The first years of life are important for your child’s overall development, including communication. Your child is learning important communication skills to help them later in life and at school. If you are wondering if your baby is on track with their speech and language development, the First Words program of Ottawa and Renfrew-County is here for you.
First Words is a free program that helps families in Ottawa and Renfrew County with young children, from birth to the start of junior kindergarten. We focus on making sure children are developing strong communication skills. Our services include early screening, prevention, and therapy if needed.
Every child grows at their own pace, but it’s important to know when your baby, toddler or preschooler might need a little extra help. About 1 in 10 children need support to develop normal speech and language skills. Research shows that while some children naturally catch up, others may need speech and language therapy to thrive.
Let’s give the help needed to develop strong communication skills. Communication skills help children play with other kids, make friends and lead to learning at school. That’s why it’s so important to keep an eye on their development, especially in the early years. The good news? You don’t have to do it alone!
Start as Early as 6 Months
From the moment they’re born, babies start learning how to communicate. The first two years are super important for their speech and
language development.
That’s why we encourage parents to start using the First Words Communication Checkup (FWCCU) as early as six months. This online tool is easy to use and helps you check if your baby is meeting important speech and language milestones. It’s recommended to use it every six months.
What is the First Words Communication Checkup (FWCCU)?
The FWCCU is a free, online screening tool for parents in Ottawa and Renfrew County. It lets you:
- Check your child’s communication and overall development.
- Get immediate results based on your answers.
- Receive the next steps to support your child.
- Complete an online referral for free speech-language services if needed.
Once you complete the referral, your child will be added to the waitlist for services. While you wait, you can access helpful resources and webinars on our website.
How Can First Words Help?
We offer a range of services, all designed to be fun and play-based, so kids enjoy the learning process. Parents and caregivers are involved
every step of the way!
In addition to the FWCCU online screening, First Words offers assessments, home programs with activities to support learning at home, parent training and coaching to help you support your child and direct speech and language therapy to help with specific issues.
Your First Words team will also support your family with referrals to other services and with the school transition process concerning speech-language pathology.
Get Started Today
Don’t wait—early identification makes a big difference! If you’re wondering about your baby’s communication development, use the First Words Communication Checkup tool today.
Keep using the FWCCU every 6 months or every year to track your child’s communication development. It’s simple, free, and could be the key to helping your child thrive.
Grow your child’s communication skills right from birth. Talk to your baby, toddler and preschooler often—describe what you're doing, name objects, and respond to their sounds, words and sentences.
Sing songs, read books, and have fun together. These simple strategies help build early language skills that last a lifetime!
Learn more:
- Visit the First Words website at www.firstwords.ca.
- Follow us on Instagram at @firstwords_psl.
- If you are concerned about your child's communication development, complete our First Words Communication Checkup online screening tool. It is free, quick and easy to use. You can screen, get results and refer if needed in one single activity.
