion, foam)

🍋 Mystery tasting

Taste foods with eyes closed

7. Creativity and pretend play

Encourage imagination, self-expression and confidence.

🎨 Free painting

Use sponges, fingers or cotton buds

🎭 Dress-up box

Invent a story and act it out

🎵 Make up a song or dance

🧱 Build an imaginary world

Use Lego bricks or wooden blocks

📦 Recycled crafts

Create toys using upcycled materials

8. Building independence

Encourage your child to act independently, make choices and organise routines.

🧺 Help with household tasks

Tidying up, laying the table, watering plants

👕 Choose and set out clothes

🧃 Prepare a simple snack

📅 Create a visual routine

Use pictures for morning or bedtime steps

🎯 “I can do it” games

Threading, buttoning, opening/closing containers

Everyday practical tips

Concrete actions for each daily routine

📖

Practical Guide

Everyday Tips

Concrete ideas to support your child’s
development day after day

Horizon Des Therapies

🧩 Psychomotricity

🏠 At home

🏃

Let your child explore the environment freely (climb, crawl, jump).

🖐️

Offer fine-motor play: pouring, screwing/unscrewing, playdough, drawing.

🛏️

Create a calm sensory corner with cushions, sensory balls and a weighted blanket.

🌳 Outdoors

👣

Walk on different surfaces (grass, sand, pavement) to work on balance.

Play ball games, run and climb on playground equipment.

🪵

Collect natural objects (leaves, stones) to strengthen hand-eye coordination.

🧩 Psychomotricity (cont.)

🍽️ Mealtimes

🍴

Let your child handle cutlery, pour water and cut soft foods.

🪑

Work on posture at the table and independent eating.

🥣

Encourage discovering new textures without pressure.

🌙 Bedtime

💆‍♂️

Offer a gentle massage or stretches to relax the body.

🧘‍♀️

Create a soothing physical ritual (deep breathing, gentle rocking, cuddles).

🗣️ Speech therapy

🏠 At home

💬

Speak to your child often, label objects and describe what you are doing.

📚

Read a story every day, encourage pointing and naming pictures.

🎵

Sing and play with sounds (“pa”, “ta”, “ma”).

🌳 Outdoors

👀

Describe what you see together: “Look at the dog, he’s running!”.

🔍

Play “I spy something… red / round”.

📍

Name places, people and actions as you move around.

🗣️ Speech therapy (cont.)

🍽️ Mealtimes

🍎

Comment on food (“This apple is crunchy!”).

🤝

Involve your child in choosing and preparing food (“Do you want bread or rice?”).

🗨️

Encourage conversation around the table.

🌙 Bedtime

📖

Read a short story and ask simple questions.

🗓️

Review the day together (“What was your favourite moment today?”).

🤗

Create a calm moment for gentle conversation.

🧠 Neuropsychology

🏠 At home

🗓️

Set up a visual daily schedule.

🧩

Break tasks into steps (“tidy the books first, then the toys”).

🎲

Offer memory and logic games (puzzles, Memory, dominoes).

🌳 Outdoors

🧭

Give small missions (“look for yellow flowers”, “count the steps”).

🕒

Talk about time and space (“we’re almost there”, “turn left/right”).

🍽️ Mealtimes

👩‍🍳

Let your child help prepare food (follow an easy recipe).

🧠 Neuropsychology (cont.)

🍽️ Mealtimes (cont.)

🍽️

Practise the sequence “I set the table – I eat – I clear up”.

🌙 Bedtime

🖼️

Review the day using pictures or a gratitude ritual.

🎒

Prepare the next day together (clothes, school bag).

🧡 Psychology

🏠 At home

🌟

Value effort and encourage initiative.

💬

Discuss emotions using simple vocabulary.

🧘

Create a calm space for relaxation.

🌳 Outdoors

Practise waiting, sharing and respecting others.

Offer simple choices (“Should we go to the park or the bakery first?”).

🍽️ Mealtimes

🗣️

Encourage open family conversations without judgement.

🧡 Psychology (cont.)

🍽️ Mealtimes (cont.)

👍

Respect taste preferences and avoid food battles.

🌙 Bedtime

🔆

Create a secure ritual: soft lighting, calm music, cuddle.

🗨️

Talk about the day, share gratitude and feelings.

✋ Occupational therapy

🏠 At home

🧩

Offer practical tasks (buttoning, screwing, cutting).

