Call for early years settings to enter Chatterbox Challenge

The Challenge, which runs from 1-7 February 2012, is an annual event which encourages under-fives to sing and rhyme to raise money to support I CAN’s work with children with speech, language and communication difficulties.

The theme of Chatterbox Challenge 2012, sponsored by Openreach, is ‘Kids in Motion: Get Active and make Chatter Matter’, with the aim of getting children ready for the Olympics in the summer.

The event is being supported by Olympic sailor Simon Hiscocks, who launched the event with a rendition of ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’, helped by children from I CAN’s Meath School in Surrey, which supports children with complex learning needs.

Settings who register their children for the event will learn the words and actions to popular songs including ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’ and ‘Here we go around the Mulberry Bush’, to perform in front of friends and family.

Chatterbox Challenge 2011 was the biggest yet, with more than 295,000 children registering to take part and participate in the Guinness World Record attempt for the largest game of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. I CAN hopes to build on the number of people taking part by encouraging more settings and children to sign up to next year’s event.

Virginia Beardshaw, I CAN chief executive, said, ‘We know that songs and rhymes, combined with actions and signs help young children to develop their speech and language skills.

Chatterbox Challenge is a fun way to get children "communication- fit" for Summer 2012 and beyond. In some areas as many as 50 per cent of children start school with language skills below what they should be for their age. Thanks to the generous support of Openreach, we can offer many of these children the support they need to fulfil their full potential.’

To register for the event and receive your free Chatterbox Challenge pack visit
www.chatterboxchallenge.co.uk