🪑

Adjust furniture for comfort (stable table, suitable chair).

🌳 Outdoors

🎒

Work on independence (carry their bag, cross the road hand-in-hand safely).

🗣️

Encourage your child to ask for help when needed.

🍽️ Mealtimes

🥄

Let them handle utensils, pour water and cut soft foods.

✋ Occupational therapy (cont.)

🍽️ Mealtimes (cont.)

🏅

Praise effort rather than perfection.

🌙 Bedtime

👕

Prepare clothes for the next day together.

🪥

Encourage independent routines (brushing teeth, putting on pyjamas).

🎯 Structured education

🏠 At home

📅

Create a clear, consistent visual schedule.

Give short, positive instructions.

🌳 Outdoors

🗺️

Prepare in advance (“We’re going to the park for 30 minutes”).

🖼️

Use visuals or photos to preview the steps.

🍽️ Mealtimes

🗨️

Use meals as structured communication moments.

🎯 Structured education (cont.)

🍽️ Mealtimes (cont.)

🎉

Reinforce positive behaviours with praise.

🌙 Bedtime

🛌

Keep a consistent, visual bedtime routine (sleep pictograms).

Warn before each transition (“In 5 minutes, it’s bedtime”).

⚽ Adaptive sport

🏠 At home

🏃

Play short motor games (mini obstacle course, yoga, ball games).

🏅

Highlight participation rather than performance.

🌳 Outdoors

🤸

Encourage free movement and group play.

🚶

Introduce simple, fun physical activities.

🍽️ Mealtimes

🗣️

Talk about the body, energy and staying healthy.

⚽ Adaptive sport (cont.)

🍽️ Mealtimes (cont.)

🪑

Encourage good posture at the table.

🌙 Bedtime

🧘

Practise stretches or calming breaths before sleep.

🏆

Celebrate the day’s physical achievements.

Contact us

For more information
or to arrange an appointment

Horizon Des Therapies

Useful resources

Recommended books, games and apps

📖

"Mon premier imagier"

Large, colourful pictures to expand early vocabulary

Ages 0–3
📖

"Les histoires de Petit Ours Brun"

Short stories reflecting everyday situations

Ages 2–5
📖

"Le loup qui voulait changer de couleur"

Repetitive storyline that supports memorisation

Ages 3–6
🎲

Memory des animaux

Memory game that builds vocabulary

Ages 2–6
🧩

Puzzles avec mots

Match images with written words

Ages 3–7
🎯

Jeu de loto des sons

Recognise and match everyday sounds

Ages 4–8
📱

"Boucle d'Or et les 3 ours"

Interactive story app with narration

Ages 3–6
📱

"Sago Mini"

Creative games that stimulate expression

Ages 2–5
📱

"Les mots de Passepartout"

Fun approach to early reading

Ages 5–8
🎵

Traditional nursery rhymes

"Au clair de la lune", "Frère Jacques"

All ages
🎵

Action songs

"Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"

Ages 1–4
🎵

Finger-play rhymes

"Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Little Rabbit"

Ages 0–3
📖

Le développement cognitif par le jeu

Rémi Samier & Sylvie Jacques

📖

Le développement affectif et cognitif de l'enfant

Bernard Golse

📖

Développement cognitif du jeune enfant

Jacques Vauclair

📖

Le développement cognitif et communicatif du jeune enfant

Du normal au pathologique — Nathalie Nader-Grosbois

📱

ABC pour les Enfants – Français

Interactive app for learning the alphabet, words and numbers

📱

GCompris

Educational activity suite for ages 2–10: logic, memory, maths

📱

Savio

French-language learning and homework support platform

📱

Lingokids

Playful educational app to boost language development

🎵

Une souris verte

A staple of French-language culture

🎵

Il était un petit navire

Also explore “Sur le pont d'Avignon”, “Promenons-nous dans les bois”

🎵

Tête, épaules, genoux et pieds

Action song that teaches body vocabulary

🎲

Family board games

Puzzles, Memory, dominoes, matching games

🧸

Sensory and motor materials

Sensory mats, textured balls, sensory bins (sand, water, sorting)

🧩

Logic and problem-solving games

Brain teasers, Smart Games, visual sequencing activities

🤖

Screen-free coding robots

For example, Primo Toys’ Cubetto introduces logical thinking without screens

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the questions we hear most often

Need personalised guidance?

Our team is here to support your child’s communication development.

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